A sweet cinnamon bread that is made with a batch of Amish Friendship Bread Starter. Friendship Bread recipe has several flavor variations and is perfect to share with friends.
I have been introduced to Amish Friendship Bread. All I can say is Oh My Lord I'm definitely addicted to this stuff. This is my 6th time of baking bread. I get so excited to see what flavor I can come up with next. I don't see an end any time soon. What is Amish Friendship Bread?
Friendship bread is a delicious sweet quick bread made with a live starter. You make the bread and then pass on the starter and the recipe to your friends, so they can make the bread themselves. That's why it's called Friendship Bread. It's a great way of reaffirming friendships that originated with the Amish but is now practiced by persons of all nationalities and religions.
Friendship bread is a delicious sweet quick bread made with a live starter. You make the bread and then pass on the starter and the recipe to your friends, so they can make the bread themselves. That's why it's called Friendship Bread. It's a great way of reaffirming friendships that originated with the Amish but is now practiced by persons of all nationalities and religions.
If you’d like to give the Amish Friendship Bread a try, but don’t have a starter, click here to get the Friendship Bread Starter Recipe and directions.
If you've been given a prepared starter see the directions below to begin baking the bread.
Chocolate and Butterscotch Bread pictured..
Chocolate Bread pictured.
Check out the The Friendship Bread Kitchen for more friendship bread flavors as well as recipes for Gluten Free versions.
78 comments
However the last couple of years I have been making the bread to help raise money for our adoption. My husband and I recently adopted a 2 year old boy from China.
This bread is so amazing and extremely addictive to all those that try it. I have people that even if I am not making the bread want to place orders, especially around Christmas time to give as gifts or to take as a dish to pass.
I have a couple of other variations that you may want to try.
Orange Pecan:
Use Orange extract (I use about 4 Tbsp). You can also add 1/3 c. of orange juice and use only 2/3 c. of the oil. I have also used Orange Zest as well and then use the juice of the orange instead of juice. I have used chopped peacans and have also done it with toasted Almonds as well.
Tropical paradise:
I used the Cheesecake pudding
1 small can of mandarin oranges
1 small can of crushed pineapple
(I mix the oranges and pineapple together to equal about 1/2-3/4 c. of fruit)
1/4 c. coconut
1/2 c. white chocolate chips
1/2 c. Chopped macadamia nuts
This bread is so moist you have to cook it a little longer than usual.
German Chocolate:
I use the chocolate pudding instead of vanilla.
Take a can of German Chocolate frosting and cut it into the pans using a knife.
This takes a little longer to bake as well.
I love this recipe because it is so versitile and so forgiving. I have never had a batch fail.
So does anyone have any other non-pudding variations?
I always keep my starter in a quart canning jar covered with a loose weave fabric and stir with a wooden spoon.
:) Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship
The bread tastes pretty good, but I'm hoping I didn't ruin the starters I gave out to my friends. What do you think?
Cindi A.
For the question regarding where to add in the milk, add it in with the dissolved yeast mixture.
We added your Amish Friendship Bread photos to Friendship Bread Kitchen. Thank you for your permission.
Pumpkin Friendship Bread
http://www.friendshipbreadkitchen.com/pantry/pumpkin-spice-amish-friendship-bread
"To the remaining batter in the bowl (about 2 cups) add:" What is the remaining batter? Hate to sound so dense, but if I make this, I want to do it right.
Thanks for posting your different variations a while back. Just wondering though, when you say you make a double batch on baking day, does that mean you only take out 2 cups for 2 starter bags to keep and then you just double all the other ingredients with what is left in the bowl? Also, if you freeze a starter, you can just take it out, add the regular ingredients and bake? Not go through the process of increasing the batter through the several days, right? No feeding. It's just that bag for one baking session. I'm just trying to be clear. I've done bread before several years ago, but didn't ever double my baking day and haven't ever frozen starters. Thanks!!
I have started freezing the starter kits ,but have done the 10 day thing thing though. that is the only way it could be done isn't it ??
and mine only makes two loaves not 3 ??
Cherry Vanilla- add cut up maraschino cherries and tbsp of vanilla
Egg Nog- just like it sounds add about a cup of eggnog, and a dash of nutmeg.
Orange chocolate- add 2 to 3 tbsp of zested orange peel and a handful of chocolate chips.
Pumpkin- add 1 cup of canned pumpkin pie and a dash of nutmeg or pumpkin spice.
I did one other, but I can remember. The cherry vanilla and orange chocolates were huge hits. The others were good, just not favorites around here.
I have made Friendship many times..... Love it! Didn't know it could be frozen !
If you are making the starter from scratch you need to follow the recipe after the starter bubbles place the starter into a large zip lock bag. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. For the next 10 days handle the starter according to the instructions. When separating the starter this is the point where you will freeze the starters instead of giving them away.
I often swap out the oil and replace it with applesauce.
:)