Amish Friendship Bread Variations

I created these Amish friendship bread variations because even though I like the bread, I do not like messing with the starter.

Let me explain...

Years ago I was handed some Amish friendship bread starter and it did not take long for me to 1) alienate my friends with Ziploc baggies full of starter and 2) for me to be deluged in the gooey stuff....

I gave up...yep, threw the thing away and good riddance.

Over the next few years, I became acquainted with other sourdough starters and how they operate. So, when in the summer of 2009, I was once again handed some Amish friendship bread starter, I decided I was NOT going to be once again a slave to this stuff...no way.

So over the next few weeks, I developed a new routine - and new recipes - which worked for me and my family. Now I will get to share with you.

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Variations for Amish friendship bread - Comments and reviews.

Amish Friendship Bread Variations: the Starter

You will need some starter and you can acquire it either of two ways:

• It is given to you

• You make your own

A sourdough starter is a living organism and that is the reason that it must be fed. There are various ways that you can take care of it:

Option 1: Feed it every 5 days if you leave it out on your counter. I feed mine every five days and usually will feed it with 1 1/2 cups each of flour, milk and sugar.

However, you may not have a family the size of mine and if you do not want so much starter, feed it just 1/4 cup of each flour, milk and sugar.

Do what works for you.

Remember to mix it every day.

I usually use my starter on the first day I feed it and in the next two days following. When I get low I wait until the fifth day and feed again.

If you read up on sourdoughs and their starters, you will find that one of the reasons people mess with them is their many health benefits. Traditional sourdough recipes ask to only use wooden or plastic bowls, jars and utensils. This is done because there is a possibility of the yeast's acidity acting on the metal and changing the PH and messing everything up. As I said before I am no chemist, I just do as I am told and trust someone else knows better!

Another important point is that when you're making the starter, it should be left uncovered or covered loosely with cheese cloth or plastic wrap. The starter needs airflow!

Option 2: Leave it the fridge which will slow down the whole process in which case you will need to feed it every 10 to 14 days.

You will need to leave it out of the fridge the day you want to use it. Usually this will coincide with a "feeding."

You get the best results when the starter has been recently fed.

Is it starting to feel like you have another pet huh? Hey, you might even want to name your starter...just kidding!

Option 3: Freeze your starter.

It will take about 3 hours to defrost and you will need to feed it once it is completely defrosted and before you can use it.

Variations to the Original Recipe

I decided to make this recipe healthier. Reduce the fat and get rid of the artificial ingredients from the boxed pudding.

• 1 1/2 cups of starter

• 1/2 cup oil

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder

• 1/2 cup of potato starch - cornstarch will work as well

• 1 cup chopped nuts - optional

Combine all the ingredients together and mix thoroughly.

Grease 2 large bread loaf pans well.

Pour the mix into the pans.

Bake at 325 degrees F for one hour.

If freezing, cool completely beforehand.

More Amish Friendship Bread Variations

Note: If you use large muffin cups - as I do - bake for 20 to 25 minutes only.

Amish Friendship Bread Variations:
Chocolate Bread

• Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the mix - I use Dutch processed cocoa

• Optional - 1 cup of chocolate chips

Amish Friendship Bread Variations:
Blueberry Bread

• Add 1 bag of frozen blueberries - about 10 to 16 oz

Amish Friendship Bread Variations:
Poppy Seed Bread

• Omit the ground cinnamon

• Add 1 tsp of vanilla extract - so 2 tsps total

• Add 1 tsp of almond extract

• Add 1 tsp of either lemon or orange extract

• Add 1 tsp of butter flavor - I use a natural one

• Add 1/4 cup of poppy seeds

Amish Friendship Bread Variations:
Banana Nut Bread

• Use only 1 tsp of ground cinnamon rather than 2

• Add 1 tsp of vanilla extract - so 2 tsps total

• Add 2 mashed bananas

• Optional: Add 1 tsp of butter flavor - I use a natural one

• Add 1 cup of walnuts

Eggless Spiced Pumpkin Bread

This variation has a story...

We were pretty much out of food and not one egg in the house. Yet we add Amish friendship bread starter, flour, etc... So I got creative and made up another variation and everyone loved it!

• Use 1 cup of brown sugar rather than white sugar

• 1 tsp of ground ginger

• 1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp of ground cloves

• Add 1 tsp of baking powder - for a total of 2

• Omit the eggs

• Instead of milk use 1 cup of buttermilk

• 2/3 to 1 cup of pumpkin puree

Amish Friendship Bread Variations:
Chocolate Chips Bread

• Use only 1 tsp of ground cinnamon rather than 2

• Add 1 tsp of vanilla extract - so 2 tsps total

• Add 1 regular bag of chocolate chips - 10 oz

Note: You may want to use some muffin cup "liners" as the chocolate chips will want to stick to the bottom making it hard to unmold the muffins without breaking them.

We learned that the hard way. But they'll still taste great!

Amish Friendship Bread Variations Reviews

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