Amish Friendship Bread

 

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine offered me a gallon Ziploc bag of tan semi-liquid goo for lack of a better word.  Sensing my reluctance, she explained that it was a bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter.  I hesitated to accept it, but with her encouragement, I relented.  

I'll admit, when Day 5 rolled around and it was time to "feed" the starter, it freaked me out a bit.

But by Day 10, baking day, I was 100% on board!  The dough was easy to mix with several additional ingredients and the aroma while baking was heavenly.

This is a sweet version of sourdough.  It was developed way before refrigeration.  So don't worry about keeping it on your countertop during the process.  If it's stored in the fridge, it can prevent the starter from, well, starting!

Since you won't have a bag of starter to begin the process, I'm including a recipe to allow you to have your own.  You'll be at Day 5 and your first feeding before you know it!

Make your own Starter

1 packet (.25 ounce) active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water 110 degrees F.

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 cup milk

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.  Let stand for 10 minutes.  In a 2-quart glass or ceramic bowl, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar.  Mix thoroughly with a fork.  Slowly stir in 1 cup milk into the dissolved yeast mixture.

Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature for a few hours until bubbly.  Pour the starter into a 1-gallon Ziploc bag and note on the bag that this is Day 1.

Next, follow these easy directions!

Directions for the Starter

If air collects in the bag, let it out.  It is normal for the batter to rise, bubble, and ferment.

DAY 1:           Do nothing

DAY 2:           Squish the bag.

DAY 3:           Squish the bag.

DAY 4:           Squish the bag.

DAY 5:           Squish the bag.

DAY 6:           Add to bag:  1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, then squish the bag

DAY 7:           Squish the bag.

DAY 8:           Squish the bag.

DAY 9:           Squish the bag.

DAY 10:         Follow these instructions:

1.      Pour the entire contents of the bag into a non-metal bowl.

2.     Add 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 ½ cups sugar, 1 ½ cup milk and stir well to combine.

3.      Measure out four separate batters of 1 cup each into 4 1-gallon Ziploc bags. Write the current date on the bag and note DAY 1.  Depending on your particular starter, you may have 4 -6 separate batters.  Keep 1 starter for yourself and give the other 3 to friends along with a copy of this recipe.  (If you don’t pass it on the first day, by noting the day on the bag, they will know which day they are on to follow the instructions above.)

Amish Friendship Bread

2/3 cup oil

3 eggs

½ t. salt

1 t. vanilla

1 t. cinnamon

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 ¼ t. baking powder

½ t. baking soda

½ cup fruit or nuts (optional)

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients with 1 cup of Amish Friendship Bread Starter.  Using a fork, beat by hand until well blended.  Grease two loaf pans with butter and sprinkle with sugar instead of flour.  Bake at 325° F. for 45-60 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans.

If you keep a starter for yourself, you will be baking every 10 days.