Greetings, folks! Have you ever heard of a recipe that not only fills your home with the intoxicating scent of freshly baked bread but also carries with it a tradition of friendship and community? That’s precisely what we’re looking at today: the timeless and endearing Amish Friendship Bread.

This delightful bread is a cherished tradition that is so much more than a mere recipe. It starts with a simple sourdough starter that you divide and share with friends, who then bake their own bread and continue the chain. The result? A sweet, cinnamon-spiced loaf that tastes even better knowing that its roots are intertwined with those you hold dear.

Ready to embrace this wholesome tradition? Let’s kick things off with the ingredients list!

Ingredients:

For the Starter:

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup milk

For the Bread:

1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Let’s first create the starter and then dive into the baking process!

Instructions:

Starter:

In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes.
In a larger bowl, combine flour and sugar, then stir in the milk and yeast mixture.
Cover loosely and let the starter rest at room temperature until bubbly. Congratulations, you’ve made your first Friendship Bread Starter!
Continuing the Starter:

For the next 10 days, handle the starter according to the instructions of the Amish Friendship Bread recipe. This involves “feeding” the starter with milk, sugar, and flour and passing some along to friends.

Bread:

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C), and grease two 9×5-inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, combine the Friendship Bread Starter, oil, and eggs.
In a separate bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla extract.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for one hour, or until the bread tests done.
Allow the loaves to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
And voila! You now have two loaves of delicious Amish Friendship Bread. One to keep, and one to pass along with a cup of starter to a friend! Remember, this bread isn’t just about the taste—it’s about the spirit of sharing and community that comes with it. So go ahead, bake, share, and enjoy the chain of friendship