2 Girls on a Mission: Amish Friendship Bread {Annah}

I had heard about friendship bread a few years ago when my sister-in-law was talking about going home and adding some ingredients to her bread that would be ready to make in 10 days. I was always intrigued by this, and I decided it was time to make an attempt at this fun sounding bread.

I am Very glad that I made this bread it lived up to it's hype, it was delicious! Since I had to make my own starter this bread did loom in the back of my mine for 10 days, for the good and the bad. I was paranoid those entire 10 days that I might have messed something up and I was going to be devastated when the bread did not turn out. I think the next time around it wont be such a concern since I know what the bread looks like through the many stages.

Also the recipe is very strict that No metal should be used in the baking process. What do I do, I get out a wooded spoon and then think this is big and grab a large silverware spoon to mix the yeast and water. Oops, but guess what it still turned out! I have added multiple photos to show you what the bread should look like along the 10 day journey.

I made the bread and I passed along two starters. One friend forgot about the bread bag, but the other friend followed through and I was told her bread also came out great. This recipe makes A LOT more then just 4 cups of starter. I ended up with 6 cups, and 2 of those cups I froze (some sites say this is a no no, stay tuned to see if it can be thawed and used at a later date). When it says to add 1 cup of each flour, sugar, and milk I would cut that in half at least. Maybe try adding a 1/4 or 1/2 a cup of each of the ingredients. In the end be a good friend and pass this bread along to numerous friends they will love it!

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

This is the Amish Friendship Bread Starter Recipe that you will 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)

Starter

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 above for Amish Friendship Bread.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

Day 2

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

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:

Day 4

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 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour (individual oven temperatures vary). Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans. Makes two loaves of Amish Friendship Bread.