Amish Friendship Bread variations

[Jengerbread88]

We were given Amish Starter Bread, and we are hoping to try a different bread every week. We have found several ideas for the bread, with various add-ins and changes.

So... what are your favorite variations on the starter bread?

I know a lot of people think it's a pain in the butt, but I've never never done it, so I'm super excited! Lol

[KateD]

I <3 Amish Friendship Bread! Not a variation, but I do have a way to make it less of a pain. Instead of making several loaves of bread and starting a new batch of dough right away, you can freeze the completed starter and thaw it out when you're ready to make a new loaf of bread. When you get to the last frozen starter, thaw it out and use it to make a new batch. I found the instructions on a website somewhere, but it was pre-pinterest, so I have no idea what the website was anymore. I think I still have one of the frozen starters; I wonder if it'll still work after two years or so?

[Jengerbread88]

That's a great idea, to freeze it!

I was reading a website with some ideas for it, and she had listed cinnamon rolls, biscuits, all kinds of things! (I also found a site where someone posted that they are still creating starter/bread off of a batch that had been in their family for over 100 years!)

[KateD]

Wow! I recently found a recipe for artisan bread that uses the same starter concept and it's on my list of new things to try soon.

[Jengerbread88]

Wow! I recently found a recipe for artisan bread that uses the same starter concept and it's on my list of new things to try soon.

That sounds like it would be good!

[KateD]

Here's the link. I'll let you know how it turns out :)

http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2010/2/26/amazing-artisan-bread-for-40-cents-a-loaf-no-kneading-no-fus.html

[Jengerbread88]

Awesome! Thanks! :)

[pewtertm]

Here's the link. I'll let you know how it turns out :)

http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2010/2/26/amazing-artisan-bread-for-40-cents-a-loaf-no-kneading-no-fus.html

I made that on Christmas Day. It was easy, turned out pretty good, but next time I'm going to use a whole wheat flour as opposed to white.

[MamaBee]

Is this the starter where you add a pudding box to make different breads? I remember doing this a number of years ago - we had bread coming out of our ears. ha ha... wish had known about the ability to freeze! I remember my favorite was lemon pudding and blueberries...

[Jengerbread88]

Yeah, you add a pudding to it. First on our list is a vanilla pudding with blueberries... we are also thinking about a vanilla pudding but subbing almond extract in for the vanilla, and adding poppyseeds. We're also going to try a chocolate chocolate bread- chocolate pudding, chocolate chips. Several people have suggested banana cream with squashed bananas and nuts, and others suggested chocolate pudding with coconut added in... so... I'm hoping it'll work out.

I guess if we get sick of it, we'll freeze it, but our family LOVES bread, so I see it working for awhile! ;)

[scrapperjade]

When I made mine, I used vanilla pudding, and added cinnamon. Then a cinnamon struesel on top, and it was coffee cake! SO good!!

I loved the Friendship Bread, but we gave up after awhile because I couldn't give the starter to anyone else (lol), and couldn't keep making all that bread! I didn't realize that I could freeze the starter!