Amish Friendship Bread and Starter Recipes

I received an Amish friendship bread starter from a friend. This is the second time I received one. The first time I forgot all about it and never made the bread. This time I took care of the starter and actually made the bread.

The bread is very good, sweet but not too sweet. I would not use it for sandwiches but it is great for breakfast or a snack. Miss loves this bread, so I kept a starter to make this bread every ten days. I like this recipe because it is all about giving. You give the starter to your friends and family and you can also give the finished product away.

Starter recipe
Reminder: Do not use any metal bowls, spoons or utensils. Nothing metal at all.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4-cup warm water (110°F)
1-cup all-purpose flour
1-cup white sugar
1 cup warm milk (110°F)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.

2. In a 2-quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk.

3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter.

For the next 10 days handle starter according to the instructions for Amish Friendship Bread below.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

Day 1 - receive the starter (recipe for starter is above)

Day 2 - stir

Day 3 - stir

Day 4 - stir

Day 5 - Add 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk.

Day 6 - stir

Day 7 - stir

Day 8 - stir

Day 9 - stir

Day 10 - Add 1 cup flour, 1-cup sugar and 1-cup milk. Divide into 4 containers, with 1 cup each for three of your friends and 1 cup for your own loaves. Give friends the instructions for Day 1 through Day 10 and the following recipe for baking the bread.

After removing the 3 cups of batter, combine the remaining cup of Amish Friendship Bread starter with the following ingredients in a large bowl:

2/3-cup oil
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1-cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Using a fork beat by hand until well blended. You can add 1-cup raisins and 1-cup nuts (optional).


Grease two loaf pans with butter, sprinkle with sugar instead of flour.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pans. Makes two loaves of Amish Friendship Bread.


This recipe can be a learning tool for kids. They can take care of the starter, help you make the bread, and get a lesson is sharing as they give away the starter to others.

Enjoy