Friendship Bread is a beloved sweet, cinnamon-scented loaf made with a fermented starter that's shared among friends. Known for its tender crumb and rich flavor, the recipe calls for a 10-day fermentation period followed by a delicious batter that’s baked into two moist loaves. Often given as a gift, the bread represents generosity and connection, as the starter is passed along with a portion of the recipe to new bakers. The addition of vanilla pudding and cinnamon makes this a nostalgic favorite with a warm, spiced aroma that fills the kitchen.
Ingredients
Starter Feeding:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups milk
Main Recipe:
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup milk
- 3 eggs (large )
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup pecans (chopped )
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix (1 box)
- Optional: ½ cup raisins
For the pans:
- butter or oil for greasing
- sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling
Instructions
Step 1: Starter Preparation
- Day 1: Receive starter. Do not refrigerate.
- Days 2, 3, 4, 5: Stir with wooden spoon once daily.
- Day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Stir with wooden spoon.
- Days 7, 8, 9: Stir once daily with wooden spoon.
- Day 10: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Stir.
- Divide into 3 one-cup portions. Keep one, gift two.
Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients
- In a large bowl, combine oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cinnamon, pecans, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and pudding mix.
- Optional: Stir in raisins.
Step 4: Combine Mixtures
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix until well combined.
Step 5: Prepare Pans
- Grease two loaf pans. Sprinkle inside with sugar and cinnamon.
Step 6: Bake
- Divide batter evenly between the two pans.
- Sprinkle tops with sugar and cinnamon.
- Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 7: Cool
- Let cool in pans before removing.
Tips
- Add raisins if desired, as noted on the recipe card
- Substitute chopped walnuts for pecans
- Sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar inside the batter for a swirl effect
- Wrap loaves tightly and freeze for up to 3 months
- Use disposable pans when gifting
- Label starter bags clearly with the day number
- Stir gently with a wooden spoon as instructed to protect fermentation
- Store baked bread tightly wrapped at room temperature
- Serve lightly toasted with butter
- Excellent for holiday or potluck sharing
Transcription of the Original Recipe
Read or copy the transcription
Friendship Bread
Day 1 Receive Starter -- Do Not Refrigerate
Day 2,3,4,5 Stir with wooden spoon
Day 6 Add 1 Cup Flour, 1 cup milk, 1 cup sugar; Stir with wooden spoon
Day 7,8,9 Stir with wooden spoon
Day 10 Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, 1 cup sugar. Separate into
3 one-cup containers. Keep one cup and give 2 cups
to friends with the recipe.
In a large bowl, use what is left after taking out the 3 cups
Add:
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix Well
In a separate bowl mix:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 large box vanilla instant pudding mix
may add
raisins as
desired
Add dry and wet mixtures together: Mix well
Grease two loaf pans and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Pour into pans
Sprinkle top with sugar and cinnamon before baking.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Cool before removing from pans
Recipe makes 2 loaves of bread
3 startersFrom Transcription to Instructions
We love this little original directions but it’s pretty spare, so our instructions mostly untangle the timing and the order for you without changing the recipe itself. The instructions lay out the starter schedule into daily actions and show exactly when to add and split the starter, and they spell out wet and dry bowls, when to combine them, greasing and sprinkling the pans, and a simple doneness check, so you can follow along without guessing which step comes next.
Nutrition
Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 190mgPotassium: 90mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 100IUCalcium: 50mgIron: 1.4mg
