Amish Friendship Starter
This is a fun way to share the joy of baking with your friends or to meet a new neighbor. The Amish Friendship Starter can also be frozen to be used at a later date. Important Note: Do not use metal bowls or spoons!
Equipment
- Non Metal Bowl
- Non Metal Mixing Spoon
- Zip Lock Bag - Galllon Size
- Food Thermometer
- Bread Pans
Ingredients
Amish Starter Mix:
- 1 Pkg. Dry Active Yeast
- ¼ Cup Water Warm 110 degrees – I use a thermometer to check the water temp.
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Milk Warm 110 degrees – I use a thermometer to check the water temp.
Day 5 Mix:
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Milk
Day 10 Mix and Divide:
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Milk
Day 10 Bread Batter Mix:
- 3 Eggs
- 1 Cup Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Milk
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Tsp. Cinnamon
- ½ Tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1 ½ Tsp. Baking Powder
- ½ Tsp. Baking Soda
- ½ Tsp. Salt
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
Instructions
Day 1:
- In a small bowl, mix yeast and warm water, and set aside for 10 minutes.
- In a gallon size, Ziploc bag combine the flour and sugar. Mixing thoroughly so that the flour does not lump when liquid is added.
- Slowly pour in warm milk and yeast mixture. Close bag and let stand at room temperature until bubbly. If air gets into the bag, let it out. It is normal for the batter to rise, bubble, and ferment.
Day 2 - 4:
- Mush the bag.
Day 5: Add 1 cup of each.
- Add flour, sugar, and milk to the starter bag. Let stand until bubbly.
Day 6 - 9:
- Mush the bag.
Day 10:
- (This will becomes day 1 for the next batch.) After day 10 you can take out what you need and then continue to feed the starter according to cycle.
- Pour entire contents of bag into a large non-metal bowl and add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk.
- Measure out 4 separate batches of the starter batter, 1 cup each, into 4 separate Ziploc bags (one-gallon size).
- Keep one for yourself and give the other 3 to friends along with a printable copy of the recipe/instructions.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease or butter 2 large loaf pans.Optional: In a separate bowl, mix ½ cup sugar and 1½ tsp cinnamon. Dust the greased pans with half the cinnamon/sugar mixture.
- Mix the remaining ingredients, listed to the bowl with the batter.
- Pour batter evenly into the pans and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Cool the bread on a baking rack. It should loosen from sides of the pan, turn the pan over onto a serving dish.
Notes
Optional:
1 large box instant vanilla or chocolate pudding (about 5.9 oz.)1 cup Chopped Nuts, Blueberries, or Raisins Note: If the bag isn't passed on to a friend on the 10th day, be certain to tell the recipient which day the bag is at when given to them. If you keep a starter bag for yourself, you will be baking every 10 days. This starter can be frozen. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw and come to life. Then it will behave like fresh batter.