Amish Friendship Bread

So I was given a starter batch of Amish Friendship bread and instructions I was flabbergasted and flummoxed! The instructions looked like a bad chain letter. They included the insistence that the starter recipe was only known to the Amish and you had to pass the batter on or this wonderful bread would pass out of existence. The final bread recipe also included instant pudding? Well I don't know about you but I am sure the Amish did not use mysticism when they mixed flour, milk, sugar and yeast for the starter batter, nor do they use instant pudding in any fashion. So here is a Starter recipe if you want to make it (its great to have around as its a constant source of baking for you if you don't pass on all the starter batter and helps endear you to neighbors who are usually more than happy to receive free baked goods.)
So if you are given a starter batter from me or others here is what you do.
Day 1 - receive the starter (the recipe for the starter is below)
Day 2 - mix
Day 3 - mix
Day 4 - mix
Day 5 - Add 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk.
Day 6 - mix
Day 7 - mix
Day 8 - mix

Day 9 - mix
Day 10 - Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Divide into 4 containers (gallon freezer bags are good for this), with 1 cup each for three of your friends and 1 cup for your own loaves. Give friends the instructions for Day 1 through Day 10 and the following recipe for baking the bread.

Amish Friendship Bread

2/3 cup oil 1/2 milk 3 eggs 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1 to 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1 cup sugar 2 cups flour 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda Mix ingredients well. You can add 1 cup raisins and 1 cup nuts (optional). Grease two loaf pans with butter, sprinkle with sugar instead of flour. 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. you can make it in single bunt pan if you happen to have lent your second bread pan to someone and so only have one on hand.

If you would like to start your own Friendship Bread you can do the following...

Amish Friendship Bread Starter

1 pkg. active dry yeast 1/4 cup warm water (110°F) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup white sugar 1 cup warm milk (110°F) 1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well. 2. In a 2 quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk. 3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter. For the next 10 days handle starter according to the instructions above for Amish Friendship Bread.

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