Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread: A Deliciously Shareable Recipe

The Amish Friendship Bread tradition is a beautiful one: a sweet starter shared amongst friends, culminating in loaves of delicious, comforting bread. This Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread recipe takes that tradition and adds a decadent twist, resulting in a moist, rich loaf that’s perfect for sharing (or keeping all to yourself!). This blog post will guide you through the entire process, from caring for your starter to baking a perfect loaf of chocolatey goodness.

What is Amish Friendship Bread Starter?

Before we dive into the chocolate bread recipe, let’s understand the star of the show: the Amish Friendship Bread starter. This isn’t your typical yeast-based starter. It’s a living culture of yeast and bacteria, fed with sugar, flour, and milk, that ferments over a 10-day period. The process involves daily manipulation and ends with dividing the starter into portions to share with friends (hence the name!). Think of it as a culinary chain letter, spreading joy and delicious bread wherever it goes.

Getting Your Starter

The easiest way to get an Amish Friendship Bread starter is from a friend who already has one. If you don’t know anyone who does, don’t worry! You have a few options:

• Ask around: Post on social media or community groups. You might be surprised to find someone nearby who’s willing to share.
• Buy a starter online: Several online retailers sell dehydrated or fresh Amish Friendship Bread starters.
• Make your own: This is the most involved option, but it’s very rewarding. Instructions for making your own starter will be provided later in this article.

Caring for Your Starter (The 10-Day Process)

Whether you received a starter from a friend or made your own, you’ll need to follow a 10-day feeding and stirring schedule. This is crucial for the starter to develop its characteristic flavor and leavening power. Here’s the daily routine:

Important Notes:

• Use a non-metallic container (glass, plastic, or ceramic) to store your starter. Metal can react with the starter and affect its flavor.
• Cover the container loosely with plastic wrap or a breathable cloth secured with a rubber band. This allows the starter to breathe without drying out.
• Store the starter at room temperature (ideally 70-75°F or 21-24°C).
• Stir the starter gently each day with a wooden or plastic spoon. Avoid using metal.
• If you see a dark liquid forming on top of the starter (called hooch), don’t worry! This is a natural byproduct of fermentation. Simply stir it back into the starter before feeding.

The 10-Day Schedule:

• Day 1: You’ve received or made your starter. Do nothing today.
• Day 2: Stir the starter.
• Day 3: Stir the starter.
• Day 4: Stir the starter.
• Day 5: Feed the starter: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Stir well.
• Day 6: Stir the starter.
• Day 7: Stir the starter.
• Day 8: Stir the starter.
• Day 9: Feed the starter: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Stir well.
• Day 10: Divide the starter into four equal portions. Use one portion to bake the chocolate bread. Give the other three portions to friends, along with these instructions! If you don’t want to bake immediately, you can freeze the extra portions in airtight containers for later use (thaw completely before using, and repeat the 10-day cycle starting on day 1). You can also restart the 10-day cycle if you plan to bake with it again soon.

Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread Recipe

Now for the fun part! This recipe assumes you have one cup of active Amish Friendship Bread starter (a portion from Day 10).

Yields: 1 loaf
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 50-60 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread starter
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chocolate chips (optional, but highly recommended!)

Equipment:

• 9×5 inch loaf pan
• Mixing bowls
• Electric mixer (optional, but helpful)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spatula
• Wire rack

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan. This prevents the bread from sticking.
2. Combine wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Amish Friendship Bread starter, vegetable oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer or whisk until well combined. The mixture will be slightly lumpy, which is perfectly fine.
3. Add dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. This ensures that the cocoa powder and baking soda are evenly distributed throughout the bread.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a tough bread. A few streaks of flour are okay.
5. Fold in chocolate chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips (if using).
6. Pour into loaf pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
7. Bake: Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. Start checking for doneness around 50 minutes.
8. Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy.
9. Slice and serve: Once the bread is completely cool, slice and serve. Enjoy!

Tips for Baking the Perfect Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread

• Don’t overmix: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough bread. Mix until just combined.
• Use good quality cocoa powder: The quality of the cocoa powder will significantly impact the flavor of the bread. Use a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best results. Dutch-processed cocoa powder will result in a darker and richer flavor.
• Adjust baking time as needed: Baking times may vary depending on your oven. Start checking for doneness around 50 minutes and adjust the baking time as needed.
• Let the bread cool completely: This is important for preventing the bread from becoming soggy.
• Add nuts or other mix-ins: Feel free to add chopped nuts, dried fruit, or other mix-ins to the batter for added flavor and texture. Walnuts, pecans, or dried cranberries would be delicious additions.
• Experiment with different extracts: Try adding almond extract, peppermint extract, or coffee extract to the batter for a unique flavor twist.
• Make muffins: You can also bake this recipe as muffins. Fill muffin liners about 2/3 full and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

Making Your Own Amish Friendship Bread Starter

If you can’t find a starter to share, don’t worry! You can easily make your own. This process takes 10 days, so plan accordingly.

Ingredients:

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (105-115°F or 40-46°C)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup granulated sugar

Instructions:

1. Day 1: In a glass, plastic, or ceramic container, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Let stand for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy. This indicates that the yeast is active.
2. Day 2: Add 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of milk, and 1 cup of sugar to the yeast mixture. Stir well with a wooden or plastic spoon. Cover loosely and let stand at room temperature.
3. Days 3-5: Stir the mixture once a day.
4. Day 6: Feed the starter: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Stir well.
5. Days 7-9: Stir the mixture once a day.
6. Day 10: Feed the starter: 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Stir well. Divide the starter into four equal portions. Use one portion to bake the chocolate bread. Give the other three portions to friends, along with these instructions!

Troubleshooting

• Starter isn’t bubbling: If your starter isn’t bubbling, it may not be active enough. Make sure you’re using fresh ingredients and that the starter is stored at the correct temperature. You can also try adding a pinch of sugar to the starter to help activate the yeast.
• Bread is too dense: This could be due to overmixing the batter or using old baking soda. Make sure to mix until just combined and use fresh baking soda.
• Bread is too dry: This could be due to overbaking the bread. Start checking for doneness around 50 minutes and adjust the baking time as needed.
• Bread is too moist: This could be due to not letting the bread cool completely before slicing. Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Variations and Add-Ins

The beauty of Amish Friendship Bread is its versatility. Feel free to experiment with different variations and add-ins to create your own signature loaf.

• Chocolate Chip Variations: Use different types of chocolate chips, such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, or even peanut butter chips.
• Nuts: Add chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or macadamia nuts for added crunch and flavor.
• Dried Fruit: Stir in dried cranberries, raisins, cherries, or apricots for a chewy texture and burst of sweetness.
• Spices: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves to enhance the flavor of the bread.
• Coffee: Add a tablespoon of instant coffee granules to the batter for a mocha-flavored bread.
• Peanut Butter: Swirl peanut butter into the batter before baking for a delicious peanut butter chocolate combination.
• Cream Cheese: Add dollops of cream cheese to the batter for a rich and decadent bread.
• Zucchini: Add shredded zucchini for a moist and healthy bread.
• Pumpkin: Substitute some of the oil with pumpkin puree for a pumpkin spice chocolate bread.
• Extracts: Experiment with different extracts, such as almond, peppermint, or orange extract.

Serving Suggestions

Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread is delicious on its own, but it can also be enjoyed in a variety of ways:

• Warm with butter: A classic and simple way to enjoy this bread.
• Toasted with cream cheese: Toast a slice of bread and spread with cream cheese for a delicious breakfast or snack.
• French toast: Use the bread to make French toast for a decadent breakfast.
• Bread pudding: Use the bread to make a rich and comforting bread pudding.
• Ice cream topping: Crumble the bread over ice cream for a delicious dessert topping.
• Gift giving: Wrap a loaf of bread in a pretty ribbon and give it as a thoughtful gift to friends and family.

Storing Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread

To keep your Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the bread for longer storage. Wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw completely before serving.

The Joy of Sharing

The true essence of Amish Friendship Bread lies in the act of sharing. This recipe is more than just a recipe; it’s a tradition, a symbol of friendship, and a way to connect with others. So, bake a loaf of Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread, share it with your loved ones, and spread the joy!

Conclusion

Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread is a delightful twist on a classic tradition. With its rich chocolate flavor and moist texture, it’s sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. Whether you receive a starter from a friend or make your own, this recipe is a fun and rewarding way to create something delicious and share it with those you care about. So, gather your ingredients, follow the instructions, and get ready to bake a loaf of chocolatey goodness!

Enjoy your baking adventure, and remember to share the love (and the starter!)!