This is Gingerbread Amish Friendship Bread is exactly what you want baking in your kitchen for the ENTIRE month of December. It’s aromatic and spicy, with just the right warm, sweet notes. The scent alone is worth it, but it is absolutely delicious and is a great way to bake with your one cup of starter.
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During the holiday season, you can sometimes find gingerbread instant pudding in grocery stores and big-box stores like Walmart or Target, but if you’re making the bread at any other time of the year, you can simply use a box of vanilla pudding mixed with 1 teaspoon ground ginger (wondering if you need the pudding? It’s up to you, but read this first).
What makes this bread so phenomenal is the addition of chopped crystallized ginger and 6 tablespoons of molasses (you can substitute ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar if you can’t find any molasses, or pick up a bottle here). There’s also the usual suspects: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg. It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas, isn’t it?
The crystallized ginger becomes soft and tender during baking, so when you take it out of the oven, the warm bread coupled with the soft nuggets of ginger is pretty tantalizing. I made two loaves and they were GONE before people had a chance to go back for seconds. These would make terrific mini loaves or cupcakes, or even a Bundt cake!
Another fun serving option: cube the bread and top on a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Toast the cubes first if you prefer it a little crunchy. The result is heaven. 😋
- 1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup oil
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 6 tablespoons molasses if unavailable, substitute ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups flour
- 1-2 small boxes instant gingerbread pudding if unavailable, use vanilla pudding mixed with 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- ½ cup diced crystallized ginger plus 2 tablespoons for topping
- Preheat oven to 325° F (165° C).
- In a large mixing bowl, add ingredients as listed.
- Grease two large loaf pans.
- Dust the greased pans with a mixture of ½ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
- Pour the batter evenly into loaf or cake pans. Top with 2 tablespoons diced crystallized ginger and sugar.
- Bake for one hour or until the bread loosens evenly from the sides and a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
- ENJOY!
>> Have you tried this? Share your best pic with us or leave a comment below and let us know how it worked for you!
This gingerbread receipe sounds wonderful. Exactly what is crystallized ginger, and where can you get it? Thanks
Hi Renae!
Crystallized ginger is dried chunks of plump, sweetened ginger usually coated in sugar. It has a chewy and crunchy texture and full ginger flavor – very nice. You can usually find it packaged in small bags in specialty/gourmet sections of your grocery store. Asian markets also usually carry crystallized ginger. If you’re near a Trader Joe’s, they carry it in the dried fruit section. Hope this helps because that Gingerbread recipe is amazing!
So glad I came across this recipe. I’m loving making Amish Friendship Bread and recently made Apricot with Ginger which gave me the desire for a gingerbread cake. I was going to wing it, but now have a better guideline. Thank you!!
just made this.it turned out awesome. used the gingerbread pudding instead of vanilla. (seasonal item).
this is soooo goood.
I forgot to mention that I used two boxes of the gingerbread pudding instead of vanilla as suggested in another post. Good choice.
Just made this today and had my first slice (I love the ends) and it was AMAZING!! This is definitely a keeper and I will be sharing it with my co-workers tomorrow.
Helpful Hint: The recipe calls for 6 Tablespoons of molasses. 6 Tablespoons equal 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons.
I made this last night and boy does it smell heavenly. The store was out of plain vanilla instant pudding so I used 2 small boxes of French vanilla instant pudding instead. Since I did not have the crystallized ginger I just sprinkled a little of the cinnamon/sugar on top. It was so hard to not dive right in and eat this when it came out of the oven…but I did wait. OH MY…it was delicious. I will definitely make this again and again and again and……YUM!!!!
I love gingerbread, so this is definitely going to be my holiday bake!
This is a great recipe and would look very pretty in the Nordic Ware Pro Cast Bundt Duet Pans. I would make this for 2 gals at work (Linda & Gail) who’s birthdays are coming up.
I will be making this. For my dear friend Kay and Nikki
Oh my goodness I had no idea you can make so much from Amish Friendship bread! I am definitely gonna try this recipe for my dad and sister in-law this Christmas!
This recipe sounds amazing! I am picking up the ginger tomorrow at Trader Joes and will bake this for Christmas! My sister and my best friend will love this…and so will the rest of my family!
I plan to make this bread this weekend. I am a little confused about the pudding. The recipe says 1-2 boxes of pudding. Why the variable amount? Should I use one box or two?
Hi Janet! It’s variable because the recipe works with either 1 or 2 boxes — it depends on how flavorful and moist you like your recipe, but if this is your first Amish Friendship Bread variation, start with one small box! Happy baking!
Thanks so much for your quick reply. Yes, this is my first time with a variation, so I’ll try it with one box of pudding.
I am so excited to have found your site, and look forward to trying many of your recipes.
I have an old starter recipe that I got years and years ago…..probably mid 80’s or so.
It doesn’t use yeast in the starter or pudding in the bread but I am going to try using it with your recipes.
I think it will work just fine.
Thanks for all your work on this site.
I look forward to learning new things. 🙂
You’re welcome, Janet! And if you ever get a chance to snap a picture of the starter recipe, I’d love to see it. Sometimes the older ones — or even the handwritten ones — are the best! 🙂
Good morning Darien, I’d be happy to share the recipe I have with you. If you would like to send me your postal address (private, to my email address), I can send it that way. I don’t have a scanner to upload it into the computer. The recipe is on a full page article, and includes some additional old time recipes as well.
It is a 28 day process, because it has no added yeast, but the result is quite delicious.
Also, I was unable to find the gingerbread pudding called for in this recipe, so I am going to use French Vanilla. The recipe says to mix it with 1t ginger. Is that in addition to the 1t of ginger in the list of ingredients?
That seems like quite a bit of ginger.
Do I add additional amounts of any of the other spices listed?
Hello Janet! Yes the 1 teaspoon is in addition to the recipe. If you feel like it’s too much, you can scale it back to taste. You can mail it to Darien Gee, Friendship Bread Kitchen, PO Box 6886, Kamuela, HI 96743. Thank you — I can’t wait to see it! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
this sounds really good, I am off a portion of this week and think I will try it. I got a new mini but pan that will make 6 mini cakes I think I will use this
This is one of my favorite recipes! I have 10 kids (all grown now)who love for me to make this gingerbread. I make it year round!
Thank you for a new recipe. I make AFB and give it to the people at church on the holidays. This will be perfect for Christmas. It sounds delicious.
Yes I love gingerbread! Yes, I would make this.
I love anything gingerbread during the holidays and can’t wait to try this recipe
I love using the starter to make awesome baked goods. However I have gotten away from a lot of baking since my husband and I are both diabetics. But I still bake occasionally and especially at the holiday when family gets together.
I have only made gingerbread cookies from a mix before, sothis will be fun to try!
I have never made gingerbread, but this sounds good, will have to try it, I make breads around Christmas to give to friends and family, this will make a good addition.
The recipe looks really good. Unfortunately I am not a gingerbread fan.
I will pass the recipe to my daughter. 🙂
I’m not a gingerbread or ginger cookie fan. But maybe it would be worth a try!
I love Gingersnap cookies, be to snacked on daily. I have never baked Gingerbread though. I do have most of the ingredients except for my starter and the pudding. So… I am hoping I can have some starter done before Christmas so I can make this as a finish to our Christmas day dinner. We all love gingersnaps here, so who would not love a fresh gingerbread amish bread!
I love gingerbread but my other half not so much. I’ll probably leave off the crystallized ginger. This made me remember the first time I made gingerbread. I was around six and was staying overnight with my aunt and uncle. She had never baked before but we were going to surprise my uncle with his favorite treat..gingerbread. He had gotten her a mixer and she was excited to use it. We were doing fine until we lifted the beaters without turning the mixer off. Gingerbread went everywhere! We were so shocked we just watched it a moment before reacting. My uncle walked in about that time and said, “mmm gingerbread. Something sure smells good in here!” My aunt and I just dissolved into laughter. I know I will be smiling as I bake this.
I love gingerbread, in loaf or cake form. It was a frequent after-school snack while growing up on my grandparents’ farm. I make a pan of it every year for the holidays, just because I love it and it brings back so many wonderful memories of my grandmother.
I look forward to this new “twist” on making gingerbread.
I’m not a ginger fan, so I won’t make this recipe. I just made 16 mini-loafs of different flavors yesterday. Everyone loves them as gifts!
I have never made gingerbread, but would like to try this one.
Oh my goodness… I love gingerbread! It reminds me of my Mom baking around the holidays, can’t wait to try it. Thank you so much, it looks delicious.
My daughter would love this! In fact, we make gingerbread every year, so I am excited to try out this recipe ?
we love gingerbread and I am going to make this for my son who is a gingerbread fan just as soon as I can get to town and buy the gingerbread pudding.
I love gingerbread, but I have never made it. I want to try this recipe and will bring it to my ladies group for our next coffee afternoon.
I love gingerbread. My mother always made me gingerbread men around the holidays. She made them when I was not home because I would eat to much dough. After she passed I started making the gingerbread men and I got to eat some of the dough
I love the texture of this bread, love gingerbread cookies and this is just another wonderful way to enjoy the warm taste and amazing smell of ginger.
I have been looking everywhere for gingerbread recipes! I’m so glad to find this one. I can’t wait to try this out and hopefully my family will enjoy it as well this holiday season.
I absolutely love Gingerbread. My husband doesn’t care for it so I never get to make it. Although I may very well just make this for myself, and maybe take a loaf to the office. I really want to try this recipe.
I’m going to friend’s house for dinner tomorrow and this is going with me! I LOVE gingerbread, and this looks divine ~ I can’t wait to try it with the crystalized ginger pieces! Soo good. One loaf for my friend, and one for me at home! My whole family loves gingerbread, too.
Gotta go get a bag of starter out of the freezer…
Yum! Definitely going to try this recipe! I am going to love how my house smells while this is baking. ?
This sounds good. I have fresh starter in the process and will definately try this once it is done. I will make this one for my mom who is a gingerbread fan.
Love this recipe during the holidays. It is one of my family’s favorite.
My husband loves gingerbread cookies so I’ll have to try making this bread version. The ginger looks like an interesting ingredient. I’ll look for some to try. Thanks for sharing.
I like gingerbread. My brother loves it. I’ve made it before but not like this! My brother will get a loaf of this for Christmas!
oh my! I love crystallized ginger. So excited to try this recipe. My starter is named Rebecca (companion to my sourdough Herman) and has been relegated to the freezer for a few months. But I will have to retrieve her today. So that I can make this gingerbread for our cul-de-sac Christmas gift exchange. ?
I’ve been baking for a long time, however, I have never added ginger to my recipes. This bread seems to be so yummy, so I believe that it’s time to give ginger a try. Thanks for sharing!
I’m not much of a gingerbread fan, but my daughter is. I would bake this for her, even though I have never made gingerbread before. 🙂
I’ve never actually tried gingerbread & I’m in my 40s! I don’t think anyone makes it in my area. I’ll guess I’ll have to be the 1st!
Definitely want to try this for Christmas!
This Gingerbread sounds wonderful. I was making my grocery list and checking on the Oatmeal cookie ingredients and what should appear….. love gingerbread and this sounds like a step up from the usual one I make.
Will let you know how it turns out.
I’m not personally fond of gingerbread but this recipe made my mouth water. I was going to say I’d make some for my grandchildren but now I think they will have to share.
When I was a teen and young adult I baked all the time and I baked a lot of different things. I don’t recall if gingerbread was among them or not.
I happen to have crystallized ginger on hand. I use it in hot tea sometimes. I found mine at a discount grocery store.
My starter will be ready tomorrow so I am definitely going to try this. I love gingerbread, but have never made it so I am super anxious to try this!
I have never tried GINGERBREAD. I have only ever had gingerbread cookies. I love the smell and cant wait to try recipe. My husband loves fresh warm baked bread. Im on day 6 of starter so just waiting game now.