The ultimate Friendship Bread Starter Recipe

The friendship bread starter recipe is where the journey of sharing and passing along flavor and kindness starts. And it will continue to multiply when you share it with others. The friendship bread starter is besides a message of appreciation, an exciting baking project. One that makes you slow down and asks for a little care each day, for 10 days. I will share with you the ultimate friendship bread starter recipe! Enjoy the process of nurturing your starter into a flavorsome sweet cinnamon pound cake or crispy Waffles.

The ultimate Friendship Bread starter recipe

Ingredients
• 1 sachet dry yeast
• 60ml warm water (1/4 cup)
• 130g white flour (1 cup)
• 200g sugar (1 cup)
• 250ml milk of choice (1 cup)

Materials
• 1 large (non-metal) bowl
• 1 small (non-metal) bowl
• Spoon or spatula (non-metal)
• 3 mason jars (without the metal lid)
• Dishcloth to cover

Note: Do not use metal tools (spoons, whisks, etc.) or bowls. The metal will deactivate the yeast, which errors the fermentation process of the Friendship Bread.

How it’s done

1. In the small bowl, combine the warm water and dry yeast. Set aside for around 5-10 minutes, until bubbly.

2. In the large (non-metal) bowl, combine the flour and the sugar and mix well. Stir in the milk, following by the yeast mixture. Cover with a dishcloth and leave on the kitchen counter at room temperature overnight. The day that you prepare the starter is Day 1. Proceed with the 10-day baking schedule below.

The 10-Day Friendship Bread journey

Day-1: Today you received your Friendship Bread starter (or the day that you made your own batch of starter). Put your starter into a large (non-metal) bowl and cover it with a dishcloth. This way the starter will have enough space to rise. Just let the starter chill out and get used to its new surroundings. Do not put the starter in the fridge. It will rise and ferment nicely at room temperature.

Day 2-5: Stir the starter once daily to mix. Afterward, cover with the dishcloth again and let it sit at room temperature.

Day 6: Feed the starter with 130 grams of white flour (1 cup), 200 grams of sugar (1 cup), and 250 ml of milk of choice (1 cup). Stir to combine, cover with the dishcloth and set aside.

Day 7-9: Stir the starter once daily to mix. Afterward, cover with the dishcloth again and let it sit at room temperature.

Day 10: Today is sharing and baking day! Add 195 grams of white flour (1,5 cups), 300 grams of sugar (1,5 cups), and 375 ml of milk (1,5 cups) and stir to combine. Divide the mixture into 4 even portions (approximately 1 cup each). Put 3 portions into 3 storage containers or jars (If you use jars, make sure that you cover them with anything other then a metal lid. The metal will deactivate the yeast, which errors the fermentation process of the Friendship Bread. Instead, you can use baking paper, wax paper, some plastic wrap, or a handkerchief, with some nice string and perhaps a little label attached.) and share them with your friends and family along with a link or print of the Friendship Bread or Friendship Waffles recipe page. Leave the remaining 4th portion into the large bowl to prepare your own Friendship Bread or crispy Friendship Waffles.

Did you make this Friendship Bread starter, shared your batches, and baked up your own sweet creations? I’d love to see the results! Please share them with me @TalesofPastry or #TalesofPastry. In case you have any questions about the Friendship Bread 10-day journey, feel free to comment down below.