Amish Friendship Bread

Do not use any type of metal spoon or bowl for mixing.  DO NOT refrigerate.  When air gets in the bag, let it out.  It is normal for the bag to rise and ferment.

Day 1 – Do nothing.  This is the day your bag was started.

Day 2 – Mash the bag.

Day 3 - Mash the bag.

Day 4 - Mash the bag.

Day 5 - Add to the bag: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.  Mash the bag.

Day 6 – Mash the bag. 

Day 7 - Mash the bag.

Day 8 - Mash the bag.

Day 9 – Mash the bag.

Day 10 – Follow the instructions below.

1.     Pour the entire contents of the bag into a NON-METAL bowl.

2.     Add 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup sugar and 1½ cups milk. Mix with NON-METAL spoon.  This will be lumpy.

3.     Measure out 4 separate batters (1 cup each) into 4 one-gallon Ziploc bags. Keep 1 starter bag for yourself and give 3 to friends along with copies of this recipe.

4.     Note:  If you keep a starter bag, you will be baking every 10 days.  The bread is VERY good and makes a great gift.  Only the Amish know how to make the original “starter” so if you give your starter away, you will have to wait until someone gives you a starter back.

Baking Instructions

Preheat oven to 325.  Grease 2 large loaf pans or 1 Bundt pan.

Add to the remaining batter in the bowl: 3 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup oil, ½ cup milk, 2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding, 1 ½ tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. cinnamon, ½ tsp. vanilla, ½ tsp. baking soda.

In a separate bowl, mix ½ cup sugar and ½ tsp. cinnamon.  Use half the mixture to coat the pan(s).

Pour the batter into the pan(s) and sprinkle the top with the remaining sugar mixture.  Bake 50 to 60 minutes.

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

This is the Amish Friendship Bread Starter Recipe that you’ll need to make the Amish Friendship Bread. It is very important to use plastic or wooden utensils and plastic or glass containers when making this. Do not use metal at all!

Ingredients:

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup warm milk (110 degrees 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.  Place the mixture in a one-gallon Ziploc bag.  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.