The Real Story of Amish Friendship Bread gifting

The Amish Friendship Bread recipe is so bogus. It wouldn't know an Amish person if it met one. But if you ignore the directions and mythology, it makes a good sourdough starter. If you should happen to get one, try these directions instead of the stuff that came with it. Directions for creating your own are easily found on the internet. Please don’t give the goop in bags to unsuspecting civilians!

Refrigerate in covered glass. No metal touches it. For sourdough starter, when starter is needed, add equal parts flour and milk, cover and set out for a day. It should get fluffy if the starter is alive.

For the Friendship type recipes, add 1 cup each: milk, flour, and sugar. Leave out for a day to rise.

For either, wash your original glass container while rising. Cleanliness is critical for a starter. Then take 1 cup and put back into the vessel and refrigerate for the next time. It needs no tending in the fridge. It will wait until you are ready.

Friendship CAKE (make no mistake, it’s not bread!)

Using a mixer, mix with the starter:
3 eggs
½ c. milk
½ t. vanilla
½ c. oil
½ c. apple sauce
1 c. splenda, honey, agave syrup, or sugar
Add this next:
½ t. baking soda
1 ½ t. baking powder
1 c. ww flour (or mix as it pleases you)
1 lg. box instant pudding (vanilla or other flavor that matches your magic)

Your personal magic: Add what pleases you. An over ripe banana, dried fruit, pumpkin, nuts, chocolate chips, and spices as appropriate for what you are aiming for. Basically, just watch that the consistency of the mix is like a thick cake would be. It is pretty much fail proof.

Spray pans. I like bundt pans. Bake at 325 for about an hour. Toothpick test for doneness. Also works great for muffins.