Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Tasty Tuesday: Not-So-Amish Cinnamon Bread

Some people drink too much. Others gamble, suffer from shopaholism, or watch excessive amounts of TV.

In our house, T is addicted to that Amish Cinnamon Bread. A friend from church gave us a starter several weeks ago, and we've gone through two more since the original. The idea is that a friend gives you a bag of "starter" mix. It looks like cake batter in a gallon-size ziploc bag. You mush the bag each day (adding some flour and other ingredients on the day specified in the directions), and on Day 10, you add a bunch of ingredients and bake the most delicious bread you've ever tasted in your life. It is so sweet, you can almost hear your teeth screaming. You also have some batter left over to hand out to a few friends.

When the magical loaf of deliciousness is gone, T hovers near the kitchen counter where I keep the "starter." Each day he asks, "Is it bread day yet?"

When the joyous Bread Day finally arrives, he drives me batty with his constant "is the bread ready yet?" questioning. The bread never lasts long in our house. As picky as T is, you know it must be good.

As much as I'd love to share a starter with all 37 of my Followers and the two or three lurkers I know are out there, I don't think you'd appreciate receiving a lumpy old bag of dough in the mail. So I scoured the internet until I found a recipe as close to what I have. I'll share it today as part of Jen's Tasty Tuesday party at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam .

I highly doubt that the Amish use instant Jell-o Vanilla pudding mix in their delicacies, so I am calling it "Not-S0-Amish" Cinnamon Bread. This is the first time I've ever actually followed through and made the bread. I usually give up about 5 minutes after the starter makes it home. I found that since I spend half of my life washing dishes, keeping it by the kitchen sink helps me remember to mush it each day. It is so darn good that I have to keep making it! Some friends are too lazy busy to accept a starter bag when I have them ready, but I've found most people are eager to try it.

It says not to use metal utensils or bowls. I have no idea if this is a valid rule or not, but I decided not to offend the Amish and did it the way they typed it up on the internet verbally handed it down through generations.

Here's the recipe for the STARTER:

Not-So-Amish Cinnamon Bread Starter

found on Allrecipes.com

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
3 cups white sugar, divided
3 cups milk




Not-So-Amish Cinnamon Bread

Found on Allrecipes.com


1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter (which you will have made in the recipe above)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used 2 teaspoons in the recipe I was given)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

**My recipe also called for 1 Large box of instant Jell-o Vanilla pudding mix. I know it's not very Amish, but darnit, I am putting this on the internet so I don't think they'll see it. Plus, it makes the bread SO moist!**



3. Pour into prepared loaf pans. (My recipe has me mix a 1/2 cup sugar with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and dust the sides and bottom of the pan and sprinkle the rest on top of the loaves before baking. It is worth it!!!

4. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

I have two starters going right now to indulge T. I am an enabler. No...really I am just going to freeze the extra two loaves I make. Glorious sugar.

I separate the new starters to give to friends and family, being sure to mark the date and "Day One" so my friends know when I started theirs.

Extra cinnamon and sugar for the crust!

This is what heaven looks like (to T anyways.) A slice is great with a tall ice water cafe mocha. Just sip your ice water mocha and enjoy Nirvana.

It seems like a lot of work, but it is soooooo worth it. Really, is it that hard to mush a plastic bag a couple of times once a day for 10 days? Don't answer that!

{Bon Appetit!}

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  1. I haven't made Amish friendship bread for YEARS, but your description and photos made me want to try it again. Thanks!

  2. It sounds much better to have an Amish vice than a sugar and fermented yeast one.......it sounds so yummy, I'll have to give it a whirl, or perhaps a more dignified curtsey.


  3. Oh yeah, that stuff is good!!! Haven't had it for a while though! YUMMY! Have a wonderful day!:-)

  4. I know exactly the bread you're talking about. It's fabulous, isn't it?!?

  5. This sounds so good, but to be honest, I know me, I wouldn't be able to have a baggie of the starter sitting on my counter all the time. I'd have to put it in a cabinet, and then I'd forget ...

    I admire you for keeping it going for T's enjoyment!

  6. It's been a long time since I made this bread. It is darn yummy! And you are right, the pudding might not be "Amish", but it sure makes it delicious!

  7. I used to make and share some kind of friendship bread,but my problem was that I always had so much batter and no one to share it with! I guess I had no friends in those days! LOL I think I'll have to try this again. Thanks,Amanda. Sue

  8. First peak at your blog as I found the title enticing. Your blog is cute and you made me laugh with your humor thrown in. Now the not so Amish bread is one that I may try this summer while on vacation...oh and it better be a long vacation to allow for the starter to start. I wonder if my husband will go for a 2 week vacation instead of a 1 week? I will blame it on the Amish:)

  9. I LOVE this bread...it is so tastey! The first time I received it, I said the same thing to my husband, "yeah, I'm sure the Amish really use instant pudding!"

  10. I made this incessantly one winter, and started experimenting with different flavors of pudding, etc. Pistachio is good, chocolate even better! My FAV version:
    use chocolate pudding
    sub almond flavoring for vanilla
    delete cinnamon
    Mix-ins: frozen cherries or raspberries, chocolate chips, almond slices on top.

    Lemon pudding and poppyseeds, add blueberries to the basic version, and 1/2 choc 1/2 pistachio pudding also yummy!




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