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amish friendship bread starter & bread recipe

(4 ratings)
Recipe by
Megan Todd
Warren, OH

We Love Amish friendship bread! The best thing about it is you can change up your flavors & pass your starter on to friends and keep it going! I received this recipe from a co-worker years ago along with a starter. Kept my starter going for months, but subsequently ran out after making friendship bread for all my kids' teachers during the holidays. Having the "starter" recipe allows you to start your own friendship bread to share without waiting for a friend to give you a starter. Keep in mind if you want friendship bread, it does take 10 days to ferment. I also have a GF version!

(4 ratings)
yield 1 5x9 loaf
prep time 30 Min
cook time 1 Hr

Ingredients For amish friendship bread starter & bread recipe

  • FRIENDSHIP BREAD STARTER
  • 1 (.25) oz
    package active dry yeast
  • 1/4 c
    warm water (110 degrees f)
  • 1 c
    all purpose flour (will need add'l 2 cups)
  • 1 c
    white sugar (will need add'l 2 cups)
  • 1 c
    milk, room temp (will need add'l 2 cups)
  • MAKING THE FRIENDSHIP BREAD WITH 1 CUP OF STARTER
  • 1 c
    fermented starter
  • 1 c
    vegetable oil or plain applesauce
  • 1 c
    sugar
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla
  • 2 lg
    eggs
  • 1/2 c
    milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp
    baking soda
  • 2 c
    flour
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 1 box
    pudding, small (3.4 oz), any flavor---(optional)
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    cinnamon (optional)

How To Make amish friendship bread starter & bread recipe

  • 1
    Allow milk to set out to come to room temp. In a 2-4 qt glass bowl, or container, dissolve yeast in warm water. Allow to proof for 10-15 minutes. In another bowl, combine flour and sugar, add to yeast mixture. mix well with a whisk & slowly stir in room temp milk. Cover loosely with a coffee filter, secure with a rubber band. This is day one (1) of the ten (10) day cycle of your starter. Leave starter sit on counter at room temp in a draft free area. Day 1; begin starter or receive fermented starter from a friend Day 2-4 stir with a wooden spoon. Day 5; add 1 cup of each, milk (@ room temp), sugar, & all purpose flour. Days 6-9; stir only. Day 10 again add one cup of each, Milk (@ room temp), sugar, & all purpose flour. Mix in well, leaving no lumps. Then: remove one cup of starter to make your bread, add one cup to a gallon size zip lock bag, do this 3 times to total 3 gallon size bags with one cup of starter. you should have one cup remaining in container for yourself. Give the remaining starters to friends along with this recipe. (This is considered day one again) & repeat the process with remaining cup to keep starter going. (Starter can be stored in refrigerator for future use. If this is done, it is good for up to 2 weeks, then it will need to be fed again to re-start the process.)
  • 2
    Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare two (2) 9x5 bread pans by greasing well with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with sugar or cinnamon-sugar mixture. Set aside.
  • 3
    To Make the Friendship Bread: In a mixer, add 1 cup of fermented starter, vegetable oil (or applesauce), milk, sugar, vanilla, & eggs. Mix well
  • 4
    In a separate bowl, add flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, & pudding mix (optional). Blend well & add to starter mixture.
  • 5
    Pour half the mixture in one bread pan, and the other half in second bread pan. Bake @ 325 degrees F for one hour or until cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • 6
    This is what it looks like :) Note: you can divide into 4 small loaves to give as gifts or use for bake sales. My kids love to make and give as Christmas gifts along with a starter to their teachers, friends' parents, or others, for holidays!! You can also add one (1) cup of chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, or your favorite treat to the batter to make it special! :)
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