Amish Friendship Muffins/Bread

When I was a child, my grandmother used to make this delicious bread that was so sweet it seemed more like cake and less like actual bread. over the years I had forgotten about it all together until my mother said, " Hey do you remember that bread that Grandma used to make? the one in the zip lock?" the memory quickly returned and with the help of the internet we were able to put a name to the memory.

Amish Friendship bread!

Though I remembered the daily squishing of the bag, I couldn't recall the taste so, I was shocked when I tried some of the batter and was suddenly a 6-year-old sitting on the kitchen counter again sneaking a taste while my mother wasn't looking. The mind is a crazy thing.

Much like a sourdough starter the key to creation is fermentation, only this one is much higher in sugar and uses milk. so, fermentation is the only real connection they share aside from being scrumptious.

To make an Amish friendship starter you will combine in a gallon zip lock 1/4 cup warm water with 2tsp yeast and let it bloom for about two minutes, then add in 1 cup milk 1 cup sugar and 1 cup flour. zip it up and squish it around until all is combined. for the next 5 days all you have to do is squish it daily literally that's it. then on day 6 you will feed it 1 cup milk 1 cup sugar and 1 cup flour. then continue as you had the previous days until you reach day 10. that is when you will split it into four parts, three for giving to friends or family and one to keep and bake with.

For this recipe you can either make the mix into muffins or bread, I chose muffins because it is easier for my husband to grab in the morning on his way to work.

Ingredients 

• 1 cup Amish Friendship Starter.
• 1 cup Olive Oil. 
• 1/2 cup Milk.
• 2 tbs Heavy Cream.
• 2 tsp Vanilla.
• 3 tsp Cinnamon.
• 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder.
• 1 tsp Salt.
• 1/2 tbs Baking Soda.
• 2 cups Flour.
• 3/4 cup Sugar.

To start.

Combined all of your wet ingredients as well as the sugar and cinnamon into your mixing bowl, mix until smooth. I prefer a Danish whisk.

At this point pre heat your oven to 350 Degrees, while that is heating up, you'll want to line your muffin tins or grease your bread pan.

Next, I create a cinnamon sugar mix and sprinkle it into the empty muffin liners or bread pan, then do the same to the tops. I use roughly 1/4 to 1/3 cup to fill my tins.

Baking time for Muffins will be around 20 minutes, rotating at the 10 minute mark for an even bake. as for bread that will be closer 35 minutes, to be sure I recommend checking with a toothpick as different ovens can produce different cook times, when the toothpick comes out clean baking is complete.