Delicious Amish Friendship Bread Starter

Every time I receive a starter for Amish Friendship Bread I squeal with delight.  I get so excited is because this is the most amazing bread...EVER! If you've never sampled this delectable bread before... you are in for a real treat. Once you make up an initial batch, you can continue to give away starters and keep one for yourself in order to always have a couple of loaves of this deliciousness on its way every ten days. Give it a try and I bet that you will agree that this is one of the tastiest breads you have ever had. I hope your family enjoys it as much as we do!

Starter Recipe:

1 package active dry yeast
2 - cups warm water (110 degrees)
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar

For Amish Friendship Bread Starter: 

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of the warm water in a deep glass container. Stir in remaining warm water, milk, flour and sugar. Beat until smooth. Cover a large glass jar or bowl with a tight fitting lid works best for this. Do not refrigerate! The starter requires 10 days for fermentation.



Directions:

Day 1, 2, 3 and 4: Mush batter in bag.
Day 5: Add 1 cup each milk, flour, sugar and stir
Day 6-9: Mush batter in bag.
Day 10: Add 1 cup each flour, sugar, milk; stir.


Put 1 cup of starter in each of three containers or larger zip lock bags. Give away to friends and keep one. This will begin their Day 1.


Directions after you have your starter:

Do not use any type of metal spoon or mixing. Do not refrigerate.
It is normal for the batter to rise and ferment. Do not taste raw batter and date bag.

Day 1: Do nothing.
Day 2: Mush the bag and let the air out
Day 3: Mush the bag and let the air out
Day 4: Mush the bag and let the air out
Day 5: Mush the bag and let the air out
Day 6: Add to the bag 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Mush the bag and let the air out.
Day 7: Mush the bag and let the air out
Day 8: Mush the bag and let the air out
Day 9: Mush the bag and let the air out
Day 10: Mix and divide starter as follows. Pour the entire contents of the bag into a non metal bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and 1 1/2 cups milk. Next measure 1 cup batter into 4 gallon size zip lock bags. Keep one for yourself and give the other 3 to friends along with a copy of the recipe. You will end up with 5 batches of bread (4 bags and 1 in the bowl).




To Bake Friendship Bread~

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. To the remaining batter in the bowl (about 2 cups) add:

3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1 cup sugar
1 large box instant pudding (or 2 small boxes)
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup oil
2 cups flour

If using self - rising flour omit soda, salt and baking powder.

Grease two large loaf pans or one 9 x13 inch pan. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Dust the greased pans with half the mixture. Pour batter into the pans and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon mixture on top. Bake for about 1 hour cool until bread loosens from the pan.
A great gift for friends and family. Make them a mini loaf and a starter and a copy of the recipe...a super sweet treat for anyone you know. Enjoy!