Making homemade bread doesn't have to be intimidating or require hard-to-find ingredients. With this easy bread recipe, you can have a delicious loaf of freshly baked bread in no time, all with a few simple ingredients. 3 Ingredient bread is similar to quick breads in that there is no yeast and the texture is heartier and denser than a yeast bread recipe.
There is no rising time required for this homemade bread recipe. Get ready to bake the easiest bread recipe there is!
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Why you'll love this 3 ingredient bread
The secret to making this delicious homemade bread with only pantry staples lies in the power of self rising flour! Self-rising flour is a combination of low-protein flour, baking powder, and salt.
With the leavening agent (baking powder) already in the flour, you do not need to worry about adding additional ingredients to your bread.
Other than self-rising flour, you will just need a mild beer, and some sugar to help balance out the bitterness. Serve your bread with butter or jam, or alongside a bowl of soup or stew for a satisfying meal!
Here are a few more reasons to love this recipe:
- It is made with simple, basic ingredients that you likely already have on hand
- This is a no-knead bread, making it a great easy recipe for baking beginners
- 3-ingredient bread is super versatile and can be eaten with sweet toppings or paired with a savory meal
Ingredients & substitutions
As the name of this bread implies, the basic ingredients are only three in this no fuss bread recipe. Butter is entirely optional in this recipe. See the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and the full recipe.
- Self-rising flour: Using self-rising flour kept this bread’s ingredient list short. Self-rising flour already has salt and leavener mixed into a low-protein flour, so all we had to do was add a bit of sugar to balance the tanginess of the mild lager. Do not substitute with all-purpose flour of bread flour. The bread will not rise.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar helps balance the bitterness of the beer. It may be substituted with brown sugar in equal amounts for a flavor variation.
- Mild beer: use a mild-flavored beer or ale, such as Budweiser, in this recipe. Using a darker beer or more heavily flavored beer may change the flavor and texture of this bread.
- Butter: butter in this recipe is optional. Even though that is technically a 4th ingredient, this base bread recipe is only three ingredients.
How to Make 3 Ingredient Bread
Step 1
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400ºF. Brush melted butter liberally on the bottom and sides of an 8 ½ x 4 ½ -inch nonstick loaf pan. Set loaf pan and remaining melted butter aside
Step 2
Stir dry ingredients (flour and sugar) together in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon. Stir in the beer and mix until a shaggy, sticky dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for 15 minutes
Step 3
Transfer the dough to the prepared loaf pan.
Brush 3 tablespoons melted butter over top, smoothing the top of the bread dough a bit as you brush on the melted butter., Reserve about 1 tablespoon of the melted butter for brushing on the baked loaf
Step 4
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with no crumbs attached and the top is light golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. After removing from the oven, Immediately brush top of the loaf with remaining melted butter
Step 5
Transfer pan to wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Turn loaf out onto a wire rack, turn right side up and let cool completely on rack, at least 1 hour. Slice and serve
(optional)
FAQs
Can I substitute another type of flour for self-rising flour?
Do not substitute all-purpose flour or any other type of flour for the self-rising flour. Doing so will result in bread that will not rise.
What type of beer should I use for this bread?
It is best to use a light beer like a pilsner or ale, as a darker, more intensely flavored beer can impact the texture and flavor or your bread.
How to store 3 ingredient bread?
Store your bread in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature on the countertop for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To freeze, tightly wrap the bread in plastic wrap or parchment paper and place it in a sealed container or ziplock bag. Freeze for up to three months.
What else can I make with self-rising flour?
Got leftover self rising flour? Try Self Rising Flour Biscuits and Self Rising Flour Pancakes!
Like this recipe? Follow me on Pinterest for lots more recipes just like this one! And don’t forget to pin this recipe for later by clicking on one of the images below the recipe. Or, click on any of the images in this post to save to Pinterest.
FOR ALL MY FAVORITE BAKING TOOLS INCLUDING THOSE USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE, CHECK OUT MY BAKING RESOURCES PAGE!
More bread recipes
Inspired to try your hand at making more homemade bread? Check out these delicious bread recipes!
Sourdough Challah
Challah is traditional Jewish bread made with sugar and honey. With this recipe, I have adapted my Challah bread to use a sourdough starter in place of yeast! So you can have all of the delicious flavor of sourdough bread, with the fluffiness of Challah!
Pull Apart Pizza Bread
The perfect recipe for any pizza night! This pull-apart pizza bread is made with basic pizza dough, flavored with Italian seasonings and garlic butter, then topped off with melty cheese and pepperoni. It simply can't be beaten!
Banana Bread with Chocolate and Ginger
Banana bread is such a classic treat! But this recipe takes it to the next level with chunks of semi-sweet chocolate and chewy, sweet ginger!
Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
Irish soda bread is a quick bread and doesn't require any kneading, making it a great recipe for first time bread makers! Slather slices of this bread in butter for a hearty, comforting snack that's perfect for St. Patrick's day, or any day of the year!
Honey Wheat Sandwich Bread
Fresh bread takes your everyday sandwich to the next level! And this bread is made with whole wheat flour and is free of refined sugar. It makes for a great weekend baking project that will leave you with delicious sandwich bread that you can use throughout the week!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups self-rising flour*
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 12-ounce mild lager (1 ½ cups) bottle, such as Budweiser
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, divided (optional)
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400ºF. Brush melted butter liberally on the bottom and sides of an 8 ½ x 4 ½ -inch nonstick loaf pan. Set loaf pan and remaining melted butter aside5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Stir flour and sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in beer and mix until a shaggy, sticky dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for 15 minutes3 cups self-rising flour*, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 12-ounce mild lager
- Transfer dough to the prepared loaf pan. Brush 3 tablespoons melted butter over top, smoothing the top of the bread dough a bit as you brush on the melted butter. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of the melted butter for brushing on the baked loaf5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with no crumbs attached and the top is light golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. After removing from the oven, Immediately brush top of the loaf with remaining melted butter
- Transfer pan to wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Turn loaf out onto a wire rack, turn right side up and let cool completely on rack, at least 1 hour. Slice and serve
Video
Notes
- *Do not substitute all-purpose flour for the self-rising flour, or your bread won’t rise
- Darker beers may be used, however, the bread may be darker than the bread in the photos. And, the flavor of the beer may carry through to the baked bread more than a milder lager
- The butter is optional. If not using, spray the loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray such as Pam, before pouring the bread dough in and baking
- Store cooled bread in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature on the countertop for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
- To freeze, tightly wrap the bread in plastic wrap or parchment paper and place it in a sealed container or ziplock bag. Freeze for up to three months. Defrost at room temperature then warm in the oven or toast
- Recipe slightly adapted from CooksIllustrated.com.
Nutrition
Comments
Livie
Perfect! I call this frugal old lady bread! I've never used beer. Always looking too save$, I HAVENT
purchased a loaf of bread in 6 mos. Thank you!
Kimberlee Ho
This bread is like magic, isn't it?! What do you use instead of beer? I want to try it that way, too!
Livia Barreca
I used a lite beer michelob ultra. It was perfect. Kinda had a nutty flavor but perfect alone w real butter! I thank you so much
Kimberlee Ho
Sounds perfect!
Resell Proxies
It’s onerous to find educated people on this topic, however you sound like you realize what you’re talking about! Thanks
Terry
Just made this bread easy peasy. My husband and I love it.
Kimberlee Ho
Great! So glad to hear that 😊.
Mara
Please correct the name of the recipe. There are 4 ingredients, not three. The butter is a necessary ingredient to make this recipe work correctly even if it is
just to coat the pan and dough. I made the mistake of leaving out the butter because the recipe said three ingredients and ended up with a dry rock hard bread.
Kimberlee Ho
Thanks for your suggestion, however, I do have to disagree. The butter is not required. I've made this recipe with and without the butter and while I like the flavor the butter provides the loaf, it does not impact the way the loaf bakes up.