Amish Friendship Bread Variations

Ok! I've been having way too much fun making different variations of the Amish Friendship Bread starters I have at home. Here's a quick little post on my favourites so far:

Gingerbread Friendship Bread:

This is probably my ultimate favourite so far! It is cozy, inviting, and makes your house smell like Christmas. Serve warm on its own or with a custard and whipped cream topping.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread starter

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup oil

• ½ cup milk

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ teaspoon vanilla

• 6 tablespoons molasses

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 2 cups flour

• 1 box vanilla pudding mixed with 1 teaspoon of ginger

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon cloves

• ½ cup diced crystallized ginger plus 2 tablespoons for topping (optional... I didn't add these and it turned out perfectly)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325° F

2. In a large non-metal mixing bowl, add ingredients as listed.

3. Grease two large loaf pans.

4. Mix 1/2 sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Dust the greased pans with half of the sugar mixture.

5. Pour the batter evenly into two loaf or cake pans. Top with the other half of the sugar mixture.

6. Bake for one hour or until the bread loosens evenly from the sides and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

Pumpkin Spice Friendship Bread:

A great fall treat, the spice in this bread is subtle but soothing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread starter

• 3 eggs

• 1/3 cup oil

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 cups flour

• 1 small box vanilla pudding mixed with 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

• 1 cup canned pumpkin

• 1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325° Grease two 8 x 5 inch loaf pans.

2. Mix together 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.

3. Dust pans with half of the sugar-cinnamon mixture.

4. In a large mixing bowl, add ingredients in order listed, mix together well.

5. Pour the batter evenly into loaf pans and sprinkle the remaining sugar-cinnamon on top.

6. Bake for one hour or until bread loosens evenly from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes, remove bread from pans and cool on wire rack.

Chocolate Friendship Bread

Because we all could use a little extra chocolate in our lives...

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread starter

• 3 eggs

• 1/2 cup oil

• 1/2 cup applesauce

• 1 cup milk

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 cups milk chocolate chips

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 box chocolate fudge pudding (I couldn't find chocolate fudge pudding, so feel free to add some cocoa to make your cake EXTRA chocolatey!)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F. Grease two loaf pans.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add ingredients in order listed, mix together well.

3. Pour the batter evenly into loaf pans.

4. Bake for one hour or until bread loosens evenly from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes, remove bread from pans and cool on wire rack.