Shortcut Apple Amish Friendship Bread
This slightly sweet homemade apple bread is the perfect treat for a fall afternoon. Shortcut Apple Amish Friendship Bread is seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The thin apple slices and nuts baked into the bread give it the perfect finishing touch. Usually Amish bread recipes make 5 cups of starter to be used to bake or given away, but this shortcut version yields just one cup of starter and makes two loaves of bread. This homemade apple bread has a crunchy, sugary topping that perfectly complements the comforting apple taste of the bread. Once you taste this amazing bread, you will be excited to share it with your friends and family.
Notes
* This is NOT a package of yeast, it is much less, so it is important to let them know to measure it.
** I use the cavity of the microwave in which to make a “warm place” for rising yeast mixtures.
Makes2 9 x 4-inch loaves
Ingredients
- For the "Starter":
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/3 cup warm milk (90-100 F)
- 1 teaspoon quick-rise yeast *See Note
- For the Topping:
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- For the Bread:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups apples, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 cup chopped nuts, divided
Instructions
-
In a small bowl, mix sugar, flour, and milk with the yeast and set in a warm place for 10-15 minutes until the mixture shows bubbles on the top. **See Note
-
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Grease two loaf pans well with butter and then sprinkle about half the cinnamon sugar mixture over the bottom and sides of the pans, reserving the rest for topping.
-
In a medium bowl place flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and spices and whisk with a fork to mix well. In large bowl of electric mixer, place eggs, oil and vanilla. With machine on low, add the yeast mixture and then stir in the dry ingredients until well mixed do not overbeat. Stir in the apples and half of the nuts by hand. Spoon into prepared bake pans, dividing equally.
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Combine the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture with the remaining nuts and sprinkle the tops of the loaves. Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without any wet crumbs attached.
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Place pans on a cooling rack and let stand 5 minutes, then carefully invert onto cooling rack and remove pans to continue to cool.
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