Here is a winter seasonal item that might not strike you as a winter seasonal item. With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, this might be a decent alternative if you hate caraway seeds and just happen to have a beer and some butter you want to get rid of.
Taste
I bring up Irish Soda Bread for a reason beyond the timing of me reviewing this product. In terms of the texture of the bread, that is pretty much what you are getting here.
This is a "quick bread" despite the name. And yes, you are making bread with what is in essence liquid bread.
However, you won't get the same taste or texture as real bread. Common quick bread would be anything made without yeast like biscuits, muffins, or scones.
But in terms of ease of making this, it doesn't get easier. It's one bowl and one pan.
Empty beer into the bowl with the mix. Mix the bread until combined. Add ¼ cup of melted butter to the top. Put into an oven for nearly an hour.
If you are wondering what beer would go best here, I'd recommend anything you would drink. Because this bread doesn't have a lot of flavor on its own and will take on the profile of whatever you decide to add to this.
Now, if you like (or can consume) cheese, I'd recommend that too. It would add some flavor beyond just the basic taste of the hops in the beer.
This came out a bit plain for my liking. The bread mix was very basic and took on the flavors of the beer that I used (in this case, Hoegaarden is what I had on hand).
It was very light and airy. The cooking directions were on point. The butter is a necessary item as it keeps the top both crisp and moist. I'd recommend using salted butter here too.
Frequently asked questions
The following are common questions with this product
Yes, they do! But this isn't available year-round. This appears on store shelves during the winter months.
Lighter beers will make your bread more mild tasting but any beer you add will impact the flavor of the beer in the final bread.
Overall
For $2.79 it's affordable and makes a decent loaf. You might want to up the flavor before baking this, but otherwise, it made for a decent quick bread. Nothing standout, but no major flaws either.
Would I buy this again? I personally wouldn't buy Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix again, there was nothing too special about it to warrant a repurchase. But if you can find the right adds ins, you might have a pretty quick and easy quick loaf with minimal effort.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Product photos
The box of Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix:
Calories
Ingredients
Directions
If you are going to make this at home, this might be an interesting pairing suggestion with Trader Joe's Bacon Cheddar Cheese. I didn't try it with the cheese, but if I were to buy this again, I would absolutely add the cheese:
After being cooked you get:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe's for a searchable list.
Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix
Product Name: Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix
Product Description: Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix is a quick bread that requires 2 additional ingredients: beer and butter
Price: $2.79
Currency: USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Summary
Trader Joe's Beer Bread Mix requires just 2 additional ingredients
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Makes for a decent quick bread
- This is a pretty blank canvas in terms of taste
- Only requires 2 ingredients
Cons
- Nothing really stands out about this either.
Alek says
Irish Soda Bread would be ideal. Skip the beer and use seltzer instead. There are so many different variations can be used for this.
becomebetty says
Hey Alek! That's great suggestion. Plus it save calories. Thanks so much for sharing!
Markdowns and Letdowns says
Sounds awesome. I’ll have to pick this up next trip to TJ’s! Thxs for the suggestion.
becomebetty says
No problem! Can't wait to read your review!
Dianne Skore says
Ou family loves it. A light beer light beer like Papst Blue Ribbon is best for flavor. Wish it was available during the Xmas holiday season.
becomebetty says
Hey Dianne! Thanks for sharing. I wish this were out right now too.
Indie says
This bread is taking FAR longer than the box said. So I've been googling and even the TJs website says to cook longer than the box. I'm hungry, annoyed, and feel bamboozled. Dinner ruined. Prepare for the possibility that you'll have to cook this bread extra.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing!
Gappy says
I love love love this bread! Wish it was available year round! Love the dense heavy texture! Served warm with butter and honey is to kill for! I have even sliced it when its cooled and made deli sandwiches with the works on it! Ive used many different kinds of beer and its always good! Not sure why anyone would give it an unfavorable review? I have served it to many many friends and family and everyone loved it! When it becomes available again, I’m stocking my pantry with enough to last me a long time
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing!