AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD
Amish Friendship Bread is a unique bread that involves a 10-day sourdough-like starter process. The starter is shared between friends, creating a continuous cycle of baking and sharing. The resulting bread is sweet and delicious, and the process is a fun tradition.
Ingredients
Starter (Day 1)
- 1 package active dry yeast
- ¼ cup warm water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
Starter Feedings (Days 2-9)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (per day)
- 1 cup milk (per day)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (per day)
Bread (Day 10)
- 1 cup starter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Optional additions: 1 cup chopped nuts, 1 cup dried fruit, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Start the Starter (Day 1): Dissolve yeast in warm water. Combine flour and milk in a non-metallic bowl. Add yeast mixture and stir. Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.
- Feed the Starter (Days 2-9): Each day, add 1 cup each of flour, milk, and sugar to the starter. Stir well and cover loosely. Let stand at room temperature.
- Bake the Bread (Day 10): Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans. Combine starter, sugar, milk, oil, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually add flour, stirring until combined. Stir in optional ingredients. Pour batter into pans and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack.
Notes
- Starter Care: Store starter in a non-metallic container at room temperature. Feed daily. Divide every 10 days, keeping one portion and sharing the rest.
- Sharing: Include instructions when sharing starter.
- Flavor Customization: Experiment with additions like chocolate chips, spices, or extracts.
- Storage: Store baked bread in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.