With this recipe for No-Starter Amish Friendship Bread, there is all the flavor of a traditional Amish Friendship Bread but none of the wait!
A SIMPLER FRIENDSHIP BREAD RECIPE
If you aren't familiar with Amish Friendship Bread then you are missing out on some of the yummiest sweet bread you've ever tasted. Growing up, this bread was popular among the Navy wives in our little base community.
WHAT IS A BREAD STARTER?
To make the traditional Amish Friendship Bread, you need to get a "bread starter" from one of your friends (or make it yourself). The starter is made with a mixture of flour, sugar and milk placed into a resealable bag.You knead the bag once a day for a few days And then you have to "feed" it a few days after that. After the tenth day, you can divide it all up into 10 resealable bags and pass them out to friends, hence the name, Friendship Bread). They can then make the bread by adding a few more ingredients to the starter or start the process all over again to make more starters. Bottom line, it takes a bit of time and dedication so I'm going to show you how to make a cheater version!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- sugar
- cinnamon
- real buttermilk
- oil
- large eggs
- vanilla extract
- sugar
- ground cinnamon
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- all-purpose flour
- instant vanilla pudding
- chopped walnuts (optional)
HOW TO MAKE AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD:
Preheat oven to 325f degrees. Spray two bread loaf pans (or 8 mini loaf pans) with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture on the sides and bottom of loaf pans.
In a large bowl, stir together buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Then, slowly stir in flour and instant vanilla pudding. Finally, gently stir in chopped walnuts.
Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Sprinkle the tops with rest of the sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes (for mini loaves) and about an hour for full-size loaves. Allow to cool completely. Then gently remove the loaves and pack them into cellophane bags.
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No-Starter Amish Friendship Bread (+Video)
Ingredients
For the cinnamon sugar mixture:
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
For the bread:
- 3 cups real buttermilk
- 2 cups oil
- 6 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 (3.4 ounce) boxes instant vanilla pudding
- 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325f degrees. Spray two 8x4-inch bread loaf pans (or 8 mini loaf pans) with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.
- Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture on the sides and bottom of loaf pans.
- In a large bowl, stir together buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Then, slowly stir in flour and instant vanilla pudding.
- Finally, gently stir in chopped walnuts.
- Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
- Sprinkle the tops with rest of the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake for 45 minutes (for mini loaves) and about an hour for full-size loaves.
- Allow to cool completely then slice.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published:September 2017
Updated & republished: December 2020
Recipe credit: Friendship Bread Kitchen
Barbra
I made this bread last night and oh my goodness! Some of the best and most moist bread ever. I wish I could make all my bread varieties this texture. The flavor was so good.I searched your site for a plain banana bread and a plain zucchini bread using this recipe but couldn't find one. Can you Please (I beg of you lol!) create a banana bread recip and a zucchine bread recipe based off this one. I would do it but don't know how. I know the moisture would change because of the bananas or because of the zucchini and I don't know how much that would change the amount of buttermilk. Thanks so much.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
oh wow - that is amazing Barbra! You know what's interesting is this particular recipe is one of my least viewed recipes. It doesn't get any attention or appreciation at all so I'm surprised you found it while searching! I would definitely make more recipes with this base recipe if more people wanted but I'm not sure there is an interest there. I'll definitely keep it in mind though and I'm absolutely thrilled you love it!!
Julie
This brings back memories! I'll have to give it a try, especially since it's a quicker process. I remember how my mom would tend to the starter dough for days, and she tried to make sure to have enough left to keep it going. I can almost smell the dough! Thanks!
Ashley
At the top, the list says (2) 3.4 oz boxes of the pudding. But, in the recipe, it only calls for 1 box. Which should be used?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Sorry for the confusion - it's two boxes. This recipe can be halved though (depending on how much you want to make)
Jen
I want to make this in a Bundt pan. Will it fit? And how long should it take in the oven?
Jane
Oh my goodness! This is excellent. So easy and I was successful! So yummy with Earle Grey or hazelnut coffee. Definitely at the top of my breakfast breads, tea breads and even desserts. Thank you ! Always look forward to your emails. ☺️
Michael Pringle
Can wheat flour be used in place of the All Purpose flour? Or maybe whole wheat white flour? My daughter says they eat wheat bread so I thought if the wheat flour could substitute for the All Purpose White Flour, it might be more appealing to her?
Bunny
That seems like a huge amount of baking powder - 1 Tablespoon? Is this correct?
Linda
Do you have to use buttermilk? Can almond milk be used instead? I've read other recipes that use regular or nonfat milk.
Brenda
Can you freeze the bread then thaw it when you want to use it? Will it taste okay after it thaws?
Leanne
Can I use low fat butter milk?
ICanMessupAnyRecipe
May be a silly question, but when the recipe calls for the pudding - are you adding prepared pudding, or simply the powder from the box?
Breann
Powder from the box!
Joan
My husband is diabetic. Can I use 2 1/2 cups of Stevia in The Raw?
Deb
I live in a small community in NL Canada...is this product sold in Canada?
Davis Paula
What are the actual measurements for the bread starter. I'd like to make that to pass out with this recipe.
Thank you!
Kaye Edge
Looks and sounds wonderful. Years ago I made "Friendship Bread", used with a starter from a friend, but you added peaches, cherries and the nuts. Could this be added to yours or do you know of this recipe?
Ruth
You stated you used regular sugar for the topping, but the recipe calls for Steviia for that. Which did you use?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
It's Sugar in the raw which is just raw/regular sugar. It's the brand name ????
Jeannie
I do not use stevia what and how much can I supstitute that with?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
It substitutes just like sugar - same measurements, same amount! 🙂
Debbie
So if I don't use the raw sugar, I will use 2 1/2 cups of regular sugar, correct?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Correct. If you want two loaves.
Gloria
Looks beautiful!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thanks so much Gloria! Hope you love it!