Amish Friendship Bread Recipe + How to make Starter

[@DianeHughes]

My sister gave me my first starter. We lived 300 miles apart so one of us must have been visiting the other. Lots of carbs in this bread and I was always on a diet back then. I stopped making friendship bread. My sister died on July 2, 2018 and I have thought about her gift of starter so many times wishing that I had saved it. Thank you so much for this recipe. I'm tearing up as I write this. Such good memories.

[@DianeHughes]

I made my first batch. I made muffins instead of bread and they are delicious. The starter smells fabulous. I bake with sourdough-- a lot. So now I have two starters to keep going. =)

[@cheenriquemunozramirez5618]

The next time you want to save your starter... first purify the sugar and milk from the Herman starter. Take a tablespoon of flour and a tablespoon of water. Add 1/4 teaspoon (like a little dot) of Herman. Mix and let it ferment. It will be bubbly and the volume will increase. Then add another tablespoon of flour and a tablespoon of water, stir. You won't ferment this time. Take the purified Herman starter, and spread it thinly on a clingfilm that's been stretched over a bowl. Let it air dry for a few days until the flour becomes flakes. The dried starter will last indefinitely, just as long as you save it in a jar (like a baby food jar) and put away in a pantry. If you wonder why you have to purify it... the milk has fats and the sugar will not the starter dry out. It will just rot into a clumpy mess. To reactive your starter... take out your flakes (can be years old... btw, they will still work) and put them in a jar with 1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup milk. After 2 or 3 days of stirring, it will come back to life-- ready to bake.

[@monermccarthy7198]

Diane your story is bittersweet, sorry about your sister passing away. I hope you enjoyed making this again, with warm memories of your sister.

[@juliemont.999]

And that’s what it keep us going... the good memories we made with them.

[@feliciad3001]

Such a sweet story

[@scottfleming5641]

I loved making this bread back in the 80's and 90's. Going to have to relive the moment and start it again and share among friends.

[@user-wj9sc9cw2x]

I knew the friendship bread from my roommate 10 years ago. She taught me to make the starter. She was very happy to teach me, and gave me some of the starters. I miss her so much.

[@MsRegina333]

My Aunt started making Amish friendship bread from some starter that was given to her and she shared the starter with me. This is many many years ago! Auntie has long since past- she lived to 99 years young. We made so much of that Bread!!! -cake really, delicious! I remembered her today and l looked up the recipe and found your video! I am going to make it again! Many Thanks!

[@dean19711]

So glad i came across this. It's been 20 plus years since iv had this, and I never knew how to do the starter... Thank you.

[@Binkyfinder]

me too!

[@goatgirl61]

That's the reason for my investigation , for the recipe ✌️

[@DogFlamingoXIII]

When I was in high school in 1991, our Foods class (Home Ec but just cooking) gave all of us a starter. I kept it going, until we went through a move. I really think I should try this again. I live in a building with 326 units that is a pretty close community for the US, and it might be something my neighbors would like to try, if I can get my courage up to say something.

[@katiebird53]

I haven't thought about Friendship bread in decades. Yes, everyone had it & shared the starter around. It was a great gift in a cute mason jar. Just watching you make it - I can smell it - the dough - nothing else smells like it We didn't call it Amish it was just Friendship bread

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

Same!

[@iscream2232]

Found your recipe online and made it twice. Its a huge hit at the office and with family. I remember eating this stuff a lot as a little kid in the early 90s and it tastes exactly the same as I remember.

[@brettgarnier107]

Thank you! I remember making and sharing them with friends in Cape Cod almost 30 years ago. We added cranberries and walnuts.

[@annaraic4575]

1

[@catsutton1]

Omg. I must try this

[@kathyvenable8793]

The receipt I remember had fruits and walnuts in it. Made it back in 80’s. Have tried to fine that recipe to no avail. It was so good.

[@diva63]

I lost my paper recipe for this years ago so it was fun watching you make it here again! I had forgotten how much sugar this took! Back then we all kept plenty of white flour and sugar on hand so it didn’t seem odd. So funny how times (and our kitchens) change! ☺️

[@PhenomenallyFlyDiva4]

New subscriber here! I was SO HAPPY to come across your video. I remember making my first Amish Friendship Bread loaf some 25 years ago. It was so delicious and so much fun sharing the starter among friends. The only difference was rather than feeding the starter in a bowl, it was kept in the plastic bag which was squeezed thoroughly everyday. Thank you for sharing. Blessed be!!!

[@pennyweldon8587]

I so remember making this in the 80’s and giving it away! Such wonderful memories! I do plan to make this soon and share new memories!! Thanks so much!!

[@IGet2Garden]

Wonderful, I haven't done this in ages....followed your directions and I'm at it again. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@FlorianEagox]

My mom got this from a friend at work when I was a little kid. We would devour it (usually in Bunt Cake form) and I'd take it to school and give it out. One day, our dog Bailey, a sucker for all things sweet treats waddled into my parents room in the middle of the night with a pungent aroma of cinnamon and shame. She had eaten the entire loaf and made herself feel sick. We continued to eat the bread, now keeping it away from Bailey for a long time until one day the bag of starter EXPLODED!!! After that, she never really got any more and it became a distant memory, but I will present her with a bag of starter after this video!

[@monicahughes2757]

Thank you I share this video with my family I used to make this years ago I forgot about it and then when I remembered it I was looking for a video and I found you❤

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

Hope you enjoy

[@marybrannon9942]

Man my mom and Daddy used to make this all the time!!!

[@sharonbryan6967]

Thank you. Direct, pleasant and enjoyable lesson. Moving 1700 miles away from my home and among my most precious possessions was a starter my friend Robin gave me. In a glass jar I carried it onto my flight ( 16yrs ago, that was ok) got to my new home only to knock it off the counter onto tile flooring!!! With your help I will now create and begin anew . Thanks again and stay safe.

[@anniebissellGod1st]

I am so happy you made this video. I am trying to get my first sourdough starter going and I remembered as a kid, someone giving my mom the Amish friendship bread. I remember the bag on our counter and the little card with the instructions next to it, and I also remember the taste of the bread. It was amazing, and sweet. I am pretty sure my mom went with the cinnamon sugar topping for ours. Such a wonderful memory.

[@donnadavis7619]

Thank you! I remember that we called it 'burping' the starter while in the bag...kneading it to mix it while in the bag and after feeding. We also froze the bagged mixture (successfully!) until we were ready to use again. Great video! I will now begin the starter.......

[@lorenam2357]

Hey , I was also thinking of freezing it since I will be away for two weeks, can you please tell me how?

[@donnadavis7619]

@@lorenam2357 I always just placed my bag into the freezer until I was ready to use it! It was very simple and saved a lot on the feeding time. Hope that helps!

[@johncarter4411]

I have never heard of this bread before, seems like a lot of work for a quick bread. I will be doing this just to how great it is.

[@mollybrown6207]

this is great bread, I've been wanting to make again for years. we used to go through our loaves in a day! Also, I butter & coat my pan with a little cinnamon/sugar to keep it from sticking (well and because that's the best part).

[@VickiJo64]

I made this until I was sick of it..but now I’m going to try again. Thank you for this quick and easy to follow video.

[@superchica904]

So did I! About 13 yrs ago. I was a SAHM in a new city. No friends or family near. My husband’s coworkers wife gave me a starter. I had no one to share them with so I just kept baking! And baking! LOL

[@laurasalwen2129]

Omg we were all addicted to this bread!!! Haha! Such great memories! I think I never made it just did the 10 day part, had my roomie make the bread I was a horrible cook back then 🤩😍🥰👍💯❤️

[@bettyhamm331]

I am on day two and so excited to start baking

[@CheerMomOhio]

The one I did when we were first married. I used pudding mix. A lady at church gave us the starter. The starter lasted forever. We eat a lot.

[@shawncooper9999]

I am a Mennonite. I grow up helping my grandma making the start for friendship bread and canning and making homemade pasta and clothes and more.

[@peaceandquiet1983]

Beautiful memories. ❣

[@michaelmason5440]

I didn't grow up with my cousins. But when I was older I got to know them. They live in Lancaster County, PA. Me and my mom want to move on a small farm near them in Lancaster County, PA. The Amish people out that way are so nice. I will have to remember this recipe for when we move. Just to be nice to our new neighbors drop one of these breads off. I think it would be a nice gesture to do.

[@guitarguru.3572]

Damn that’s sugary! I remember my mom keeping these when I was a kid in the 80s, but I can’t recall the flavor. I think I’m going to get one started, and I truly appreciate your time and tutelage!

[@deniseview4253]

Yum, we always had starter all the time growing up. As an adult I had starter for over a year.

[@Tshanemorgan]

So, my first introduction with Amish friendship bread was also my first introduction to 🌳 😳 good lord had my life been changed. My buddies and I would come in outta the cold, feelin good, about to play some music, and James’ mom calls out to come get some cake, and I’m all “bruh I need some cake..” this bread man, this was nuttier than squirrel 💩 it had butterscotch something or other, and it literally melted in the mouf. I’ve been looking for years for a recipe, but y’all KNOW Mormon moms don’t give away no recipe. I’m going investigate discovery and I finally found a video. Cheers!

[@alicialove2811]

I was just gifted my first starter today...im so excited

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

Good luck!!

[@shanar7404]

I had seen a video about making easy Amish bread and I instantly had an awesome memory of my family doing friendship bread when I was younger, and how yummy it was! Went on the hunt for the recipe, and you popped up first. I don't need to find any others bc you nailed it on the head! Thank you so much!!!

[@erniepick5942]

Finally found this recipe again!! I've made so much of this back in the day...Love it!! Thanks

[@3swifty420]

my mom would make something like this, and she called it something else and there are some differences. The part that made it fun for kids was getting to mash in a banana in the starter yeast, and she didnt keep it in a bowl. It was in a zip loc bag that you would nead by hand and keep in a dark place Cabinet/drawer, where ever. I am going to try this and see if this is it, and share the starter with my mom, I know it would make her happy.

[@juanitapolk5232]

I LOVE it 🥰 Someone gave a starter and I had this for years. My friends loved it also. I am glad I found this again! Thank You 😊

[@BeachPeach2010]

My grandmother gave me this back in the 80's with a lot of great recipes to make with it, but she called it "Herman".

[@bobpelletier4954]

my name is Pamela. I made the Amish bread for the first time. Love baking and the fragrance in the kitchen is yummy! I got the starter from a friend. Now I've given starter to my daughter and friend! I feel like a baker and sharing is the best!!

[@maoggiexiong2379]

Omg, your video helped me alot. I was confused on how to do this because I received the friendship bread today, but this helped alot. Thank you.

[@faithsinternationaldelicio2774]

Awesome I will try. Its been such a long time I made Aamish bread. Thank you for the wonderful recipe

[@pearlie5252]

Thank you so much for your so easy instruction. I'm trying this amish friendship bread for the first time and can't wait to share with some friends

[@debzdenis6159]

OMGosh, I have been thinking about this bread for months...I remember my mother and I did this back in the '80s and been wanting to do it again but didn't know how to start..Thank you, who would have thought it would be on youtube...LOL, I am excited to try this.

[@FemiNelson-sb1em]

You look way young to remember this from the 80's, lol. You definitely have awesome genetics &/or would love love to know what product you use, lol. I'm in my late 60's. Have never been much of a Baker. My 1st try was in the mid 70's & I made a Cinnamon Café cake for my beloved Mamà, successfully! After that, anything else flopped, like my edible frisbee cookies, lol. So frustrating! I'm still trying. I've done well with Crumble yum's, Oatmeal cookies, recipe from Raisen bag. Sourdough, flopped. Hope to try again before the year is out. Now, I shall try this bread. I shall let ya'll know how it goes. Paz be with us all 🙏. "Isa"

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

You're too sweet!! Albeit I was young in the 80s but I remember it!!

[@donnafeagley]

Happy Dance💃 Ty for making this. I always rec'd & shared the friendship bread but nevver knew how to make the starter!! Thank you so much...😘🫶😊

[@jdrose1000]

I remember doing this with my sister in law in the 90’s, it was great!

[@corymesser1569]

I lived in Indiana untill 5th grade and my mom had Amish friends that have it to her. Whether it's called Amish bread because they invented it or it was just a coincidence that they love it and that the Amish gave her Amish bread it was cool either way. But I remember it being delicious and I will be starting some tomorrow!! Thank you!!

[@pw4g492]

Thank you for showing how to start this bread. My hubby loves this bread. I add blueberries to a bread and craisins to another. You can add raisins too

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

Sounds great!

[@pamferguson9670]

I remember this one but also one we called "Herman" he had fruit cocktail pears and? Added for first 5 days. Would love to have that recipe again also

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

I've never heard of that one!

[@daviddibble2879]

This was a HUGE craze in Hawaii (Oahu) when I lived there. Haven’t heard anything of it in years. Sad. Thus was a lot of fun.

[@user-nc2xf3tm5u]

I had a friend of mine gave me a loaf one year I prepared it and it was awesome I'm so glad and looking through KZbin and I caught you making it or you made my day and yes I did subscribe I didn't want to lose you

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

That is awesome!

[@BigJohnsCooking]

I'm ready now thank you.

[@idalias.8586]

Myyy momma would make this!❤❤❤ when she passed there went the recipe 😢 but i found it through uuu🥹🥹🥹❤❤❤❤ i cant wait to make some!!! Im so excited loll

[@SandyJ1206]

These are great instructions! Thank you! Im saving this.

[@shannonbarton163]

I love this bread!! I used to make this when my kids were young and today my 30 year old asked me to make it for him, so I'm going to get my starter kit ready! Thank you for your video because I would have never remembered how to make this easy and great tasting bread!!

[@JasmineDavis]

My mom used to make this when I was a kid. I miss it so much

[@TheJamesOPhillips]

I remember having this bread years ago when we visited Arcola IL which has a huge Amish population. I don't eat carbs (do Atkins) but a friend and I were talking about sourdough bread and I brought this up, and looked and found your recipe. Thank you for sharing.

[@cagedraptor]

I got a starter from a family member and was making bread for months, man that stuff is good.

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

That is awesome!

[@vickikarmapisel6804]

Best bread ever ❤️🤍💕

[@catheryn1330]

Ms. Anderson at Ponderosa elementary school in Sunnyvale, CA. She would bring our class a loaf every other week. Thank you!

[@jenifurinwy2066]

I remember how much weight I gained from baking and eating this stuff! I also remember people seeing me coming and (almost) running the other way! 🤣 But it is really good, so now I just bake it all at once ( and give away extra loaves) and start all over when I get the urge! Thanks for the video and the recipe. 👍

[@catheryn1330]

That’s what I’ve done

[@barbra429]

Why did they run the other way?

[@elizabethcallihan9971]

​@barbra429 probably because it's like the song that never ends.... you have to keep the starter going! But now there are so many recipes to use the starter it doesn't have to go to waste. ( and friends say you can freeze the starter until you want to bake with it)

[@teresitamurua181]

I used to Make this years ago. My sister gave me a bag of starter but 6 years ago I moved and it went bad. Well I thought it did…. Thank you so much for the recipe!!!!!!!!

[@hilariarodriguez9388]

Thank you for recipe, I lost mine that was given to me by a friend at least 20 yrs ago. My granddaughter ask me to give her some starter, but couldn't find my recipe. Thanks again, will just share your video with her.

[@masoncoats1478]

Great, but it’s better if you add chocolate pudding at the end, that’s how my grandma makes chocolate Amish friendship bread! Definitely would recommend

[@kari8674]

I had the recipe with the pudding also. I can’t remember- do you just dump a box in at the end before you bake it??

[@veronicasalas2666]

With this shut down we have going on right now, I was reminded of a friendship starter and recipe I had been gifted by a co worker in 2000. I kept it going for about a year then just stopped due to working so much. I’ve never been able to find the recipe she gave me anymore so I thought I’d look up some videos. Thank you for sharing! New sub 😊👍

[@eileenbrooks-laitinen9778]

You can always freeze the starter in one cup amounts and thaw and use when you want a fresh loaf of friendship bread. Be your own best friend. Lol

[@veronicasalas2666]

@@eileenbrooks-laitinen9778 yes! Thank you 😊

[@supperpuppy8]

Made this around 10 years ago when I got a starter from one of my friends that I was in girl scouts with at the time. Might do this as a Christmas present this year since I can't really see friends and family

[@conniecarroll9398]

Ty soooo much made this back in the 90’s. My hubby loves this bread forgot alll about it till I saw your video ty

[@sunshineandstarlight]

I made this years ago. We passed it around in Royal.

[@catladyjai1113]

Oh how I remember this back in the 90s and how I would experiment and add lots of vanilla and other flavors and everyone loved it and thought I was the best baker ever lol

[@ladykathrynperry9094]

This is fun I did this years ago also and my children were all small.

[@dennisrittershofer9263]

Hi, thank you for bringing this recipe to light. I have baked the same one only I add sliced Apples, Golden Raisins as well as Chopped Pecans. I brake them by hand otherwise the tiny pieces of pecans will make the dough drier. Enjoy.

[@taxiridefun]

Add apple,banana,carrot

[@gingerjohnson6262]

Wonderful memories and my mother would experiment with different add ins. All was soo good! I myself did it a few years ago but need to again

[@marionsicard6479]

Love this!! Such wonderful memories this brings back❤️ I was craving it out of nowhere and it’s a perfect fall recipe! Thank you much🙏🏻

[@CrazyforCrustRecipes]

You are so welcome!

[@ninakirkland2459]

The best tasting Friendship Loaf I ever had was made by a coworkers mother ... it was more of a pound cake texture, and light yellow in color , filled with maraschino cherries and baked in a large bundt loaf pan. So very good. I never did learn how to make it myself, and the cup of starter my friend gave me was a loss. ... Maybe I 'll give your version a try.

[@gracearnold7317]

Back in the day we called our starter Herman (or Hermann like my FIL).It got to the point that our friends were giving us starter, too. That is when we allowed Herman to die. 8-) I tried all sorts of add-ins. I thing adding some cocoa powder and chocolate chips and nuts was our favorite variety.

[@peaceandquiet1983]

Yup that's his name! My mom gave me some starter and tonight I bake!

[@larrywright5700]

Being suspect since you'd begun this recipe using metal whisk, warning viewers not to do as you did, I decided to continue.. I am glad I did! I baked this past Saturday and this coming Monday will be baking day again.. I shared the finished loaves with friends and will do the same this time too.. Thank you for this! Oh, I'm no long suspect.

[@sharonm8929]

We will try this!

[@salemdesta5248]

Thank you so much 🙏 you are the best ❤️👌🏾

[@janncorley7898]

You’re right! I had that starter on my counter for a few years! Thank you for the recipe!

[@AndreaRodriguez-rw2dp]

Looks delicious

[@goodcookandherguineapigand5122]

my sister used to make it . thanks

[@bambamvaxxine]

I used to add finely diced apple. Came out really good.

[@Mare_art]

Thanks for this! I have an original recipe that was given to me with a starter dough ages ago, but needed the original starter recipe. FYI - They make plant-based zip bags now, so you can avoid adding the PFAS and plastic toxins into your food / body and the environment. That said, I’m glad to see it can ferment in a bowl instead. I hate plastics and will buy small glass bowls to give the starter away in.

[@Row389]

Oh it looks so so good 😊 im definitely gonna try it tks Stay safe y’all from Toronto Canada 🇨🇦

[@fmoney]

Awesome! Used to make it as a kid when I think a coworker gave my dad a starter. Going to try making some more now!

[@Sweetencourager21]

I remember someone giving me a starter. The recipe called for vanilla pudding powder. The bread was delicious but I don’t remember the recipe. This one was different. However it looked similar.

[@babydoll92598]

You can google Amish friendship pudding bread and one will come up.

[@bettyblumer4235]

I remember gaining weight after several months of eating this bread. I'd love to have some but I don't think I want it around the house... lol

[@pattaylor4407]

I grew up in California and never heard of this bread. It’s a real interesting video! Who knew you could make a sourdough type quick bread?!

[@taxiridefun]

Theres a book the doctors sourdough

[@valorica3210]

I’ve never had this but I can’t wait to get started!

[@kathiehamerik3063]

Im so Going ot try this i have heard of it but never made it Thank you for this video.

[@bradleystrake3915]

Looks good to me thanks 😊😊😊😊😊

[@simplemebandit2764]

Use Quart size bags to so starter. Made it easy to stir as you simple squeeze the bag instead of stirring.

[@dannydean4013]

Awesome video thank you

[@motivationlife381]

I agree with you 100% I remember when I was a little I ate more of that than anything anything else to

[@Niki-mo1wf]

Great video thank you! It's been too long since I've made this. Will definitely be doing so again soon!!

[@sarahale7214]

I just used my sourdough starter and add an extra cup of sugar to it. I made muffins and add chocolate chips to some and chopped frozen bananas to the rest. They are in the oven now, so I don’t know how the finished product will taste but the batter was yummy 😋

[@brightbluesky1548]

I freaking miss this!

[@tamiroberts9304]

Hello… how do you stor your left over starter if not giving it away ? And how long does it last? Thank you….loved these instructions❣️

[@michellebartel]

Love this bread! Thank you for the video. Making my starter in the morning!

[@nomadswanderer8393]

I can't wait to make this. Thank you!!

[@faithsinternationaldelicio2774]

Yes I remember

[@chriss4268]

Thank you! You are awesome!!