Amish Friendship Bread (The Cinnamon Sugar Kind Everyone Loves)

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Last Updated on August 21, 2025 by Kiersten

Amish friendship bread is one of our cozy kitchen staples that makes a long-awaited appearance every September when the kids go back to school. It’s sweet, spiced, and has a soft, cakey crumb with just the right amount of cinnamon sugar on top.

Before you get started with this (pun intended lol), you’ll need your own Amish friendship starter. If you don’t already have it made, you can find the step-by-step directions for making it here. It takes 10 days from start to finish but is so worth it. One batch of starter will give you about 7 or 8 portions. Keep one or two for yourself and gift or freeze the rest.

Once you’ve got your starter going, this is the recipe everyone looks forward to by day 10.

Amish friendship bread is one of our cozy kitchen staples that makes a long-awaited appearance every September when the kids go back to school. It’s sweet, spiced, and has a soft, cakey crumb with just the right amount of cinnamon sugar on top.

My family’s version is the classic cinnamon sugar loaf. It’s a little nostalgic, a little indulgent, and a whole lot of comfort. It’s sort of like a cross between banana bread and a cinnamon coffee cake. Nothing fussy or fancy, but it disappears FAST – usually by the second day if my oldest has anything to say about it.

Around here, it’s the first thing I bake once the starter is ripe and ready on or around day 10. This is especially so when we’ve got company coming or I want something quick for the kids to snack on after school.

If you’ve never made Amish friendship bread before, don’t overthink it. You mix your wet ingredients with a cup of the starter, fold in the dry, pour it into greased loaf pans, and into the oven it goes.

I like using two standard-sized loaf pans so I can gift one to our moms or freeze it. This specific recipe also makes great muffins or mini loaves if you’re contributing to a bake sale or church ministry group.

One thing to keep in mind is that every starter is a little different depending on how long it’s been fermenting and what the temperature is like in your kitchen. The batter for the friendship bread should be pourable like a pancake batter, not too thick and not too runny.

Don’t be surprised if your house smells like a cinnamon donut shop while it’s baking. That’s how you know it’s working. 🙂

Amish Friendship Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup friendship starter
• 2/3 cup neutral oil
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3/4 cup cane sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Butter for greasing the pans

Instructions:

This is one of the easiest breads you’ll ever make.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F, then grease two loaf pans with butter and sprinkle all sides with sugar.

Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl with a fork or a whisk until well blended. Do this by hand, don’t use a stand mixer.

Pour the batter into the prepared pans. If desired, mix a tablespoon of sugar with a teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle over the tops of each loaf.

Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow the pans to cool for 10 minutes before removing the breads. Cool on wire racks before storing.

Wrap any leftovers or extra loaves well in plastic wrap or slice and place in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

More of Our Favorite Recipes

Amish Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze

Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Chewy Ginger Molasses Crinkle Cookies

Amish Zucchini Bread

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Raisin Pie

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