Amish Friendship Bread (with starter) Recipe

This takes 10 days, but it looks worthwhile.

Amish Friendship Bread

This is a delicious bread that can be adapted many ways. Make it plain or mix in your favorite fruit. Give the starter and recipe as a gift during the holidays.

Make something special to share with a friend. This delicious starter can make a variety of breads. Do not use metal containers or utensils.

Starter: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. On days 2 through 4; stir starter with a spoon. Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 through 9; stir only. Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).

Note: Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2. You can also freeze this starter in 1 cup measures for later use. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw before using.

Amish Friendship Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all ingredients (including Starter) and mix well. Pour into 2 well greased and sugared 9x5-inch loaf pans. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until done. Cool 20 minutes before removing from pans. Makes 2 (9x5-inch) loaves.