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

Why is my Amish Friendship Bread dry? ›

If too much moisture escapes, the bread could dry out. Check expiration dates and use fresh ingredients. For Amish Friendship Bread in particular, you'll want to make sure your yeast (if starting a starter from scratch), baking soda, and baking powder are fresh.

Is Amish Friendship Bread the same as sourdough? ›

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.

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

many people do the reverse bc of the dry air at high altitude but moisture in the bread results in a higher rise which then collapses bc the structure can't support it. aside from that, try using a flour with a higher protein content. if you're using bleached all purpose use unbleached.

Does Amish Friendship Bread need to be refrigerated? ›

But did you know that you can also store your Amish Friendship Bread starter in your fridge? The counter and freezer options do well because you're either maintaining it daily (counter) or stashing it away and forgetting about it (freezer).

Should my Amish Friendship Bread starter smell like alcohol? ›

Your starter should smell like yeasty–sweet, tangy, and fermented. It reminds some people of beer.

How do I know if my Amish Friendship Bread starter is bad? ›

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.

What is hillbilly bread? ›

Description. A soft bread for those who like the smooth texture of a white bread and the health benefits of multigrain, Hillbilly Bread is the best of both worlds. This multigrain bread has 1.5 grams of whole grains in two slices! Make healthier sandwiches that your kids will love to eat, and you'll love to serve.

Why is it called cowboy bread? ›

Pan de Campo is also called Cowboy bread and is a sort of flat bread. The bread was eaten by Cowboys who worked the ranches in early Texas. The cowboys prepared it in small portable ovens which gave it its distinct texture and flavor.

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 I freeze amish friendship bread starter? ›

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.

How do you store Amish friendship starter? ›

How long can you keep Amish friendship bread starter? Extra starter can be kept in the fridge indefinitely as long as you feed it every seven to 10 days and give it 12 hours at room temperature after each feeding. You can also store it in the freezer for several months.

Why does my homemade bread have a hole in the middle? ›

If the area is too warm, bread will rise too fast and begin cooking before the yeast has finished acting. Then, when placed to bake in the oven, the "over spring" is exaggerated and large air pockets form inside the dough.

Can you overfeed your sourdough starter? ›

Because, yes, you can overfeed your sourdough. The explanation is quite simple: if you add too much water and flour, you're basically diluting the natural population of yeast and bacteria. This means that your sourdough starter will not rise much and will not be very bubbly.

Why is it called 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.

Why did my bread come out dry? ›

Leaving the bread in the oven too long will dry out bread. If the bread has finished baking before the minimum time stated in the recipe, the oven temperature may not be correct. To insure the correct temperature each time you bake, always use an oven thermometer.

Why does my bread seem dry? ›

Bread can become too dry if it's baked too long, and this can add to a crumb issue. While your recipe may work wonderfully at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes in someone else's oven, you may need to make adjustments.

Why is my bread not moist? ›

Fats keep your bread moist. If your loaf was too dry, try adding a tablespoon or two more oil next time you make it.

Why is my store bought bread dry? ›

Turns out, cold temperatures (like in the refrigerator) cause the starch molecules in bread to crystallize and become hard, leaving you with a dry, crunchy loaf.

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