Amish Friendship Bread

 Amish Friendship Bread is a sweet and delightful bread, or sometimes referred to as a cake, made using an Amish Friendship Bread Starter. It's known for its community tradition of sharing the starter and the recipe, creating a chain of gifting and delicious homemade treats.

Here's what you can expect with Amish Friendship Bread:

Ingredients:

• Amish Friendship Bread Starter: This is the key ingredient, providing the base and sourdough tang. You can use your own cultivated starter or one shared with you by a friend.
• Eggs: Add richness, structure, and help bind the ingredients.
• Oil: Contributes moisture and tenderness to the bread.
• Sugar: Sweetens the bread.
• Milk: Adds moisture and contributes to the overall texture.
• Flour: All-purpose flour is typically used to provide structure.
• Baking Powder and Soda: Leavening agents that help the bread rise.
• Spices: Cinnamon is a common choice, but some variations might include nutmeg or even a pinch of cloves.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
• Optional Additions: Chopped nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips can be incorporated for extra flavor and texture variations.

Basic Steps:

1. Prepare the Starter: Use your active Amish Friendship Bread Starter according to the recipe's quantity.

2. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.

3. Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and any spices used.

4. Mixing: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don't overmix.

5. Starter and Additions: Stir in the Amish Friendship Bread Starter and any optional additions like nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips.

6. Baking: Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan or bundt pan. Bake in a preheated oven at around 325°F (165°C) for 45-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

7. Cooling and Serving: Let the bread cool in the pan for a while before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. It can be enjoyed plain, dusted with powdered sugar, or glazed with a simple syrup for extra sweetness.

Sharing the Tradition:

• Amish Friendship Bread is known for its tradition of sharing. You can split the prepared bread and keep some for yourself, and gift the remaining portion along with a copy of the recipe to a friend or family member. They can then use the starter to bake their own bread and continue the gifting tradition.

Tips:

• Use room temperature ingredients for even mixing and a smooth batter.
• Don't overmix the batter once you add the dry ingredients.
• To prevent the bread from doming too much in the center, you can tent the top of the pan loosely with foil for the first half of baking.
• Amish Friendship Bread can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or wrapped and frozen for longer storage.

Amish Friendship Bread is a delicious and social way to enjoy homemade baked goods. With its easy recipe, customizable options, and tradition of sharing, it's a delightful treat to bake and share with loved ones.