Amish friendship bread facts for kids
Amish friendship bread is a special type of bread or cake. It uses a unique "starter" instead of regular baking yeast. This starter is a mix that helps the bread rise and gives it a special flavor. People often share this starter with friends, much like a chain letter, which is how it got its name!
The most common type made from this starter is a sweet, cake-like bread called Amish cinnamon bread. It is a simple, quick bread that you just stir together. It uses a good amount of sugar and vegetable oil, and it has a mild cinnamon taste. This bread has qualities of both pound cake and coffee cake. You can also change its flavor by not using cinnamon.
What is Amish Friendship Bread?
Amish friendship bread is known for its unique starter. This starter is a living mix that replaces baking yeast. It can be used to make many kinds of yeast-based breads. You can also share it with friends or freeze it for later use.
This bread is sometimes called German friendship cake. Another name for it is "Herman" the German friendship cake.
How the Starter Works
The starter mix is usually made from flour, water, and yeast. Once it's ready, you can use it to bake. A common recipe uses one cup (240 ml) of the starter to make one loaf of bread.
Sharing the Starter
After using some starter for baking, you save a second cup to continue the cycle. The remaining two cups are often given to friends. This process of sharing the starter makes it similar to a chain letter. When you give starter to friends, you also give them instructions on how to keep it alive. This usually means telling them to add more ingredients over time.
See also
In Spanish: Pan de la amistad para niños
