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This quick bread is SO easy to make, and includes plenty of beer, cheese & butter. All VERY good things. Beer Bread may be your new favorite thing!
Stop whatever you are doing, I’m serious. Go in the kitchen. Mix this up and then get on with something else for an hour. Trust me!
Quick to mix up, and only 45-50 minutes to bake (no yeast means no rise time – and more importantly – no kneading!)
I’m quite in love with this beer bread recipe, clearly. I mean – who wouldn’t be? Essentially, it’s a basic beer bread with cheddar added. I use this exact same recipe to make Jalapeno Cheddar Beer Bread (add sliced jalapenos to the batter) and also Bacon Gruyere Beer Bread (switch out the cheddar for gruyere and add bacon). The possibilities really are endless!
Pouring the garlic butter over the top of the batter results in a crunchy, buttery crust that is impossible to resist. The bread is pretty sturdy – so it can handle butter being spread on it, or it being dunked into a chili, stew or soup.
This beer bread will last for a few days wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. I mean, if there are leftovers at ALL.
Hope you love this bread as much as we do!
- FLOUR – regular old flour works best in this. You may want to try a mix of whole wheat flour and white flour, but I like mine all white.
- BROWN SUGAR – pack this in, to make sure you are measuring correctly.
- BAKING POWDER
- SALT – I use kosher salt
- GARLIC POWDER – this is used twice, once in the batter, and once mixed into the melted butter and poured over the top. Yummy!
- CHEDDAR CHEESE – fresh grated or pre-packaged, this is one recipe where the way you get your cheese grated doesn’t matter!
- BEER – choose one you enjoy. I prefer lighter colored beers for this -(lager, pilsner, wheat beers), the brand doesn’t matter. The flavor does!
- BUTTER – I use salted butter
How to make this recipe:
The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.
LET’S PREP:
Gather your ingredients and a 9×5 loaf pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and open the beer (do try to resist taking a swig, but I won’t judge you if you do!).
LET’S MIX:
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar baking powder, salt, and half of the garlic powder. (Pics 1 & 2). Fold in the cheddar and make sure it’s well distributed (Pics 3 & 4).
Pour in the beer (go slow, so it doesn’t foam up all crazy-like) and gently mix together with a wooden spoon until just combined. The mixture will be lumpy, so don’t overmix, it does not need to be smooth. Shaggy is good. (Pics 5, 6 & 7).
Pour the batter into the prepared bread pan.
Melt the butter and add the remaining garlic powder and mix it up. Pour the butter on top of the batter (Pic 9).
LET’S BAKE:
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes. The loaf is done when a toothpick comes out clean and top is golden brown. And you can’t stand it anymore.
Kylee’s Notes & FAQs
- What kind of beer to use in beer bread?
Use a good one! Seriously, just use a beer that you enjoy (we like a lager in this recipe, but pilsner is also good!) - What about alcohol?
Cooking with beer is totally fine, we’re using it for the flavor – not the alcohol – which is great because cooking it evaporates the alcohol! Let your kids have a slice! - What should I eat with this?
Personally, I like a little butter on mine. But it’s AWESOME with vegetarian chili, broccoli cheddar soup, and is a great sub for cornbread. - How do you know it’s cooked?
Stick a toothpick into it! It should come out clean. The top will be golden. - Mix a little Italian seasoning into the topping. It will remind you a little of Red Lobster Biscuits!
- Change it up! Use gruyere cheese, and add 1/4 cup of cooked, crumbled bacon to the batter. Oh YES PLEASE. I also like to add chopped green chilies to mine. It’s divine.
- Wait until the beer bread has cooled enough before slicing. If you cut into it too soon, it will be stodgy. Stodgy is not good.
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Cheddar Beer Bread
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1 ½ Tbs baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese
- 12 oz beer
- 2 Tbs butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan (mine is 9×5)
- Mix together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and 1 tsp of the garlic powder.
- Fold in the cheddar and mix until everything is well combined.
- Pour in the beer, and mix until just combined – mixture will be lumpy – don’t overmix!
- Melt the butter, and mix in the remaining 1 tsp garlic powder.
- Transfer the batter into the pan, and pour over the garlic butter.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes (loaf will be brown on top, and a toothpick will come out clean when testing).
- Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack.
- Slice with a serrated knife and spread with butter if you choose!
- Devour.
Tips & Notes:
- What kind of beer to use in beer bread?
Use a good one! Seriously, just use a beer that you enjoy (we like a lager in this recipe, but pilsner is also good!) - What about alcohol?
Cooking with beer is totally fine, we’re using it for the flavor – not the alcohol – which is great because cooking it evaporates the alcohol! Let your kids have a slice! - What should I eat with this?
Personally, I like a little butter on mine. But it’s AWESOME with Chili and Soup and is a great sub for Cornbread. - How do you know it’s cooked?
Stick a toothpick into it! It should come out clean. The top will be golden. - Mix a little Italian seasoning into the topping. It will remind you a little of Red Lobster Biscuits!
- Wait until the beer bread has cooled enough before slicing. If you cut into it too soon, it will be stodgy. Stodgy is not good.
nutrition facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
Recipes written and produced on Kylee Cooks are for informational purposes only. Kylee is not a certified nutritionist. Nutritional data provided on Kylee Cooks has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration.
HHuff says
Does it matter if the beer is cold or room temp?
Kylee says
Room temperature is PROBABLY better, but I usually have cold beer (because I like cold beer), and use that with no issues.
Mary says
Can you use nonalcoholic beerwithgood results?
Kylee says
Yes!! The beer is there for flavor only, so pick a beer you enjoy!
Aline says
What have I even been doing with my life until this very moment??? I never tried beer bread before – thanks for saving me lol!! Looks absolutely awesome!!
Lorie says
I now realize how much I have been missing out. My aunt makes delicious beer bread every year but never has she ever added cheese. This one is certainly a game changer!
EA The Spicy RD says
Yum! I used to make beer bread all the time, but haven’t made it in awhile. I’d love to make a gluten free version. Love the addition of cheddar cheese!
Tammy says
I’ve heard so much of beer bread but I’ve never had it before! I would love to make this though..it looks so moist and sounds so delicious! Beer and cheese- that’s a winning combo! 😀
Sharon says
This is the kind of bread I’m talking about! Lots of cheese and fluffy. Would make a great snack or topping with cream cheese and tomato.
Paula Montenegro says
This was amazing, golden, moist and tempting! I made beer bread a few times, but never with cheddar. It takes it up a million notches! Thanks for sharing.
Kelly Anthony says
I could eat my weight in this beer bread. My mom would make something similar growing up and I loved eating it as a snack.
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says
I’ve yet to make a beer bread! It looks delicious, especially with the addition of the cheddar. It looks like something I need to make soon.
GUNJAN C Dudani says
I have never tried baking a bread with beer. I would love to try it. However, I am breastfeeding at the moment. Is there a way I could cut down on the alcohol or should I wait until I am done nursing my little one.
Kylee says
Hi Gunjan
Actually, the alcohol cooks off – I mention it in the post, that it’s safe to let your kids eat it too!
Bernice M Hill says
This bread looks delicious! love the extra step of pouring the butter over top of the loaf…everything is better with butter!
Elaine Benoit says
I love beer bread! I’ve never put cheese in it so I can’t wait to try your recipe. It has such a luscious texture and looks so delicious!
Kate says
You and I are on the same wavelength with beer bread!
Kylee says
Kate, I suspect we are on the same wavelength about a LOT of things!