Published: · Modified: by Makos
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
This honey and beer bread is a quick brown bread recipe without yeast. You just need one bowl to make it, no bread machine and no mixer!
Now everyone can be a baker!
This no yeast bread is a revelation. The first time we met was at a family dinner, and it was brought there by my aunt, along with some one pan baked Greek burgers and potatoes.
She informed me that she had seen the recipe in a magazine and that it was very easy and it only took her a few minutes to prepare.
After tasting it I knew that I would be making it the next day.
This bread uses honey and beer to become more flavorful and tasty. My aunt also added olives because she loves them, and I have to say that it wa an exceptional idea.
The beer gives it a malty smell with a hint of caramel and dried fruits (although this will depend also from the type of beer you’ll use) which pairs perfectly with the subtle sweetness from the honey.
The contrasting olives create a nice speckled interior with little umami bursts. If I start nibbling it when still warm, it’s almost impossible for me to stop!
I used to have some prejudice about no yeast bread. I mean, can you compare it with the texture and flavor of a yeasty bread?
The crackling noise of the exterior, the crunchy crust and the soft, chewy interior with various sized holes are pretty tough to beat.
Moreover, breads with yeast take time to rise and mature.
This gives them the opportunity to develop the gluten (texture) and the complexity of flavor due to the hardworking living microorganisms that eat the carbohydrates of the flour.
This is called fermentation.
This long process combined with a good kneading ensures that the bread will be fresh for a longer period of time and won’t go stale quickly.
A no yeast bread lacks all of that, hence my prejudice. Luckily, this recipe showed me that we have to be open-minded inside the kitchen!
My aunt used self raising white flour while I use one part white flour and two parts whole wheat flour. And if I remember correctly, hers must have been a bit fluffier than mine.
With the whole wheat flour the bread came out a little dense, with small pockets of air and very moist.
Because it wasn’t very fluffy, I thought that the next day would be stale. But guess what, it wasn’t. Another good surprise!
Though I have to admit that, eating it at the same day as baked is highly suggested.
After all, this is the whole purpose of this recipe: a bread that you can whip up in no time and after 45 minutes in the oven you have it freshly baked and steaming on your kitchen table.
Maybe you had some unexpected guests. Maybe you couldn’t go buy one. Maybe you just wanted an excuse to bake something right here, right now. This is your answer.
If you’re up to it, you can skip the olives and add some grated cheese instead, or add both. Olives and crumbled feta cheese with some oregano will also be a nice combination. Or even some sun dried tomatoes…
Cut it into some thick slices and dip it into the sauce of this delicious 30 minute sausage and peppers stew or eat it with this one pan baked fish with vegetables. The possibilities are endless here! And don’t get me started about the sandwiches you can make with it…
Note: My aunt’s recipe required a can of beer, but I used half beer and half water since I found the taste of beer a bit overwhelming.
If you don’t want to drink the beer you’ll have left, you can of course use it all (and no water). Usually its taste grows stronger after the second day.
📖 Recipe
Quick honey and beer bread recipe (no yeast)
Makos
This honey and beer bread is a quick brown bread recipe without yeast. You just need one bowl to make it, no bread machine and no mixer!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Bread
Cuisine American, Mediterranean
Servings 8 servings
Calories 275 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups bread flour
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅔ cup beer
- ⅔ cup water
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup sliced and pitted olives, black or green (optional)
- Some extra whole wheat flour for dusting
Instructions
Preheat your oven at 350 °F (175°C) and grease a pan with olive oil.
In a large bowl mix all of the dry ingredients with a fork (use 1 cup of bread flour and set aside the other ½ cup). Add the liquids and the olives (if using) and mix well with the fork. You should get a soft, pliable dough. If the dough is very sticky, add the rest of the flour 2 tablespoons at a time.
Grease your hands with some olive oil and form a ball with the dough. You don't have to knead it, just form a ball. Place it onto the greased pan and sprinkle with some flour. With a wet knife score the surface of the dough and make a cross.
Bake for 45 minutes (middle rack) or until well browned and when you tap it you can hear a hollow sound. Let in a rack to cool.
Notes
This recipe uses ⅔ of a cup beer and ⅔ of a cup water. You can make it using only beer (1 ⅓ cups) but I personally find the taste too intense.
Don't be afraid of using the olives, they add small bursts of umami flavor. The only time I wouldn't use them is if I wanted to serve this bread with something sweet, like butter and jam.
Nutrition
Calories: 275kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
More Bread Recipes
- Tsoureki – Greek Easter Bread
- How to make Pita Bread
- Basic focaccia bread recipe
- Homemade cinnamon rolls recipe with the best icing
Top 10 Best Mediterranean Recipes for 2024
17 Best Vanilla Sugar Substitutes (with a Chart)
See All Recipes →
Reader Interactions
Comments
Michael
Looks so good!!
Reply
Makos
Thank you very much Michael!!! 🙂
Reply
Gloria
Hi Makos!
I’ve tried baking bread with beer before and it was a total flop but this receipe is fantastic! It came out so well, I almost ate the whole thing on my own!!!! It’s amazingly delicious and easy! Thanks so much for sharing!Reply
Makos
Hi Gloria!
Thanks for trying this recipe, I'm very happy you liked it! 🙂Reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
