Amish Friendship Bread Starter & Loaf
This delightful Amish Friendship Bread, though not exclusively from the Amish, brings joy and warmth to any kitchen. It's a perfect way to share love and friendship through baking, creating a deliciously moist and sweet bread that can be shared with friends and family. The starter grows over 10 days, inviting you to nurture it and share the fun of baking, resulting in a rich, cinnamon-scented loaf that can be enjoyed warm with butter, or toasted for breakfast. Enhance the experience by adding raisins or nuts for extra texture and flavor. Gather your loved ones and spread the joy of homemade baking!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
dry active yeast
1 (1/4 ounce) package (dissolved in warm water)
milk
1 cup (at room temperature)
flour
1 cup (plus additional for the recipe)
sugar
1 cup (plus additional for the recipe)
eggs
3 (beaten)
vegetable oil
1 cup (or half oil and half applesauce)
baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (sifted)
vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon (pure)
cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoons (ground)
instant vanilla pudding
1 (5 1/8 ounce) box (dry)
raisins
1 cup (optional)
nuts
1 cup (chopped and optional)
Instructions
1
Dissolve the yeast in a small amount of warm water and set aside for about 5 minutes until frothy.
2
In a large gallon-sized Ziploc bag, mix together the dissolved yeast, 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup sugar. This marks Day 1.
3
Day 1: Let the bag sit at room temperature, do not refrigerate.
4
Day 2-4: Gently mush the bag to mix the ingredients and get your starter growing.
5
Day 5: Continue to mush the bag.
6
Day 6: Add to the bag 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Mush the bag again.
7
Day 7-9: Keep mushing the bag daily.
8
Day 10: Pour the entire contents of the bag into a large non-metal bowl.
9
To create four starters, add 1.5 cups of flour, sugar, and milk to the mixture. For one starter, add 0.5 cup each of flour, sugar, and milk. Stir until smooth, adding the milk gradually to avoid lumps.
10
Label four (or one) gallon-sized Ziploc bags with 'Day 1' and the current date. Pour 1 cup of the mixture into each bag to create starters for sharing.
11
Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
12
To the remaining batter, add 3 eggs, 1.5 teaspoons baking powder, 1 cup oil (or a mix of oil and applesauce), 0.5 teaspoon baking soda, 0.5 cup milk, 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cup sugar, 2 cups flour, 0.5 teaspoon salt, 1 large box vanilla instant pudding, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and optional raisins and nuts. For better mixing, combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl first.
13
Grease and flour two large loaf pans, dusting them with a mixture of 0.5 cup sugar and 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon.
14
Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.
15
Bake for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
16
Allow the bread to cool in the pans until it easily loosens, then transfer to a serving dish. Enjoy warm or cooled!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amish Friendship Bread?
It is a sweet, cinnamon-scented moist bread made from a starter that is nurtured over 10 days and shared with friends and family.
How long does it take to prepare the starter for Amish Friendship Bread?
The starter process takes 10 days of nurturing at room temperature before it is ready to be baked and shared.
Should I refrigerate the Amish Friendship Bread starter?
No, you should let the bag sit at room temperature; do not refrigerate it during the 10-day cycle.
What do I do with the starter bag on Days 2 through 4?
During days 2 through 4, you should gently mush the bag to mix the ingredients and help the starter grow.
When do I first add ingredients to the starter after Day 1?
On Day 6, you add 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of milk to the bag and mush it again.
What happens on Day 10 of the bread-making process?
On Day 10, you pour the bag's contents into a non-metal bowl, feed it further, divide it into new starters, and bake the remaining batter.
How do I create four starters to share with friends?
Add 1.5 cups each of flour, sugar, and milk to the Day 10 mixture, stir until smooth, and then pour 1 cup into four separate gallon-sized bags.
Can I make just one starter instead of four?
Yes, to create just one starter, add only 0.5 cup each of flour, sugar, and milk to the mixture on Day 10.
How should I label the bags for friends?
Label each gallon-sized Ziploc bag with 'Day 1' and the current date so the recipient knows when to start their cycle.
What is the baking temperature for the bread?
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) before baking the loaves.
Can I use a healthier alternative for the oil in the recipe?
Yes, you can use a mix of oil and applesauce to reduce the fat content of the bread.
What kind of pudding mix is required for the batter?
The recipe calls for one large box of vanilla instant pudding mix.
How many loaf pans does one recipe yield?
The recipe makes enough batter for two large loaf pans.
How should I prepare the loaf pans before baking?
Grease and flour the pans, then dust them with a mixture of 0.5 cup sugar and 1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon.
How long does the Amish Friendship Bread need to bake?
Bake the loaves for approximately 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
What ingredients are added to the batter on Day 10 for baking?
Add 3 eggs, baking powder, oil (or applesauce), baking soda, milk, vanilla, sugar, flour, salt, vanilla pudding, and cinnamon.
Can I add extra texture to the bread?
Yes, you can enhance the texture and flavor by adding optional raisins and chopped nuts to the batter.
What type of yeast is used to start the bread?
The recipe uses one 1/4 ounce package of dry active yeast dissolved in warm water.
Should I use metal or non-metal bowls for the starter?
It is recommended to use a large non-metal bowl when mixing the starter on Day 10.
What do I do if I see lumps while adding milk to the Day 10 mixture?
Stir the mixture until smooth and add the milk gradually to avoid forming lumps.
How do I know when the bread is ready to be removed from the pans?
Allow the bread to cool in the pans until it easily loosens before transferring it to a serving dish.
What is the best way to serve Amish Friendship Bread?
It can be enjoyed warm with butter, or toasted for breakfast.
How much cinnamon is needed for the dusting mixture?
The dusting mixture for the pans and the topping requires 1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon mixed with 0.5 cup of sugar.
Does the recipe use baking soda or baking powder?
The recipe uses both: 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder and 0.5 teaspoon of baking soda.
What kind of oil should be used?
The recipe specifies 1 cup of vegetable oil, which can be partially substituted with applesauce.
Is there a specific way to mix the dry ingredients for the loaf?
For better mixing, it is suggested to combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl before adding them to the batter.
What size of Ziploc bag is recommended?
A large gallon-sized Ziploc bag is recommended for the starter.
How much vanilla extract is used in the bread?
The recipe calls for 0.5 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Can the bread be eaten cold?
Yes, the bread is delicious whether it is served warm or cooled.
What are common tags for this recipe?
Common tags include friendship bread, amish bread, baking, yeast bread, comfort food, and starter.