Peach & Pineapple Friendship Starter
This unique Peach & Pineapple Friendship Starter is a delightful blend of sweet tropical fruits and sugar that sets the stage for creating rich, flavorful fruitcakes. This starter ferments over time, developing its distinct sweetness and complexity, perfect for sharing with friends and family. The process takes time and care, but the joy of gifting homemade fruitcakes made from this starter is incomparable. Follow the instructions to maintain a cycle of creating, sharing, and enjoying these delicious cakes with the people you love. Recommended for use in Recipe #40994.
5
Servings
320
Calories
5
Ingredients
Ingredients
Canned peach slices in heavy syrup
3/4 cup (drained)
Canned pineapple chunks in syrup
3/4 cup (drained)
Red maraschino cherries
4 ounces (drained and halved)
Granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups (none)
Active dry yeast
1 (1/4 ounce) package (none)
Instructions
1
In a 1-gallon glass jar with a wide mouth and lid, combine the drained peach slices, pineapple chunks, halved maraschino cherries, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Ensure the yeast is thoroughly mixed with the syrup for even fermentation.
2
On the first day, stir the mixture twice. Subsequently, stir once every day, keeping the jar loosely covered at room temperature. Do not refrigerate the mixture.
3
Two weeks after starting the mixture, add an additional 1/2 cup of drained peach slices and 1/2 cup of drained pineapple chunks into the jar, stirring the mixture every day.
4
After several days, drain 2 cups of mixed fruit from the jar for use in the fruitcake recipe. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of starter juice in the glass jar.
5
This reserved juice now counts as Day One of renewing your starter. To this juice, add 2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and a 2-lb can of peaches (including syrup). Stir daily, keeping the mixture loosely covered.
6
On Day 10, add another 2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar along with a 2-lb can of pineapple chunks (with juice) and continue stirring daily.
7
On Day 20, add 2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and 8 to 10 oz of drained and halved maraschino cherries. Stir daily.
8
On Day 30, drain the fruit mixture, reserving 1 1/2 cups of juice for renewing the starter. Use the drained fruit to bake 3 cakes or give excess starter juice to friends, starting a new batch of fruit as described. You will have enough excess starter juice to share with about four friends while keeping enough for your own use.
9
The drained fruit can be frozen until you are ready to bake the cakes. Remember to stir the remaining fruit mixture daily until it is fully utilized.
Nutrition Information
0g
Fat
80g
Carbs
1.6g
Protein
0.8g
Fiber
70g
Sugar
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Peach & Pineapple Friendship Starter?
It is a sweet blend of tropical fruits, sugar, and yeast that ferments over time to create a flavorful base for fruitcakes.
Which ingredients are needed to begin the starter?
You will need drained peach slices in heavy syrup, drained pineapple chunks, drained and halved maraschino cherries, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast.
What size container is required for this recipe?
A 1-gallon glass jar with a wide mouth and a lid is required.
How do I start the fermentation?
Combine the drained fruit, sugar, and yeast in the jar, ensuring the yeast is thoroughly mixed with the syrup.
How many times should I stir the mixture on the first day?
The mixture should be stirred twice on the first day.
How often should the mixture be stirred after the first day?
After the first day, you should stir the mixture once every day.
Can I store the starter in the refrigerator?
No, the mixture should be kept at room temperature and should not be refrigerated.
How should the glass jar be covered?
The jar should be kept loosely covered to allow the fermentation process to occur.
When is the first additional fruit added to the starter?
Additional fruit is added two weeks (14 days) after starting the initial mixture.
How much additional fruit is added on the 14th day?
Add 1/2 cup of drained peach slices and 1/2 cup of drained pineapple chunks.
How much fruit should be drained for the cake recipe?
After several days following the two-week mark, drain 2 cups of mixed fruit for use in your fruitcake.
How much starter juice should be reserved?
You must reserve 1 1/2 cups of starter juice in the glass jar to continue the cycle.
When does the renewal cycle begin?
The renewal cycle begins on the day you reserve the 1 1/2 cups of juice, which becomes Day One.
What ingredients are added on the first day of renewal?
Add 2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and a 2-lb can of peaches along with their syrup.
Should the peach syrup be included during the renewal phase?
Yes, the 2-lb can of peaches used on Day One of renewal should include the syrup.
What is added to the starter on Day 10 of the renewal?
On Day 10, add 2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and a 2-lb can of pineapple chunks with their juice.
Should the pineapple juice be included on Day 10?
Yes, the pineapple chunks should be added with their juice.
What is added to the starter on Day 20?
On Day 20, add 2 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and 8 to 10 ounces of drained and halved maraschino cherries.
How should the maraschino cherries be prepared?
The cherries should be drained and halved before being added to the mixture.
What happens on Day 30 of the cycle?
Drain the fruit mixture, reserve 1 1/2 cups of juice for renewal, and use the fruit for baking or sharing.
How many cakes can be made from the drained fruit?
One full cycle of drained fruit is enough to bake three cakes.
Can I share the excess juice with others?
Yes, excess starter juice can be given to friends to help them start their own batches.
How many friends can receive a portion of the starter?
There is typically enough excess starter juice to share with about four friends.
Is it possible to freeze the drained fruit?
Yes, the drained fruit can be frozen until you are ready to bake the cakes.
Which specific recipe is this starter recommended for?
This starter is highly recommended for use in Recipe #40994.
What kind of yeast is used for the fermentation?
The recipe calls for one 1/4 ounce package of active dry yeast.
How many servings does this starter recipe yield?
This recipe yields approximately 5 servings.
How much fat is in a serving of the starter?
There is 0g of fat in one serving of this starter.
What is the carbohydrate content per serving?
Each serving contains approximately 80g of carbohydrates.
How much sugar is contained in one serving?
One serving of the starter contains 70g of sugar.