About a week ago, I received a fragile, liquid & perishable package (which I am still debating reporting to my local area officials) from my sister in Vermont. It was actually addressed to Henry which he was so excited about. That is until we opened the package and it contained fermenting goo in the form of Amish Friendship Bread (a second runner up to the 'presents' (aka pants) he received for Christmas.) We followed the directions and mashed it everyday, fed it on the 14th (whoops one day late) and cooked it today. 
The whole idea of Amish Friendship Bread is that before you cook it, you separate it into 4 batches to give away to friends so that 10 days later they can make their own bread and then they divey up the batter until the AFB reaches all corners of the earth. It's not your normal bread- it's more like a banana bread. It has cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top (and on the bottom of the pan). I think my pans were too big which made for stubby little bread, but I don't discriminate. I'm a lover not a fighter.
It smelled good in the oven. At least I think it did. I couldn't tell if it was the cinnamon sugar or the roast in the crockpot. Which leads me to wonder why I haven't been cooking every single meal in that thing. Seriously. It's like the easiest thing ever. We are on day 2 of planned meals for the week. The first time I have EVER planned dinner, in advance, for a week. In 10+ years of marriage. I am so proud of myself.
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28 responses to “Amish Friendship Bread”
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I plan menus every week, I wouldn’t know what to buy at the store if I didn’t. however, I get so bored with our repertoire. Any good suggestions?
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I remember my mom getting Amish Friendship Bread when I quite young. I remember loving it! But we had no idea how to make the starter, so we never had it again after that. I have found some recipes online, but have yet to try making it myself. I wonder if it’s as good as I remember it being!
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The cinnamon sounds really interesting. I received sourdough starter from my aunt once years ago, but I never did really get it to work for me. I seem to remember it being a bit too gamey (which might have been my aunt’s interpretation of the thing, more than anything else).
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I like the AFB, I have gotten it several times in the years that I have been married. I’m just never very good at giving away the starter.
I love cooking in the crock-pot, I don’t do it enough though. But here is an easy but yummy dish.
Salsa Chicken
4-6 chicken breasts(frozen is fine)
1 jar salsa
1 brick cream cheese
Let it cook all day on low. Just before you are ready to serve it, shred the chicken 2 forks, stir well and serve on rice or egg noodles.LikeLike
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i’m familiar with the concept of ‘friendship’ breads- but i’ve never seen one that was sweet. mmm, looks great
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hi
i just ran across your blog from Embers blog. i love love love it! I love your colors and ideas and designs. i am adding you to one of my “fav. crafty blog sites” on my blog! i will read often!
thanks for sharing a bit of your life!
E in texasLikeLike
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I cringe every time I get a start of this! I feel guilty. I usually manage to make it one time and then I have to throw it out. Luckily for me, my family doesn’t like it at all so next time I will just toss it to begin with!
I hope that you liked it!LikeLike
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I’ve always been terrified of starter for some reason, but that looks delicious (the bread, not the starter).
My pantry and freezer are getting low so I need to go to the grocery store or we’ll be ordering pizza tonight.LikeLike
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I love friendship bread. I think I have traded it with my friends like 10 times in the past year….love it!
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I’ve made that bread before. It was yummy! So great when you plan the meals ahead, isn’t it? It just makes the week easier and so much more economical. I need to plan more 🙂
Love to You and The Family!LikeLike
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Could you please put Kate back on top of the page.
She’s way cuter than that stubby loaf of AFB.
Probably tastes better, too.
JUST kidding … sorta.
Looks way yummy.
Glad to hear MY present (said pants) wasn’t the only one to fail the Hankster Prankter Seal of Approval.
Lots of crockpot recipes on allrecipes.com
Love you, darlin’. XXOOLikeLike
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I just posted the recipe on my blog to start your own starter should you be interested.
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I got the bread years ago too, and remember the big YUM factor…always thought I would get it again, but it’s never come our way. I think it’s a cool treat that someday will pass by- and live in your memory. I am meal planning this week too, and it does feel SO good. Like you are doing the “right thing”, huh? We had two days of fresh, tonight was leftovers, and I think tomorrow will be day 2’s leftovers- a good week overall!
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Hi Morgan
Love your blog, you are very clever and always have great items of interest to share! I love your mom! I was wondering if you would share your technique and recipe for the truffles, they look fantastic. Thanks so much.LikeLike
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Love that stuff! Send some my way!
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I am embarrassed to admit that I have received that Amish bread starter a few times, and have always chucked it because I was so intimidated by the whole process. My idea of a good friend would be someone bringing me a loaf of BAKED bread that I could dive right in to, without any of the mess to clean up. But I know that is a whole lot less fun…oh well.
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FOR THE RECORD: I think this should be classified as a CAKE BREAD! it’s more of a treat! It’s really addicting. If you receive this starter from someone and don’t want to bake it, give it to your neighbor! Don’t toss it!
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I was just given some starter today at work. :o) hopefully I’ll remember to feed it and will have some yummy bread in a few days.
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That’s what it’s all about. I knew the concept, but have never seen (or eaten) the actual bread. It’s a bit like my no knead bread… except more work. Ha!
I know you’ve complained about yeast, I’ve got the answer. You can even make cinnamon buns with this yeast dough. There’s no kneading and you keep a huge batch of the stuff in your fridge so you can bake bread throughout the week. This would step up the whole planning a meal thing. Let me know if you want details.LikeLike
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Morgan,
Would you please post a recipe for the Amish Bread and the truffles below?LikeLike
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Amish Friendship Bread is really yummy with chocolate chips added as well!
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Hey Morgan! I’ve just been catching up on your blog…those truffles had me drooling onto my keyboard! And Kate is getting so big…she’s a doll! I’m glad you guys are doing so well…and I always look forward to all your recipes!
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just wait….when your kids get to a certain age, if you don’t plan meals, you don’t eat.
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FYI, you can freeze the starter too, which makes things a little easier when you are busy!
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I have loved the AFB for so many years and I’m on my third round of making it and no one wants any starters. I don’t want to waste it so my question is:
What would be the recipe for cooking the whole bag at the end instead of dividing it up?
Please help!LikeLike
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why cant you use metal
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Hi – once you hit day ten and you add the extra flour, sugar and milk it makes 5-3/4 cups. So just divide that into 3 batches and bake up the whole lot. You will have finished all the mix and no leftover starter for yourself or anyone else. You will have to wait until someone gives one back to you.:)
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i know it says do not refrigerate thats because the cold would seriously slow the fermentation process but if you have no one to give the starters to you can freeze them untill ready to use just start your first day on the day you take it out of the freezer like alcohol it wont entirerly freeze but it halts the fermentation compleatly so when your ready to start again or you find someone to give it to it will be ready and waiting
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