Amish Cinnamon Friendship Bread

Important Preparation Tips:

Do not use a metal spoon or bowl for mixing.

Do not refrigerate.

If air gets into the bag, let it out.

It is normal for the batter to thicken, bubble, or ferment.

1. Day 1: In glass or plastic bowl, combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk. Stir mixture with wooden or plastic spoon (don’t use metal spoon or electric mixer). Pour mixture into 1-gallon Ziploc bag. Keep at room temperature (don’t refrigerate).

2. Days 2, 3, 4, and 5: Squeeze bag several times during the day.

3. Day 6: Add 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of milk. Squeeze bag several times during the day.

4. Day 7, 8, and 9: Squeeze bag several times during the day.

5. Day 10: In a large non-metal bowl, combine all the batter with 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of milk. Mix with wooden/plastic spoon. After mixing in the above ingredients, pour four 1/2 cup starters into separate 1-gallon Ziploc bags. Give these away to friends along with a copy of these instructions.

Bread Preparation Instructions:

1. Grease 2 loaf pans or 1 bundt pan well. In a separate bowl, mix 1 teaspoon cinnamon with 3 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle into the prepared pan.

2. To the remaining batter, add 1 cup oil, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3 eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 1 large or 2 small boxes of instant pudding, any flavor.

3. Add batter to pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Add nuts, chocolate chips, fruit, etc. to batter for different variations.