How to Maintain Amish Bread

Amish friendship bread requires traditional Amish starter. Similar to a sourdough starter, Amish starter needs nurturing, feeding and regular maintenance to keep it healthy and ready for use. Once you receive an Amish starter or create your own, understanding how to maintain and feed it, ensures that you have starter ready any time you want to bake a loaf of friendship bread.

Things You'll Need

• 1 package active dry yeast
• Medium-sized glass bowl
• 2 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• Wooden spoon
• Light cotton cloth
• 2 glass jars

Instructions

1. Add the package of yeast to 1 cup of warm water in a glass bowl. Let the yeast dissolve, then add an additional 1 1/2 cups of water, 2 cups of flour and 1 tbsp of sugar. Beat the mixture with a wooden spoon until it is well blended with no lumps. Cover the bowl with a loose cotton cloth and set it aside on the counter in an area free from drafts.

2. Stir the mixture once a day for the next three days, covering it and returning it to the counter after. On the fourth day, feed the starter with 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of milk. Beat the mixture with a wooden spoon until there are no remaining lumps. Cover the bowl with a loose cotton cloth and let it rest on the counter.

3. Stir the mixture once daily for the next two days, then let it rest undisturbed for two additional days. End the feeding cycle on day 10 by feeding the starter again. Feed the starter an additional 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of milk. Beat it until smooth then divide the total mixture into three glass containers of 1 cup each. Give away two containers to friends or cook with them right away. Keep the third cup to start the feeding cycle again.

References

• Baking 911; Amish Bread Recipe; Sarah Phillips
• Colorado State University Extension: Safety of Amish Friendship Bread
• Amish Starter: Amish Starter Information