Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

This Amish friendship bread recipe makes two sweet cinnamon loaves with prepared Amish Friendship Bread Starter. Unlike a lean sourdough loaf, this batter includes eggs, oil, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.

Browse all sourdough bread recipes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Yield: Two loaves. Equipment: Two 9 × 5-inch loaf pans, a large mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, and a mixing utensil.

This recipe contains wheat and eggs. Check your starter's ingredients as well; many friendship starters contain milk. Use a starter prepared and stored according to instructions appropriate to that specific culture.

1. Prepare the oven and pans

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9 × 5-inch loaf pans.

2. Mix the batter

In a large bowl, combine the Amish Friendship Bread Starter, vegetable oil, eggs, all-purpose flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla extract.

Mix well until the ingredients are evenly combined and no dry flour remains.

3. Fill the pans

Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf pans.

4. Bake

Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 50–60 minutes. The original recipe describes the loaves as sounding hollow when tapped; also check that the centers are set and a tester inserted in the center comes out without wet batter. Timing can vary with your pans and oven, so do not rely on the clock alone.

Carefully remove the pans from the oven and allow the loaves to cool before slicing.

Which starter should you use?

Use the Amish Friendship Bread Starter specified in the ingredient list. Do not assume a flour-and-water sourdough starter is a direct substitute: its ingredients, consistency, and flavor can differ.

Our Amish friendship bread starter vs. traditional sourdough guide explains the differences. For product details and culture-specific care information, see our 55-Year-Old Amish Friendship Sourdough Starter.

Starter handling notes

This page is a baking recipe, not a starter-making or ten-day feeding schedule. Follow the preparation and storage method supplied for your particular starter; do not apply flour-and-water starter instructions automatically to a milk-containing culture.

Do not use a starter with fuzzy mold or pink or orange discoloration. Discard the entire affected culture rather than scraping off the surface. Do not taste raw starter or batter to assess it.

More bread recipes

For a naturally leavened flour-and-water starter loaf, try our Classic Sourdough Bread Recipe or Rye Sourdough Bread Recipe. Those recipes use a different starter and method.

Return to all sourdough bread recipes to explore more options.