This Everything Spiced Beer Bread is perfectly seasoned, herby, and has a fabulous crust on top. Baking it in a large square pan, as opposed to a bread pan, ensures you have plenty of awesome crust in each serving!
Beer bread is such a slap-dash way to make bread and I love it. However I made 2 big changes to my recipe that I think make it better! First, I drastically reduced the amount of butter that is scattered on top. People out here be putting a whole stick of butter on top which creates such an overwhelming flavor. If I wanted uber-buttery bread I’d just make biscuits! Secondly, I bake beer bread into a square cake pan (so I guess it’s like beer cake?). I like doing this because I get way more of that deliciousy dimpled top crust!
I bought this can opener while I was in Sibiu which is this magical little city in Romania. I stayed in this little old apartment from the 1500’s (THE 1500’S!!!!) and it was beyond amazing. If you wanna go somewhere magical, go to Sibiu!
I also make sure to add sugar to my recipe because it helps with the rise and I find that sugar, in small doses, really elevates savory flavors. Think about the way an extra hit of salt really compliments sweet dishes (salted chocolate chip cookies anyone!?) well it is just like that but in reverse! I know some people are all hyped up about sugar in everything like “agh! attack of the sugar!” but it is just 2 Tablespoons for NINE servings. Just go with it!
I find that beer bread is an amazing side for chili, stew, and soup. This isn’t some light and feathery bread, it is dense and crusty and 1 square will really tide you over! My absolute favorite way to serve this everything spice beer bread? With my Vegetarian Pumpkin Chili!
Not a fan of beer? Don’t worry! There is a beer aroma to this bread but it isn’t overwhelming, it just adds a nice background flavor. I am not a beer drinker but I do enjoy some beer cocktails so I’d compare this recipe to that. The hoppy flavor is a really nice backdrop for the more pronounced savory, herby, and everything bagel-y flavors.
I hope you make and enjoy this everything spice beer bread soon! 🙂
Gonna make this beer bread? Serve it with some of these recipes!
Fried Bologna and Omelette Ciabatta Breakfast Sandwich (use the beer bread as a sub for the ciabatta!)
20 minute Vegetarian Chickpea Minestrone Soup (Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot)
Everything Spice Beer Bread
Amazingly spiced beer bread baked in a pan for easy slice and serving!
Ingredients
- 3 cups self-rising flour (480g) Note 1
- 3 Tablespoons white sugar (36g) Note 2½
- ¾ Teaspoon table salt
- 1 Teaspoon dried oregano substitute with another herb of your choice
- ¼ Teaspoon each: black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper
- 12 ounce beer Note 3
- 1 Tablespoon Everything Bagel Seasoning
- 2-4 Tablespoons Butter Note 4
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a metal 9x9x2 pan with baking spray, set aside. (Only have a 8x8x2? That'll work! Just note that the bread will be thicker/taller and take a few more minutes to bake!)
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In a large mixing bowl add the flour, sugar, salt, herb and seasoning (but NOT the bagel seasoning!). Use a fork to whisk it together. Add all 12 ounces of beer…it may be tempting to take a sip but don't! I find that the batter requires a full 12 ounces! Continue using the fork to combine the beer into the flour mix. It will create a very thick and heavy batter.
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Plop the batter into the prepared pan and help push it into all 4 corners. Top the dough evenly with the Bagel Spice. Cut up 1-4 Tablespoons of butter into a small dice and scatter over the top of the dough. (Some people like to add a whole bunch of butter on top but I find that unneccesary! I like just a few tablespoons to encourage some browning on top)
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Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes. The beer bread is done when it has risen a bit and an inserted toothpick comes out clean! Place the pan on a rack and cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and finish cooling on the rack.
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I find that this beer bread is best served on the day of. I love serving it with some chili or stew!
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Self-rising flour can be easily purchased in stores or you can make your own!For each cup of all purpose flour stir in 1.5 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon table salt. For this recipe since we need 3 cups flour, you’ll stir in 4.5 teaspoons baking powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt.
Note 2: The sugar does not make it sweet. It works with the baking powder and beer to help the bread rise. I also find that a bit of sugar helps enhance all the other flavors within the bread!
Note 3: I used Pacifico beer for this recipe whenever I tested it. I like using a lighter flavored beer since I am not the biggest fan of heavy beer flavors. With Pacifico, you still get the beer taste but it isn’t heavy-handed. Feel free to use whatever flavor beer (as long as its 12 ounces) you like!
Note 4: Some recipes call for like 1/2 a cup of butter placed on top and honestly I really, really dislike what it does to beer bread. It is way too much butter and I am just not a fan! I use a just a bit of butter to encourage some browning on top. I also find that the crust is a bit thicker and denser without all that extra butter and I love it that way.
