Stressing over the Amish Friendship Bread. How are we not going to die?

[shmoogrrrl]

Seriously, my well meaning good friend gave me a starter for this stuff. I tried the bread at her house and it was SOOOOOOO yummy. Well, I got my little starter monster on Saturday, and I have been stressing out over it ever since!

I am following the directions, but in this day and age of food spoiling paranoia, how is it that we can pour milk in something that is just going to sit out on my counter for the next 5 days? Obviously people do this all the time, and they don't die, so it must work somehow!

Second, when I get to the day that I am supposed to bake this stuff, I know that I separate it to make 'starters' for friends, but do they have to be delivered the same day, or will the starter sit in a ziplock bag for a day or two? I have friends who want their very own Amish Friendship Bread Monster, but I bake on Monday and I don't usually see them until Wednesday nights. Any thoughts if this will work?

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

My sister tried to give me a baggie full of that glob last year. NO Thank You!! We don't need to be friends that much It makes me queasy just thinking about it

I'm sorry I can't answer your other questions. I handed it right back to my sister and had nothing to do with that vile baggie of goo. Maybe she should have had me eat some first before she showed me the baggie.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

The bread is soooooo dang good. I don't know how you don't die. All I know is you can add chocolate chips to the bread and think you are in heaven...

 

[HERSEY]

Relax It is just like the sourdough starters from long ago. You can do so much with the recipe not just coffe cake. Sometimes it goes by the name of Herman starter also.

You are not baking on the same day of the week every week.

 

[N&B'smom]

Yessss.....remove the cinnamon, put chocolate chips...SOOOO yummy. But I love the original recipe as well.

We do this ALL the time and have yet to have any casualties.

 

[emer95]

You won't die, but you will think you've gone to heaven!

It is the most delicious thing on earth! Oh my gosh, there is nothing like it. So tender, so cinnamony and sweet...mmm. I had the same fears as you but once I tried a bite I threw caution to the wind and it was worth it.

After a while you do get sick of the starter hanging around, and some people will reject your offer of friendship, LOL. It looks just like a bag of breastmilk to me.

You don't have to deliver the bags on the same day, but if you keep them for a while you have to babysit them. You know, add the stuff at the right day.

Make sure the bags are closed tightly! I came home to a yeasty mess all over the floor/counter once.

 

[disney1990]

I know I made my original batch maybe 30 years. You will definitely not die from the starter. It is so yummy. I wish I lived close enough that you could pass your starter on to me.

I know that once before, I Googled Amish Bread Starter and found a receipe to actually start "the starter".

 

[JessicaR]

Never heard of this - anyone wanna post the recipe? Thanks!

 

[disney1990]

Here you go. The add-ins can vary according to what you want your bread/cake to taste like. It really is more cake than bread.


AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD STARTER

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water (110 degrees)
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. warm milk (110 degrees

STARTER FOOD: (every 5 days)
1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. milk

In small bowl, soften yeast in water for about 10 minutes. Stir well. In a 2 quart glass, plastic, or ceramic container. Combine flour and sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in warm milk and softened yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature until bubbly. Refrigerate. Consider this Day 1 of a 10 day cycle.

Days 2-4, stir with a spoon.

Day 5, to feed, blend flour and sugar in a small bowl. Slowly mix in milk with a spoon, whisk or hand mixer. Stir mixture into starter. Return to refrigerator.

Day 6-9, stir.

Day 10, (which becomes Day 1 for the next series) feed again.

NOTE: Consider the 10 day cycle a guide. It doesn't need to be followed exactly. If you need more starter, feed it more often. The starter is yeast culture and will grow when fed. To hasten growth, leave starter at room temperature for several hours.

BASIC FRIENDSHIP BREAD:

2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. sugar
1 1/4 baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. Friendship starter
2/3 c. vegetable oil
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 c. optional addition (see below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans with shortening.

In a large mixer bowl, sift or thoroughly mix flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add starter, eggs, vanilla, and mix well. Stir in optional ingredients and divide batter between the prepared pans. Bake about 55 minutes (exact time will vary because of differences of optionals). Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes then turn out of pans and cool.

Optional Additions:

Raisins, chopped pitted dates, nuts, dried cherries, mashed ripe bananas, blueberries, coconut, canned pumpkin, chocolate chips, chopped apples, grated carrot, grated zucchini.

 

[Ceila]

NOTE: Consider the 10 day cycle a guide. It doesn't need to be followed exactly. If you need more starter, feed it more often. The starter is yeast culture and will grow when fed. To hasten growth, leave starter at room temperature for several hours.

I didn't want to quote your whole post, since it was long, but I want to say THANK YOU for posting the starter recipe!!! No more waiting for one from a friend if I let our die out.

Also, the above quote is absolutely true. The last time I had a starter I was so careful to stay exactly on the "schedule," that when I wasn't able to bake on time I ended up tossing the starter.

I just got a new starter a couple of weeks ago, and not only was I two days late "feeding" it, but I was another two days late baking. Guess what - it still came out delicious!!

I think as long as you only go a couple of days past the "official" time to feed or bake you will be fine.

 

[R and C's momma]

Thank you for posting the recipe. Last time I made mine I forgot to save a starter and was so sad I couldn't keep making one every 10 days. I love this bread and was also scared of something that had milk in it sitting on the counter.

The recipe I have adds pudding to the mix, and our favorite is dark chocolate pudding with chocolate chips (I do not omit the cinnamon & vanilla). SO YUMMY!!

And I agree with the above posts that state you don't need to follow it exact. I've also baked it a day or two early - and late - and it's still divine. Also if you skip the middle section of directions you get enough for 2 loaves and one cup to save just one starter for yourself. No having to worry every time about finding 3+ participants to pass starters to.

 

[JessicaR]

disney1990 - thanks so much for the recipe!

 

[PollyannaMom]

The bread is soooooo dang good. I don't know how you don't die. All I know is you can add chocolate chips to the bread and think you are in heaven...

I agree! And when you get bored with just chocolate chips, replace them with a mix of chocolate, white, and butterscotch!!

I've also made it with a little less cinnamon, and substituted almond extract for the vanilla. Way yummy as well.

I think I'm going to try raspberry extract next.

 

[teacherlisa1978]

You can also freeze your starter on its Day 1. Then when you thaw it, just go from Day 1 again. Works great and reduces some of the stress and pressure when you know you won't have time to bake for a little while!

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Here you go. The add-ins can vary according to what you want your bread/cake to taste like. It really is more cake than bread.


until bubbly. Refrigerate. Consider this Day 1 of a 10 day cycle.

Wait....My recipe specifically says NOT to put it in the refrigerator! Odd.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I LOVE it. When I got mine last year, I googled it and found soooooo many great recipes using it. I have some in my freezer right now.

 

[smschex]

The starter doesn't spoil because it is undergoing fermentation. That is why you "feed" it, to keep the process going.

I love this stuff, but don't have enough friends who will take a starter. I feel like I am wasting a lot of it. My kids like the batter poured into muffin cups for a quick breakfast or snack.

 

[happygirl]

I love Friendship bread. It won't kill you

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I've never tried this, but it sounds good. If someone would just send me some, already made, I promise to be your friend forever!

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm subbing just so I don't lose the recipe! thanks!