Amish Friendship Bread

A friend from my church brought over a cute little loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and a starter bag for me. And I ate the whole loaf that night. My husband didn't even get any. It was so delicious and I knew I must have more. So I went for it. After the 10 days I dutifully divided up my starter, made my bread (with a few variations) and then gifted my new starter bags to family. Life was wonderful. And I am sure many of you who have done this whole process are shaking your heads and laughing at my niavete of the whole process. Just you wait Cynthia, this delicious bread is crazy and will take over your life! Get out while you can! But guess what? 

Amish Friendship Bread doesn't have to be crazy! You can forget to mash your bag a few times, you can add ingredients a day late, you can stick your starter in the freezer if you need a break! I promise it won't kill it! So dive in and give it a try! Research online for variations, ideas and information, it is kinda fun. 

Also check out this link from my sister in law about controlling your bread. It was great. 

http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com/2009/01/take-control-of-your-amish-friendship.html

Traditional Amish Friendship Bread Instructions

Day 1: Friend gives you a starter bag! Lucky you!

Day 2: Stir the mix, or mash the bag.

Day 3: Mash the bag

Day 4: Mash the bag

Day 5: Add to your bag: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Mash the bag. 

Day 6: Mash the bag

Day 7: Mash the bag

Day 8: Mash the bag

Day 9: Mash the bag

Day 10:  The day has arrived! Do all this:

          Add to bag: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Mash the bag

          Divide mix: Measure 1 cup of mix in to 4 bags (3 for friends, 1 for you) . Label bags and add the date. 

          Make bread: Pour remaining mix in to a NON METAL bowl and follow the recipe below.

Basic Recipe:

2/3 cup oil
3 eggs

1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 box Instant Vanilla Pudding (optional, but totally delicious. If you don't use the dry pudding, just omit the milk)

Using NON METAL spoon, beat by hand until well blended. 

In a seperate bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar and 2 tsps cinnamon. Grease two loaf pans or line with parchment paper, dust pans with cinnamon sugar mixture. Pour batter in to pans and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. 

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.

See? Not to bad. But again, don't worry if you can't follow the instructions to a T.