This Trader Joe’s Beer Bread is a rustic, crusty, and incredibly easy recipe, which is the perfect homemade copycat of the popular boxed mix. It’s a classic quick bread that requires no yeast and no kneading, resulting in a dense, moist loaf with a wonderfully buttery crust. It’s the ultimate simple side, ready in under an hour.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Beer Bread Ingredients
- 3 cups sifted Trader Joe’s All-Purpose Flour (350g)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 2 to 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 (12-ounce) bottle of Trader Joe’s Simpler Times Lager or your favorite beer, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted, plus additional for greasing the loaf pan
How To Make Trader Joe’s Beer Bread
- Prep the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Generously butter a 9×5-inch or 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan.
- Mix the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Combine and Rest: Pour in the room-temperature beer and stir with a spatula or wooden spoon only until the ingredients are just combined. Be careful not to over-mix; the batter will be very thick and shaggy, and a few lumps are perfectly fine.
- Bake the Bread: Spoon the thick batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it out so it reaches all four corners. Drizzle the 2 tablespoons of melted butter evenly over the top of the batter.
- Bake Until Golden: Bake for 35-55 minutes. The bread is done when the top is a deep golden brown and a cake tester or long wooden skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire rack. Serve the bread warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Tips
- How to get a tender, not tough, bread? The most important secret to any quick bread is to not overmix the batter. Stir the wet and dry ingredients together only until you no longer see big streaks of dry flour. A lumpy, messy batter is exactly what you want for a tender result.
- The Ultimate Trader Joe’s Shortcut: While this from-scratch version is incredibly easy, for the absolute quickest method, grab a box of Trader Joe’s Beer Bread Mix and just add beer and melted butter!
- How does beer affect the flavor? The type of beer you use will have a big impact on the final taste. A light lager (like the Simpler Times Lager) will give you a mild, classic flavor. A darker beer like a stout or a hoppy IPA will result in a much more robust and flavorful loaf.
- Why pour butter on top? Drizzling the melted butter over the top of the batter before baking is a key step that you shouldn’t skip. It’s the secret to creating the signature wonderfully crisp, chewy, and buttery top crust.
What To Serve With Beer Bread
This is a classic, rustic bread that is fantastic on its own, but its savory-sweet flavor makes it a perfect accompaniment to many dishes. Serve it:
- Warm from the oven, with a thick smear of good quality salted butter.
- Alongside a hearty bowl of chili or a beef stew.
- As a base for a cheesy dip, like Trader Joe’s Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip.
- Toasted and topped with sharp cheddar cheese.
How To Store Beer Bread
- Room Temperature: This bread is at its absolute best when it is served warm on the day it is made. If you have leftovers, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refresh: As the recipe notes, you can refresh a day-old loaf by wrapping it in foil and warming it for 8-10 minutes in a 350°F oven.
Beer Bread Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1 slice
- Calories: 227kcal
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 3g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Beer bread is naturally a very dense and moist quick bread, not a light and airy yeast bread. However, if it seems overly heavy or tough, it is almost always the result of overmixing the batter.
Yes, absolutely! About 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese and a few chopped jalapeños, or 2-3 tablespoons of fresh herbs like rosemary or chives, are all fantastic additions. Gently fold them in with the dry ingredients.
Yes, it is highly recommended. Using a room temperature beer helps the batter to combine more easily and ensures a more even bake. A very cold beer can sometimes inhibit the chemical reaction of the baking powder.
Try More Recipes:
Trader Joe’s Beer Bread Recipe
Course: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy12
servings10
minutes45
minutes277
kcalA classic, no-yeast quick bread that is incredibly easy to make, featuring a dense, moist crumb and a wonderfully crispy, buttery top crust.
Ingredients
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp table salt
2-4 tbsp granulated sugar
1 (12-oz) bottle of beer, room temperature
2 tbsp melted butter, plus more for greasing
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
- Pour in the beer and stir with a spatula only until the ingredients are just combined. Do not overmix.
- Spoon the thick batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the batter.
- Bake for 35-55 minutes, until the top is deep golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.
Notes
- Don’t Overmix: The most important tip for this recipe is to stir the batter only until it is just combined. Overmixing is the number one cause of a tough, dry beer bread.
- Butter the Top: The final drizzle of melted butter over the batter before baking is the non-negotiable secret to the signature crisp, chewy, and delicious crust.
- Room Temp Beer: For the best results and an even bake, make sure your beer is at room temperature, not ice-cold from the fridge.
- Customize Your Beer: This bread is a perfect way to experiment with different beers. A light lager from Trader Joe’s will give a mild flavor, while a darker stout
