What is Friendship Bread?

Search: friendship bread

Why: On Facebook:

Rachel - Does anybody have a friendship bread starter??? I haven't made it in forever, but I'd really like to make it again...since it's sourdough, I know I can't just start it when I want.
Kim - Well when u do make it, share the love with me! I love friendship bread :-)
Rachel - As soon as I get some I will!
Ashley - Agh.... I just gave my starters away! You might be able to find a starter recipe online. Good luck!
Rachel - I can't, I've tried. If anyone you gave starters to has one, I'd love a heads up! I'd be happy to go to them to get a starter :)
Amber - I've made the starter before, if you want I can start one up?
Rachel - Seriously?!? OMG! I'd love you!!! (This is the friendship bread where you get the starter and then you have like a week of "coaching" it and then when you bake you have a loaf of friendship bread and another starter right?)
Amber - Yes, that is the one. It will take me 10-11 days before I will have a starter for you.
Rachel - You are my favorite person right now!!!!

Answer: It's an Amish thing! Or, at least, the name is - it's called Amish Friendship Bread.

Amish Friendship Bread is not just a delicious and sweet bread, it's also a way to bond friends by sharing countless loaves of bread baked in different kitchens that all began from the same bowl of simple ingredients.

Here's a recipe for a friendship bread starter:

It is very important to use plastic or wooden utensils and plastic or glass containers when making this. Do not use metal at all!

Ingredients

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)

Directions

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.
2. 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.
3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle, or the day you receive the starter.

Source: Moms Who Think, Armchair World

The More You Know: And then this:

Day 1 - Make or receive the starter
Day 2 - Stir
3 - Stir
4 - Stir
Day 5 - Add 1 cup each of flour, sugar, and milk
6 - Stir
7 - Stir
8 - Stir
9 - Stir
10 - Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Divide into 4 containers, with 1 cup each for 3 of your friends and 1 cup for your own loaves. Give friends the instructions for Day 1 through Day 10 and the following recipe for baking the bread.


via One more Moore

To Bake

After removing the 3 cups of batter, combine the remaining cup of Friendship Bread starter with the following ingredients in a large bowl:

2/3 cup oil
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 to 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Using a fork, beat by hand until well-blended. You can add 1 cup raisins and 1 cup nuts (optional).

Grease two loaf pans with butter, sprinkle with sugar instead of flour.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour (individual oven temperatures vary). Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans. Makes two loaves of Amish Friendship Bread.