Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (2024)

When you have Amish Friendship Bread starter coming out your ears and your friends stop answering the door when they see you coming with that familiar bag of bread-to-be, you need different and tasty ways to use up your starter.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (1)

Even if you aren't sick of the basic recipe, a little variety is a good (and very delicious) thing! Try any one of these fantastic variations of the classic Amish Friendship Bread. They are all just as wonderful as the orginal.

Banana Nut Amish Friendship Bread

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (2)

When making the basic recipe, reduce oil to 1/3 cup. Omit cinnamon.

Increase vanilla extract to 1 1/2 teaspoons.

Add 3 large very ripe bananas, mashed (banana skins should be almost black) and 1/2 cup chopped nuts.

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Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (3)

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Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread

Omit cinnamon from the basic recipe and add 1 (5.1 oz) box of instant chocolate pudding, an additional 1/2 cup milk, 3 tsp. cocoa and 3/4 cup chocolate chips.

Bake for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours.

Apple Cinnamon Friendship Bread

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (4)

To the basic recipe add one cup of raisins and one ripe, medium diced apple.

Butterscotch Amish Friendship Bread

To the basic recipe add 1 (5.1 oz) box of butterscotch pudding, an additional 1/2 cup milk, and 1 cup of butterscotch chips.

Omit the cinnamon.

Mounds Bar Amish Frienship Bread

To the basic recipe add 1 (5.1 oz) box of chocolate instant pudding, an additional 1/2 cup milk, chocolate chips, and coconut.

Chocolate Mint Amish Friendship Bread

To the basic recipe add one box of fudge pudding mix and an additional 1/2 cup milk. Omit the cinnamon.

Lemon Amish Friendship Bread

Substitute Lemon Extract for the vanilla flavoring.

To the basic recipe add 1 box of lemon pudding and an additional 1/2 cup milk.

Omit the cinnamon and nuts, and add 1/4 cup of poppy seeds.

For extra flavor, add 2 cups shredded coconut.

Cranberry-Orange Amish Friendship Bread

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (5)

When making the basic recipe, substitute orange juice for milk.

Before baking, stir in 1 tablespoon grated orange zest (colored portion of peel) and 1 cup dried cranberries.

Banana-Chocolate Chip Amish Friendship Bread

When making the basic recipe, reduce oil to 1/3 cup.

Reduce cinnamon to 1 teaspoon.

Add 1 (5.1 oz) box of instant banana pudding mix and an additional 1/2 cup milk.

Before baking, stir in 1 cup very ripe mashed bananas and 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate minichips.

Cherry Amish Friendship Bread

When making the basic recipe, substitute almond extract for vanilla.

The Food Substitutions Bible

  • The must-have convenient reference guide for every home cook!
  • Includes more than 8,000 substitutions for ingredients, cookware, and techniques.
  • Save time and money on by avoiding trips to grab that "missing" ingredient you don't really need.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (6)

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Omit the cinnamon.

Before baking, stir in 1 cup dried cherries.

Caramel Apple Friendship Bread

Omit cinnamon from the basic recipe.

Add 1 (5.1 oz) box of instant caramel pudding, an additional 1/2 cup milk, and 2 cups dried apples.

Pumpkin Spice Amish Friendship Bread

When making the basic recipe, reduce oil to 1/3 cup.

Reduce cinnamon to 1 teaspoon. Use brown sugar instead of white sugar.

Add 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.

Before baking, stir in 1 cup canned pumpkin.

Strawberry Amish Friendship Bread

To the basic recipe, add 1 small box of strawberry Jell-O and an additional 1/2 cup milk.

Add 1 cup thawed strawberries.

Chocolate Cherry Amish Friendship Bread

Omit cinnamon from the basic recipe.

Replace the vanilla flavoring with almond flavoring.

Add 1 (5.1 oz) box of instant chocolate pudding, an additional 1/2 cup milk, 3 tsp. cocoa, and 1 can tart red cherries in water, drained.

Carrot Cake Amish Friendship Bread

Increase the cinnamon in the basic recipe to 1 Tablespoon.

Add to the basic recipe the following ingredients:

3 medium carrots shredded
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chunky homestyle applesauce
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon clove
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Use a a bundt pan instead of a loaf pan. Bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Can be frosted with cream cheese frosting.

What To Do With All of This Friendship Bread

Now that you have all of this Amish friendship bread on your hands, what are you going to do with it? You certainly can't keep it all for yourself! After all, that would negate the “friendship” part of Amish Friendship Bread.

The easiest, and arguably best, thing to do with your extra bread is to simply gift a loaf each to your friends. Make the variety that you think suits each friend's tastes the best, and surprise them with it the next time you see each other! We're sure they'll be asking for the recipe in no time at all.

Another option is to gift a loaf or two to your neighbors. Neighborly gifts are always appreciated, and can go a long way towards making your living experience better. This is an especially good idea if you've just moved to a new place.

Finally, you can bring some loaves to work, if you happen to work in an office setting or similar. Your coworkers will surely appreciate some delicious bread during the workday! Maybe consider tossing a loaf your boss's way, too- it could go a long way towards that next raise or promotion!

The Food Substitutions Bible

  • The must-have convenient reference guide for every home cook!
  • Includes more than 8,000 substitutions for ingredients, cookware, and techniques.
  • Save time and money on by avoiding trips to grab that "missing" ingredient you don't really need.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (7)

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe Variations (2024)

FAQs

How to tell if Amish Friendship Bread starter is bad? ›

If your starter looks discolored with a pink or green tinge, has mold (a no-brainer but worth mentioning), or if the sharp acetone smell doesn't go away, discard your starter and make a new one from scratch. It's sad, but so is food poisoning. The rule in the Friendship Bread Kitchen is: when in doubt, throw it out.

Why does my Amish Friendship Bread sink in the middle? ›

Keep the oven door closed while your Amish Friendship Bread is baking. You may be tempted to peek, but sudden temperature drops can result in the bread collapsing in the middle.

What is the difference between Amish Friendship Bread starter and sourdough starter? ›

A Herman starter or Amish Friendship Bread Starter is typically made with milk, flour, sugar and commercial yeast. A sourdough starter is generally made only of flour and water. A Herman starter will be sweeter and more mellow flavored than a sourdough starter.

Does Amish Friendship Bread need to be refrigerated? ›

You should store your starter in the fridge if: You plan to bake 2-4x a month. If you don't have a plan to regularly bake, then freeze your starter. Refrigerated starters still have to be fed regularly, and if you are not using it, you'll need to discard some starter regularly as well.

How do you know if your bread starter is bad? ›

Typical signs of food spoilage and mold include pink, orange, or green colors, white fuzzy spots, or sometimes areas that are darker with white areas on top. If you see any of these signs, I would recommend throwing your starter away and creating a new one.

Why does my bread starter smell like alcohol? ›

Liquor/Booze – Some starters will smell like alcohol. This is ethyl alcohol which is a byproduct of yeast fermentation and usually occurs when the starter has fallen completely flat and is starving.

How long can you keep an Amish Friendship bread starter? ›

If it's properly cared for, Amish friendship starter can be maintained indefinitely. "It is heartier than most sourdough starters because the sugars in the added milk and sugar give the yeasts extra food to survive, but other things like ambient temperature and contamination could alter your starter," Gee says.

Can Amish friendship starter go bad? ›

Yes, AFB starter is hardy, but it needs to be fed. If your starter turns pink or has pink splotches, throw it out. After feeding it, nothing happens. Again, every starter (and kitchen) is different so you don't want to be impatient.

How to make quick bread rise more? ›

To ensure that your quick bread rises properly, it's important to use room-temperature ingredients. Take the butter, eggs, and milk out of the refrigerator an hour or two before you plan to bake. Room-temperature ingredients will mix more easily and will help your bread rise properly.

Can you freeze the starter for Amish Friendship Bread? ›

Can You Freeze Amish Friendship Bread? You can freeze both the starter and the baked the bread. If you freeze the starter, it will last for years in the freezer. Stick it in the freezer and write the date on the bag.

What is the healthiest sourdough starter? ›

Compared to whole wheat flour, rye flour is said to be the most nutrient- and amylase-dense option for a sourdough starter.

Why use sourdough starter instead of yeast? ›

For example, commercial yeast may be very fast to rise, which is great when you're pressed for time. But bread made with sourdough starter tastes so much better as it has a more complex flavor!

Can you overfeed your sourdough starter? ›

Premature discarding and overfeeding will weaken your starter and elongate the process. Don't discard and re-feed a weak starter before it shows increasing bubble activity or height from the previous feeding. If you don't see more bubbles or a faster rise each day, skip a feeding, and give it more time.

Why is it called Amish Friendship Bread? ›

Amish communities emphasize helping each other and working together, as shown by activities like barn raisings. The practice of Amish Friendship Bread, where people share the bread's starter mix, reflects this community spirit, encouraging a sense of togetherness and giving.

How long can you keep an Amish Friendship Bread starter? ›

If it's properly cared for, Amish friendship starter can be maintained indefinitely. "It is heartier than most sourdough starters because the sugars in the added milk and sugar give the yeasts extra food to survive, but other things like ambient temperature and contamination could alter your starter," Gee says.

How do I know if my starter is moldy? ›

While there are many different reasons that you might be wary of some kind of strange growth on your starter, mold really is worth worrying over. It's also pretty easy to recognize. The characteristic furry, fuzzy, hairy colors sprouting on the surface are a sure sign you should throw it out.

What should bread starter smell like? ›

Once your starter is fully mature (usually after about a week), it should have a pleasant, slightly sour smell. This is the smell of a healthy, well-fed starter, ready to leaven a loaf of bread. The aroma can be compared to yogurt or buttermilk, indicating a good balance of yeast and lactic acid bacteria.

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