From My Kitchen ~ Amish Friendship Bread

Here is Mrs. Smith's recipe for Amish Friendship Bread that so many asked about.

In order to make this recipe, you need some starter from a friend or you can begin your own. I found a good recipe for making your very own starter.

Amish Friendship Bread Starter
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup milk

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly.

Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.



Amish Friendship Bread
With starter that you have made above OR starter from a friend ~ follow this schedule for 2 delicious loafs of bread.

HINT: Mrs. Smith gave me the starter in a heavy duty 1 gallon zip lock bag. It really made preparing this bread so simple. It was easy to mix. She wrote the dates on the bag which made remembering when to add ingredients much easier as well.

Day 1: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 2: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 3: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 4: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 5: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
Day 7: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 8: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 9: Stir or squeeze bag.
Day 10: Pour all the starter in a large bowl. Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Mix.

Pour 3 - 1 cup starters into separate containers or ziploc bags. Keep 1 bag for yourself to begin the process again and give 2 starters to friends so they can enjoy some bread too!

Use the remaining starter to bake your bread using the following recipe:

Important notes to remember:
Do not refrigerate
Do not use metal spoons or bowl
If using a plastic bag, release air when necessary
It is normal for starter to thicken, bubble & ferment

Okay ~ let's get started!

Add to the remaining starter:
1 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 large box vanilla instant pudding
2 tsps cinnamon
Fruit, veggies or nuts of your choice

Mix ingredients well and pour into 2 greased and sugared loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool.

It is sooooo good! I really enjoy the versatility of this bread. You can use whatever fruits or vegetables that are in season or on sale at the market. The loaves I made were just stuffed with plump blueberries that I got from a local farmer last year.

My "vultures" would hardly let me get a photo before they were holding out their plates. They were so ashamed that the covered their faces when I turned the camera toward them! LOL



Thanks Mrs. Smith! You've made my boys very happy.

Happy Eating,
Lea