Amish friendship bread

*Warning: it's almost a sugar overload and definitely NOT diet friendly. You must be patient, it takes 10 days. But it does taste amazing!

Amish Friendship Bread...with optional flavors.

Step 1, the starter

1/4 c warm water
1/4 ounce envelope active dry yeast
1 c sugar
1 c flour
1 c warm milk
Four 1 gallon Ziploc bags

In glass bowl add warm water and yeast to dissolve.  Takes about 10 minutes.  Set aside.

In large bowl combine sugar and flour then slowly add milk, mix well, add yeast and mix again.

Place 3/4 cup in each Ziploc bag. Give 3 to friends, keep 1. This is day 1. * If you keep all four, keep in mind you will be baking 8 loaves of bread! I usually do this during the holidays because so many friends want them as gifts.

Step 2, waiting.....
Day 1-- receive your starter
Days 2-5 -- knead bag daily
Day 6 -- add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Knead bag to mix.
Days 7-9 -- knead bag daily
Day 10 -- pour contents into non-metal bowl. Add 1 c flour, 1 c sugar and 1 c milk. Mix. Place 1 c of mixture in 3 bags (this becomes day new day 1) use remaining to make your bread.

Step 3, making the bread (which is really more like a cake)

Preheat oven to 325F. Grease two 8x4 loaf pans.

Combine 1st set of ingredients below in glass bowl and mix well.

In another bolw combine 2nd set of ingredients below and mix well.

Mix the first set into the starter mixture. Mix well. Slowly add second set, mixing as you go.

Pour half into each loaf pan. Bake approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.  I usually check at 1 hour just in case.

---1st set---
1 c veg. oil
1/2 c milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

---2nd set---
2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c sugar
Small box of instant pudding mix (use the dry powder, do not make the pudding. )
*see options below


1. To make cinnamon bread use vanilla pudding and add 2 tsp cinnamon.

2. To make white chocolate use white chocolate pudding and add 3/4 cup white chocolate chips.

3. To make banana nut use banana pudding and add up to 1 cup chopped pecans.

4. To make lemon bread use lemon pudding.

You can continue using the starters for about 3 or 4 batches. After that the yeast is really diluted and it is best to make a new starter.