Dutch Oven Beer Bread Recipe – Milk and Pop (2024)

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Couldn’t finish that beer and you’re gonna thrown it away? Stop! Let me give you a new use for this leftover.

I used to drink a lot when I was younger. Until recently, I didn’t know what was not to finish a can of beer or a bottle of wine. Now that I’m a light drinker, there’s always some wine waiting to be finished in my fridge, or some warm unfinished beer ready to be thrown in the sink. I’m not a fan of waste, especially when it comes to beer. I had to fix that without forcing myself to drink it all.

Years ago I’ve found where to use my leftover wine, but leftover beer? What could hardly go wrong if following a recipe, and if it does, would still be edible? Bread, of course!

Dutch Oven Beer Bread Recipe – Milk and Pop (1)

Why try this recipe:

  • You love trying new things;
  • Have some leftover beer;
  • Want to bake beer bread without baking powder;
  • Want a vegan beer bread recipe (you just have to make sure your beer is vegan).

Does this bread taste like beer?

Usually no, it doesn’t! But it may depend.

I usually use pilsner for this recipe, and its taste goes completely after it’s baked. Never tried with a stout, but I think using a Guinness in this recipe would give an amazing result, and the final colour of the bread would be beautiful.

I know a very strong IPA leaves some of its taste - but a good one! Hard cider may also leave a taste, but you can totally make this bread with it.

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What is the best beer to make beer bread with, then?

Again, it depends. If you do it with a pilsner, it definitely will taste like bread, and bread only. With that said, if you don’t mind having a beerish taste, you can pretty much try it with any beer you’d like.

As I don’t use sugar here, if you prefer your bread sightly sweet, use a beer less bitter, or switch the beer for a cider - also a good fit for this recipe. Use whatever beer or cider you want, there are millions of possibilities for this recipe!

Will beer bread make me drunk?

No, it won't. Baking this bread basically evaporates the alcohol in it, only leaving the flavor.

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How do I store this bread?

In a bread keeper or closed recipient, after the bread has cooled down. It lasts for about 3 days. After that time, the bread starts to dry out - still good for a toast, though.

Does it freeze well?

I wouldn’t recomend freezing this bread - mostly because I don’t like to freeze bread. I think freezing it changes the texture, and fresh bread always tastes better.

Can I bake it without a dutch oven?

I would stick with a dutch oven for this recipe. But yes, you can try to do it without one: instead of skipping the preheat, do it for 15 minutes before baking your bread. Shape your bread into a ball, put on a sheet pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden on top.

But be aware: the crust won't be the same. We use a dutch oven to bake this bread so it has a humid enough environment to develop an artisan-style crust.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer to knead?

If you don’t, you’ll have to do it the hard way. Knead your dough for about 15 minutes to get the same results as you would on a stand mixer.

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What to serve with this bread?

I love spreading jam on it! This bread is also great for toasting, as it is for making grilled cheese. If you’re going with the last one, don’t forget to add some onion chutney to it.

Want more bread recipes? If you’re running out of time, try my quick bread, or if you’re digging something indulgent, try this pumpkin brioche.

📖 Recipe

Dutch Oven Beer Bread Recipe – Milk and Pop (7)

Dutch Oven Beer Bread

Tatiana Kamakura

This vegan beer bread has an amazing crust, it's super easy to make, and you can customize it with the beer of your choice!

4.93 from 57 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Additional Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Servings 12 slices

Calories 137 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ tablespoon instant yeast
  • 350 ml beer of your choice room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, or in the bowl of your stand mixer, mix flour, yeast, beer and salt together.

  • Using thedough hook at low speed, mix until dough starts to form and no dry flour remains (about 2 minutes). Scrap down the bowl if needed.

  • When the dough is formed, knead in your mixer for about 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a humid kitchen towel and let it rise for 1 hour and a half to 2 hours, or until the dough doubles in size.

  • Line a dutch oven with parchment paper and flour it lightly.

  • Shape the dough into a ball by pulling its edges into the middle. Put in the center of the dutch oven. Let it rest for 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.

  • Adjust oven rack to middle position. Using a sharp knife or razor, make two ¼ inch slices on top of the loaf, forming a cross. DO NOT PREHEAT your oven.

  • Cover the dutch oven with its lid and place it in the oven. Turn it to 400° F and bake the loaf for 25 minutes.

  • After 25 minutes, carefully remove the lid and continue to bake for another 30 minutes, or until the loaf is deep golden brown on top.

  • Remove the bread from thedutch oven and transfer to a wire rack.

  • Let it cool completely before serving.

Video

Notes

If you don't have a stand mixer, you can still make this bread: use a spoon to mix your ingredients, and knead the dough by hand for about 10 minutes, or until it reaches a smooth and elastic texture.

I always used parchment paper to make this bread and never had any problem, but if you never used it before and are afraid it will stick to your bread, you can omit it and flour heavily your dutch oven before placing the dough shaped.

Quick note on scoring the bread: make ¼ inch deep slices when scoring, and make them longer than I did on the video. I scored this bread poorly and it ended up blooming all wrong.

About the crust: although all-purpose flour will totally give you a nice crust, bread flour will improve it greatly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 4gSodium: 293mgFiber: 1g

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Dutch Oven Beer Bread Recipe – Milk and Pop (2024)

FAQs

What does adding milk to bread dough do? ›

The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter. The crust of the bread also gets more caramelization. Be aware that bread made with milk should not be baked at too high of a temperature to prevent it from browning too much too soon.

Does using milk instead of water make bread softer? ›

In the dough stage, milk increases water absorption. Consequently, dough made with milk should come softer from the mixer than dough made with water.

Why is more liquid needed when using milk compared to water when making yeast bread? ›

You would enrich the dough with milk proteins and fat. You will need a bit more milk than the amount of water required (because of the milk solids). The dough will be softer, the crumb less open.

Which beer makes the best beer bread? ›

Lighter beers, such as lagers, ales and pilsners, will give your bread a lighter color, and mild taste that just about everyone loves. Darker beers like stouts and porters make a darker-colored loaf and have a stronger beer flavor. Hoppy beers like IPAs will give your bread a more bitter taste.

What happens when you use milk instead of water in a bread recipe? ›

Milk changes bread recipes by producing a softer loaf, due to the milk fat content, which also gives bread a richer flavor. Bread made with milk browns more easily than bread made with water, as lactose or milk sugar will caramelize as it bakes.

What happens if you use milk instead of water in dough? ›

Using milk instead of water in your yeasted bread is an easy way to add a touch of sweetness, making it ideal for challah, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, and hot dog buns. Milk sugars not only add a hint of sweetness but also result in a softer, more uniform crumb and ensure a nicely browned crust.

What is the secret to softer bread? ›

Bread Making Tips For Softer Bread
  1. Do Not Over-Knead Your Dough. ...
  2. Ensure Dough is Well Hydrated. ...
  3. Lubricate With Oil. ...
  4. Add Sugar. ...
  5. Add Eggs. ...
  6. Reduce Baking Time. ...
  7. Create Steam in Oven. ...
  8. Add Milk.
Mar 27, 2023

What is the best milk for baking bread? ›

The more fat you have in milk, the more the texture of the bake will change. You want bakes to be moist, so this means you should choose milk with a higher fat content to achieve this. Therefore the best milk to use during baking is in most cases whole milk.

Does milk make bread more tender? ›

One of the main roles of milk in baking is to provide moisture. It can help to keep baked goods from becoming too dry and crumbly, and can also add tenderness to the texture. In addition to adding moisture, milk can also help to create a softer crumb in breads and cakes.

What does adding butter to bread dough do? ›

Butter, technically a dough enrichment, tenderizes bread dough and limits gluten development, yielding a softer, more tender crumb and a richer flavor. The butter in this sourdough babka dough makes the interior tender—and delicious. Photo by Maurizio Leo.

What does sugar do for bread? ›

Adding sugar to the dough provides the yeast with the food it needs to thrive. Flavor: Sugar adds sweetness to the bread, which can help balance out the flavors of other ingredients in the dough. The type and amount of sugar used can also affect the overall flavor profile of the bread.

Is it better to use oil or butter for bread? ›

The spongy texture and moist flavor that oil creates can be a boon to certain recipes. Not to mention oil is cheaper and easier to work with. Butter will always provide superior flavor and that melt-in-your-mouth texture. In many recipes, combining the two gives the best of both worlds.

Which beer has the most yeast? ›

Hefeweizen is a classic example of beer that is not especially high in alcohol, typically coming in between 4% and 6%, but it has perhaps the highest levels of yeast suspended in the beer. Hefes are known for their cloudy, hazy appearance and their nice thick head.

Does beer have to be warm for beer bread? ›

Use room temperature beer: This helps the bread rise and creates a better texture than cold beer. Don't over-mix: After adding the beer to the dry ingredients, mix enough until just incorporated and nothing more. Overworking the dough will create a very dense loaf.

What kind of beer is used in Trader Joe's beer bread? ›

It's also the phrase you'll find gracing each box of Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix. The flavor of the finished loaf really depends on what kind of beer you use: Go with a lager for a lighter profile, an IPA for a hearty, hoppy taste, or a stout for a rich result with a slightly darker finished product.

Should I add milk to dough? ›

Milk contains fat and protein, which can make the dough more flavorful and tender. The fat in milk can also help to create a softer and more pliable dough, which can make it easier to stretch and shape. Additionally, the lactose in milk will add a subtle sweetness to the dough.

How does milk affect a dough or batter? ›

Adds moisture

The balance of dry and wet ingredients is a fundamental concept that every baker should know. Along with water, butter, and eggs, milk is one of those ingredients that adds the required moisture for the batter to form.

Can you knead dough with milk? ›

But knead dough with milk if you want crispy And fluffy parathas . I would say using milk around 20 percent along with water around 80 percent, or even by using curdled milk (without the water) will make the chapati softer than mixing wheat flour just with plain water.

Does the type of milk matter when baking bread? ›

Generally speaking the more fat in the milk you're using, the more moist and fine you'll find the texture of whatever you're baking. It's really a trade-off between cooking up a healthier option or one with a superior texture.

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