Img_4472_2My darling friend Lindsey sent me this recipe last Fall and I just recently got around to making it this week. She sent it to me knowing that 1) I love the Amish & 2)when it comes to bread, well, we don’t always work out. I need something that’s simple. And to be completely honest, it is very simple. For some reason I always run into the problem with my bread not rising. On the jar of my yeast, it recommended checking 2 things: first, make sure you bring the yeast to room temperature before adding it and secondly, you can test to see if the yeast is still good by adding it to water & then adding sugar (check your labels). I decided to mix it up a little by adding some parmesan cheese & dried rosemary to the top and it ended up needing to be cooked about 5 minutes longer (could have to do with altitude, I’m not sure.) We’ve been eating this bread paired with Oliviers yummy tuscan olive & rosemary oil Mom brought us last time she was in town. It is a killer combination. Oh yeah, and the goblet of icy Diet Coke helped to make it complete!

Amish Country Bread

4 Tbsps Sugar
2 Tbsps Butter (melted)
3 tsps Salt

1 1/2 C hot water
2 Tbsps of rapid rise yeast*
5 Cups of flour (+ or -)*

Directions
Put all ingredients but the flour into the mixer (KitchenAid) and let sit for a few minutes so, as Lindsey likes to say, "the yeast can do it’s thing". Add the flour in small batches & mix with a dough hook for 8-10 minutes. Remove & place in a bowl that has been greased & let dough rise until double in size (about 30 min). Punch down & divide in half into 2 rounds and place on a greased cookie sheet. Cut decorative slits on top. Let dough rise again. Rub an egg white wash (1 egg white + 1 tbsp water) over the top and sprinkle with kosher salt. I added the dried rosemary & parmesan here. Bake at 400 degrees for 17-20 minutes (for me it took about 25 minutes).

*I used regular (non-rapid rise) yeast and so it took longer for the dough to rise- a few hours.
**You can also use wheat flour or do half & half.

I want to do a public service announcement on Kosher Salt, but I’ll do that later. I feel very strongly about Kosher salt so I’ll elaborate on that another time.

We went & bought some new trainers for Henry last night. His old ones were starting to get grungy so we got these but now he won’t wear them. He keeps saying "old". He just wants to wear his old shoes. I don’t blame him. They were pretty cool, too. I so wanted to get him these but was trying to be practical as he usually just has 1 pair of shoes at a time. I’ll probably get these for the summer, though. A little guy most definitely needs sandals for the summer. Agreed?

You guys are so funny about the bowls! I bought them at some rinky dink discount store for like $4 a few months back. Think Big Lots, but not. It wasn’t a chain or anything. All 3 of the bowls have the etching inside and then they also have a little pattern on the outside, too. Wish I could be of more help.

Happy Weekend!

xoxo

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47 responses to “Amish Country Bread”

  1. Megs Avatar

    This looks SO DIVINE! I’m a sucker for good bread, especially with parm cheese and olive oil! Is that kosher salt on top? Even better!
    Have a great weekend!

    Like

  2. Sarah Avatar

    Hey Morgan, I tried to email you about fabric after I read your comment this morning, but I am not sure it went through. (My email has been acting strange.) If you not can you email me through my Blogger profile?

    Like

  3. Kim Avatar

    Ok Miss Morgan, you are a girl after my own heart for SURE! Rosemary infused olive oil, bread, and diet coke?! That’s what I call Heaven. πŸ˜‰
    Hope you have a wonderful weekend~
    Hugs

    Like

  4. Megan Avatar

    Yum, yum, yum. I’m so hungry now.

    Like

  5. Mama Urchin Avatar

    The bread – yummy. The shoes – adorable,

    Like

  6. Kristy Avatar
    Kristy

    The bread looks awesome! I’ve never been able to get such a beautiful looking loaf…with the cross hatch on top and everything. Sometimes my bread tastes good, but it definitely isn’t that pretty!

    Like

  7. Heidi Avatar

    Oh my gosh, your photo has me DROOLING! I must try this bread! Thanks for sharing.

    Like

  8. emily falconbridge Avatar

    i am positively salivating at this picture!!! it could only be better if there were a crazy little cartoon man sitting on top of the loaf…

    Like

  9. Darcy Avatar

    I am definately going to give this recipe a try! It looks so yummy in the picture. Warm bread right out of the oven….you can’t beat it!

    Like

  10. Heather Roms Avatar

    HonestlyI think we were separated at birth. And I know this because of the goblet of Diet Coke. Sealed the deal for me. And I’m all over this bread, baby. You are my carb hero!

    Like

  11. Rebecca Avatar

    Hey! Congrats on a successful bread venture! Good for you girl.
    Hope all is well with you. Enjoy that ice cold diet coke – it sounds so good right now!
    xoxo, R.

    Like

  12. connie Avatar

    your criss-crosses are perfect! and the olive oil with all the goodies inside… oh my, so warm and tasty looking. perfect on this windy day

    Like

  13. islandjen Avatar

    oh yum!!! that looks so delish!! i can see why you guys have been eating off of it all weekend!! i may have to try this..although I’m not so swell with bread either. I broke my bread machine! yikes!

    Like

  14. wendy Avatar

    What a beautiful blog this is.

    Like

  15. leslie Avatar

    yumm! my mouth is watering! i will definitely try this out! thanks!

    Like

  16. amy Avatar

    I spy a menemsha sunset,
    and all things MV!
    we live on the vineyard
    and i was tickled to find your
    blog and photos.

    Like

  17. momo Avatar

    Just found your blog. The bread you made looks fantastic!
    I will try the recipe sometime soon. Thank you for sharing!

    Like

  18. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    The bread looks delicious! I was surprised by the short ingredients list…I thought for sure it would require more stuff. I’ll definitely have to try it!

    Like

  19. Nancy J. Avatar

    That looks so good, and like something I could actually do. Too bad i just started my diet, how do you make all this yummy food and stay so thin? I love your stuff, you’re very inspirational!

    Like

  20. Alyson Avatar
    Alyson

    You can never mess up Focaccia. That is why I love it. Yours looks delicious!

    Like

  21. Jeanne Avatar

    This looked so good that we ran out to the market this afternoon for rapid-rise yeast. Julia and I thank you — it’s delicious!

    Like

  22. claire Avatar

    I think the comments are turned off of your most current posts! I haven’t been able to comment lately. The denim bag is adorable, I want one!

    Like

  23. Dee Ianniello Avatar
    Dee Ianniello

    Came across your site by accident and I am loving it. I plan on trying some of the receipes they are wonderful.

    Like

  24. Lili Avatar
    Lili

    Finding your website is happy accident! I found it today and you are already on my favorite list! I’m going to start a craft and cooking club for girls. And I was looking for ideas and inspiration. Thanks so much, Lili

    Like

  25. Manila condominiums Avatar

    I haven’t tried eating Amish country bread yet but base on the photo, it really looks very delicious. Now, I am very interested to make like this at home. Thank you for posting its recipes.

    Like

  26. CAROLYN Avatar
    CAROLYN

    Thanks for the recipe, I’m making the bread right now. FYI Check out this yeast conversion chart for substituting different types of yeast http://www.theartisan.net/convert_yeast_two.htm

    Like

  27. Courtney Avatar

    Hello! I made this yesterday and it was SOOOOO good! I posted about it on my blog, gave you credit and linked back. Here’s the url if you are interested… http://cookingmisadventures.com/2012/01/04/amish-country-bread/
    Thanks!!

    Like

  28. Morgan Avatar

    I’m so glad you liked it. I haven’t made this bread in years!

    Like

  29. Charlotte Cline Avatar

    Hi, I enjoy your blog. I am an ardent bread maker. I’ve never heard that you have to bring your yeast to room temp before using it. I keep my yeast in a jar in the freezer. I add sugar to water, don’t even stir it, then add my yeast. The most important thing about getting your bread to rise is the water used to proof your yeast should be “comfortable” – pleasant to your touch, NEVER too hot. Second thing is WAIT. Rising depends on the temperature of the room. Again, never on the stove or a place that is too hot, but it should be very warm. If I am in a hurry for rolls etc., I heat my oven to 200 degrees, then turn it off and add my pan of dough or rolls already formed. They will rise in a hurry. Again, no hotter and not in the oven if it is still turned on. Good luck. Bread will become the easiest thing you do in your kitchen!

    Like

  30. RecipeNewZ Avatar

    I found this post though Pinterest. The photo was so beautiful that I just had to come here to read the recipe! Love it! And love your site :-).
    I would like to invite you to share this post (and your other posts πŸ™‚ ) on a new photo based recipe sharing site that launched in May. The idea is simple: all recipe photographs are published within minutes of submission. And, of course, the images link back to the author’s site.
    It’s called RecipeNewZ (with Z) – http://recipenewz.com
    I hope you get a chance to visit and to share some of your delicious posts with our viewers. It would be a pleasure to have you on board πŸ™‚

    Like

  31. Sheila Avatar
    Sheila

    I have put my yeast in the fridge based off another site telling me this was the best for it…the last two bread/pizza attempts I have ended up with a dense barely risen rock hard loaf…is this the reason?? I have made pizza and bread in the past that turned out great and fluffy.I would love some advice on this. Also does taking the yeast out of the fridge and putting it in the pantry mess it up at all? Can’t wait to try this, but worried about wasting 5 more cups of flour before I figure out what I’m doing wrong.

    Like

  32. Melody Avatar
    Melody

    I have used this recipe over and over. Delicious! Thank you! Sometimes I add chopped garlic cloves as well. Everyone always loves it!

    Like

  33. Laurie Avatar
    Laurie

    I keep my yeast in the freezer so it will last a long time. I let it come to room temperature before using and it works fine.
    It is possible that your yeast has expired. I write the date I opened mine on the lid. In the freezer it will last a year (I lost a jar in there once and a year later it still worked). It won’t last that long in the fridge.

    Like

  34. Jessica McKnight Avatar
    Jessica McKnight

    I realize this is an OLD post, but I see you’re still updating your blog, so hopefully you’ll get this! Is it really 2 TABLESPOONS of yeast?? It seems like a lot – usually I only use about 2 1/2 TEASPOONS for bread recipes – just want to make sure before I give it a try! Thanks!

    Like

  35. kyp Avatar
    kyp

    Jessica
    I just made this bread and used 2 packages of yeast and the bread turned out great. Be sure to put the salt, rosemary and parmesan on it. I also used 4 cups white flour and 1 cup wheat flour. Happy baking.

    Like

  36. Deidra Avatar
    Deidra

    I make this bread weekly! Its so easy! And to the poster below, yes it is 2 tablespoons! I’ve never made another bread before so I’m not sure it’s alot, but the bread is amazing!

    Like

  37. Fishing Trips Charters Sitka Alaska Avatar

    Gorgeous! I’m not afraid of bread baking it’s just the time involved so it’s more of a weekend baking project!! But always worth it to have your kitchen smelling of freshly baked bread!

    Like

  38. Paula Avatar
    Paula

    Hi! This bread looks great! Saw it in pinterest and bought the ingredients to do it tomorrow.
    I am from spain and i was wondering how many grams are 5 cups of flour? I heard a cup is 100 gr but i really don t know.
    Thanks a lot!
    Besos

    Like

  39. Joy Hughes Avatar
    Joy Hughes

    One cup of flour is approx 125gms. Hope that helps.

    Like

  40. Charlotte Avatar
    Charlotte

    I love all these recipes!!! I am so happy about this site!

    Like

  41. Joyce Bess Avatar
    Joyce Bess

    In reference to Amish country bread. After I mix my bread I always set my oven to 170 degrees for 2 minutes then shut it off. I then put my bread in to rise for an hour or more if needed. Put a tent over bread of oil topped foil. This has worked great for me ever since I found an experienced bakers recipe for bread and she told how she let her bread rise in the oven. This was one of my biggest problems in making bread. Hope this may help someone else. I’m tring this bread today. I love a good bread for sandwiches and toast.

    Like

  42. sheena Avatar
    sheena

    So you use regular yeast in that process, not rapid rise?

    Like

  43. sheena Avatar
    sheena

    Do you use normal yeast if you do this?

    Like

  44. Charlotte Cline Avatar
    Charlotte Cline

    Hey, Sheena, Yes, use regular yeast. I love Fleishmans Dry yeast. I usually buy while I am in Utah because it is so cheap here and then keep it in the refrigerator. I love baking bread so contact me on Facebook if you ever need any recipes or have questions. Charlotte Cline

    Like

  45. sheena Avatar
    sheena

    Thanks! A lot of my family lives in Utah so I might have to send one of them on a mission for me. I’m baking my first loaf tonight. No facebook. Instagram is tasheenarae if wanna follow. Otherwise it’s email. Thanks again for the info!

    Like

  46. Theresa Avatar
    Theresa

    I have picked up a tip on another site. Placing your bowl of dough on a heating pad (set to low), helps it to rise. It’s worked amazingly for me. πŸ™‚

    Like

  47. essalsson Avatar
    essalsson

    Thank you for this tip! I made bread for the first time tonight and it rose perfectly

    Like

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