Recipe for Making Amazing Amish Friendship Bread (2024)

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Need printable 10-Day instructions? We have lots of different styles! Click here for the printables library.

Wondering if it’s safe to share Amish Friendship Bread or the starter? The experts say yes.

Here it is, the one andonlyoriginal Amish Friendship Bread.

Now you’d think with over 250 Amish Friendship Bread recipes in the Recipe Box,I’d have a ton of favorites. And I do. But I’ve got to say the original recipe (with raisins and nuts and all that cinnamon-sugar glory) is in first place. Okay, maybe second only to this one, but honestly it’s a pretty close race. If I’m in a pinch and want to gift a loaf of bread in a hurry, I know I can count on this classic recipe to make even the grouchiest person happy (andsometimes that grouchy person is me).

If you like raisins, combine different variations (golden, Thompson, and red flame) to keep it flavorful and interesting. A fewyears ago, ourneighbor began to giveus a bag of homemade sugared pecans every Christmas. I never knew what to do with it, it was so crazy sweet and there was always so much of it. I found its true calling one day when I chopped some up and tossed it into my Amish Friendship Bread batter when I couldn’t find any plain old nuts to add. It gave the bread an extra sweet crunch so now Ikeep a bag of candied pecans or walnuts frozen in our freezer for just this purpose.

There are so many ways to make thisand you really can’t get it wrong. If you’re ever feeling like you want to take a walk on the wild side, you can try another variation but just know that you’ll always have this one to come hometo.

The one question I get asked a lot is, “Is Amish Friendship Bread really Amish?” I’ve done a lot of research and let’s just say the results are inconclusive. What I do know is that the spirit of the bread is sharing what we have with others, and when we make this simple gesture, miracles and acts of kindness start showing up in our own lives, too. So share a slice, or a loaf, or a bag of starter, and see what happens next!

Recipe for Making Amazing Amish Friendship Bread (4)

Amish Friendship Bread

We love all the Amish Friendship Bread recipes in our Recipe Box, but the original Amish Friendship Bread recipe is the simplest and the best.

4.43 from 258 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 18 slices (or 2 loaves)

Calories 204 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325° F (165° C).

  • In a large mixing bowl, add ingredients as listed.

  • Grease two large loaf pans.

  • Dust the greased pans with a mixture of ½ cup sugar and 1½ teaspoons cinnamon.

  • Pour the batter evenly into loaf or cake pans and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture on the top.

  • Bake for one hour or until the bread loosens evenly from the sides and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

  • ENJOY!

Notes

This recipe is very versatile! Use 1 or 2 boxes of pudding (pudding boosts flavor and moisture, but you can also leave it out or make your own). Add 1 cup of dried fruit, nuts or baking chips of your choice.

Looking to make your Amish Friendship Bread healthier? Swap out ½ cup oil plus ½ cup applesauce or 1 egg plus ¼ cup mashed banana. Reduce sugar to ⅔ cup or replace with ⅔ cup honey.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 204kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 4gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 112mgPotassium: 181mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1.3mg

Have you made this?Mention @friendshipbreadkitchen or tag #friendshipbreadkitchen!

Recipe for Making Amazing Amish Friendship Bread (5)

Quick Links

  • Need an Amish Friendship Bread Primer with the ten-day instructions? Go herefor this simple 101.
  • Don’t have a friend to give you a bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter? Make your own! Go here for the recipe.
  • No time to get a starter going? Try our Starter-Free/No Starter Amish Friendship Bread here.
  • Want to try something new? Check out the Recipe Box and find 250+ Amish Friendship Bread recipes to bake and share with others. Click on the Recipe Box in the menu or go here.
Recipe for Making Amazing Amish Friendship Bread (6)

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Recipe for Making Amazing Amish Friendship Bread (2024)

FAQs

What's the recipe for friendship bread? ›

In a large bowl, combine the Amish bread starter with oil, eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well. Pour into prepared loaf pans. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

Why is my Amish Friendship Bread dry? ›

If too much moisture escapes, the bread could dry out. Check expiration dates and use fresh ingredients. For Amish Friendship Bread in particular, you'll want to make sure your yeast (if starting a starter from scratch), baking soda, and baking powder are fresh.

Why is my Amish Friendship Bread not rising? ›

Keep it warm!

Cold kitchens are a bane to any Amish Friendship Bread starter or sourdough starter, especially if you're trying to rise dough. Keep the dough warm and draft-free.

Why can't you use a metal bowl for Amish Friendship Bread? ›

why can't you use metal when making amish friendship bread? They say use wooden or non metal, as the Amish always used wooden spoons. It's also said by using metal in the batter it could spoil the fermenting process of the batter as well. Some say it will even change the color, change the taste as well.

How do I know if my Amish Friendship bread starter is good? ›

If you're seeing SOME bubbles, this is a good sign, even if your bag isn't blowing up or your starter overflowing. Move your starter to a warm place and give it a chance. If it looks flat after three days, let it go. It still smells bad after feeding and/or discarding a portion of your starter.

Why does my Amish Friendship Bread sink in the middle? ›

First of all, one of the most common reasons quick breads (and layer cakes as well) sink is that the pan is overfilled. If the batter reaches the top of the pan and still needs to rise, it will collapse.

What is the secret to bread rising? ›

But almost as good as a proofing box is taking a Mason jar filled halfway up with water, microwaving it for two minutes, then putting your bowl of dough into the microwave with the jar to rise. The other thing you can do is place your lidded container or bowl of dough into a second, larger bowl of warm water.

Should my Amish Friendship bread starter smell like alcohol? ›

People making Amish Friendship Bread for the first time often ask what their starter should smell like. Your starter should have a lovely, yeasty smell, like getting a whiff of bread rising in a bakery, times five. If you stick your nose into your bag of starter, you'll get a pretty heady hit of yeast.

What happens if you don't let your bread rise enough? ›

If baked too soon or too late, loaves can collapse and have a dense, gummy center. “There are so many factors that affect rise time, so exact time will vary for every baker.

Does Amish Friendship Bread need to be refrigerated? ›

Starters are usually kept at room temperature for the first 10 days or so to help them grow. Once they've matured, they can be stored in the fridge or freezer and fed every week or two to keep them alive.

Is sourdough and Amish Friendship Bread the same? ›

A Herman starter or Amish Friendship Bread Starter is typically made with milk, flour, sugar and commercial yeast. A sourdough starter is generally made only of flour and water. A Herman starter will be sweeter and more mellow flavored than a sourdough starter.

Can I freeze Amish Friendship Bread starter? ›

Active Amish friendship starter will keep for up to three months in the freezer. "You can also pop your starter in the fridge, but you can't forget about it like you can with freezing your starter," Gee says.

Is friendship bread the same as sourdough? ›

A Herman starter or Amish Friendship Bread Starter is typically made with milk, flour, sugar and commercial yeast. A sourdough starter is generally made only of flour and water. A Herman starter will be sweeter and more mellow flavored than a sourdough starter.

Why is it called friendship bread? ›

Amish friendship bread is a type of bread or cake made from a sourdough starter that is often shared in a manner similar to a chain letter. The starter is a substitute for baking yeast and can be used to make many kinds of yeast-based breads, shared with friends, or frozen for future use.

What are the 3 main ingredients of quick breads? ›

The ingredients found in the largest amounts in quick breads are flour, sugar, and fat. These ingredients will provide calories but very little essential nutrients. Combined with a glass of milk, a serving of fruit, or by themselves, quick breads can be enjoyed as part of a healthful diet.

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