how to make Amish Friendship bread

Amish Friendship Bread. What is it? It is a delicious sweet bread made with a live starter. You make the bread and then pass on the starter and the recipe to your friends so they can make the bread themselves. That is why it is called "friendship bread." It's a great way of reaffirming friendships that originated with the Amish but is now practiced by persons of all nationalities and religious affiliations. The recipe can be modified in many ways - and thanks to our readers you can find a number of variations on our site. Enjoy!



Important Note: Don't use metal spoons or equipment. Do not refrigerate. Use only glazed ceramic or plastic bowls or containers.

Do not refrigerate. 
If air gets into the bag, let it out. 
It is normal for the batter to rise, bubble, and ferment.




The Recipe


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



In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.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.Slowly stir in the warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Pour into a ziplock bag. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 on the cycle, or the day you receive the starter   Mark the Date on the Bag when you start  important

For the next 10 days, handle the starter according to the instructions Below




Required Main Ingredient
1 cup live yeast starter (see above)

day 1:
Do nothing with the starter.
days 2-5:
Stir with a wooden spoon.
day 6:
Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Stir with a wooden spoon.
days 7-9:
Stir with a wooden spoon.
Day 10:
Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir. Take out 3 cups and place 1 cup each into three separate plastic containers. Give one cup and a copy of this recipe to three friends.

 To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 - (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup nuts

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

OPTIONS: Add 1C. Chopped nuts ,1 1/2 tsp cinnamon  or raisins. 

Banana Nut Amish Friendship Bread
When making the basic recipe, reduce oil to 1/3 cup. Omit cinnamon.

Increase vanilla extract to 1 1/2 teaspoons.

Add 3 large very ripe bananas, mashed (banana skins should be almost black) and 1/2 cup chopped nuts.

Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread
Omit cinnamon from the basic recipe and add 1 (5.1 oz) box of instant chocolate pudding, an additional 1/2 cup milk, 3 tsp. cocoa and 3/4 cup chocolate chips.

Bake for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours.



Apple Cinnamon Friendship Bread
To the basic recipe add one cup of raisins and one ripe, medium diced apple.