Amish Friendship Bread Starter from Ann

We received a request from Nicole who remembered her mom talking about a ‘starter’ for bread. She was wondering exactly what it is and was looking for a recipe for Friendship Bread Starter.

Other readers have commented with explanations and recipes, so I thought I’d move some of the recipes over here to the recipe section so they would be easier to find and keep track of.

This recipe for friendship bread starter was submitted by Ann Fenner. Thank you, Ann!

Ann’s Amish Friendship Bread Starter

This is the Amish Friendship Bread Starter Recipe that you’’ll need to make Amish Friendship Bread. 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:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.
• 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.
• 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.

For the next 10 days handle starter according to these instructions:

• Day 1 – either you will receive the starter from a friend or make the above recipe for the starter
• Day 2 – stir
• Day 3 – stir
• Day 4 – stir
• Day 5 – Add 1 cup each flour, sugar and milk.
• Day 6 – stir
• Day 7 – stir
• Day 8 – stir
• Day 9 – stir
• Day 10 – Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Divide into 4 containers, with 1 cup each for three of your friends and 1 cup for your own loaves. Give friends the instructions for Day 1 through Day 10 and this recipe for baking 2 loaves of Amish Friendship Bread.  (You will find the recipe by clicking on this link: Amish Friendship Bread)