Double Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread Recipe
This viral chocolate bread recipe is the ultimate baking hack! Rich, moist, and chocolatey — Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread makes the perfect homemade gift.
You know that smell when chocolate bread bakes in the oven? It’s basically pure magic. Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread is that recipe. It’s rich, moist, and almost too easy to pull together. Best of all, it gives you extra loaves to share — and honestly, who doesn’t love receiving warm homemade bread as a gift?
Be sure to get my free printable recipe guide plus more variations for Amish Friendship Recipes, tips, tricks, and how to make your own sweet bread Amish Friendship Bread starter recipe: HERE.
What Is Amish Friendship Bread, Anyway?
So, here’s the deal. This sweet quick bread starts with a fermented starter batter. Think of it like a sourdough-style starter, but sweeter. You feed it for ten days, and then on day ten, you split the batter into portions and share it with friends — hence the name!
This chocolate version takes that classic sharing bread tradition and gives it a totally indulgent twist. Instead of vanilla pudding, you use instant chocolate pudding mix. Plus, you fold in chocolate chips and coat the pans with a cinnamon sugar topping. The result? A moist chocolate loaf with a crinkly, sparkly crust that looks just as good as it tastes.
It’s part tradition, part easy baking recipe, and 100% worth making on a lazy Saturday afternoon. 🍫
What You’ll Need for the Amish Friendship Bread Recipe
Here’s everything to make this recipe:
For the bread:
- 1 cup of starter (the remaining batter after splitting on day 10 is the Amish friendship starter)
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 eggs
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup milk
- 1 box (5.1 oz) chocolate instant pudding mix — regular, not sugar-free!
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup chocolate chips (optional)
Cinnamon sugar topping:
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
How to Make Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread
Step-by-Step Instructions for Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread
First, preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Spray two or three small loaf pans well with cooking spray.
Next, combine the oil, sugar, eggs, milk, pudding mix, flour, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Stir until everything comes together and no dry pockets remain.
Then, fold in the chocolate chips gently. You want those little guys evenly spread throughout the batter!
After that, stir together ½ cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle this cinnamon sugar mixture generously into each greased loaf pan. This step creates that amazing sparkly coating on the outside of the bread — so good.
Now, pour batter evenly into the bread pans. Fill each one about halfway. No more! Overfilling causes the bread to sink in the middle.
Finally, bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick inserted in the center — it should come out clean. Cool the loaves in their pans for 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. 🎉
Where to Take This Sweet Loaf
This homemade gift bread makes two to three loaves at once. That’s a lot of chocolate chip bread to go around! Here are some great places to bring it:
- Neighbor gifts — Wrap a loaf in a cute bag with a ribbon and become the most beloved neighbor on the street.
- Church potlucks or bake sales — This one gets compliments every single time. Every. Time.
- Teacher appreciation — Teachers work so hard. They deserve all the chocolate.
- Holiday gift baskets — Pair it with hot cocoa mix for the coziest, most thoughtful winter gift.
- New mom care packages — Because tired mamas absolutely need chocolate in their lives. 💛
Fun Variations to Try
One of the best things about this sweet bread recipe is how easy it is to switch up. For instance:
- Extra chocolate — Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top of the batter right before baking.
- Mocha twist — Stir in 1 tsp of espresso powder. The coffee-chocolate combo is seriously chef’s kiss.
- Nutty version — Fold in ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for a little crunch.
- Peppermint chocolate — Add ½ tsp of peppermint extract for a festive holiday spin. 🎄
- Mini muffins — Pour the batter into a mini muffin tin and bake at 325°F for 20 to 25 minutes. Hello, cute little bites!
Can You Store or Make This Ahead?
Yes! And this is honestly one of the biggest perks of this easy baking recipe. Here’s what you need to know:
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to three days.
- Refrigerator: Keep for up to one week. Let it come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
- Freezer: Wrap each loaf tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight on the counter.
You can also bake several loaves at once and freeze them as gifts. So smart, right? 👏 Just thaw, wrap them up pretty, and you’ve got a thoughtful homemade gift ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Questions People Ask
Do I need a real starter to make this?
Yes! The friendship bread starter gives this sweet bread its signature texture and depth of flavor. Without it, it’s a different recipe entirely. Learn how to make your own AFB starter here.
Can I use sugar-free pudding mix?
Nope — and this matters! Sugar-free pudding doesn’t have the same starch content, so the bread won’t bake up the right way. Stick with regular instant chocolate pudding.
Why did my bread sink in the middle?
It’s almost always from filling the pans too full. Fill them halfway and avoid opening the oven door too early. Patience, friend!
Can I make muffins instead of mini loaves?
Absolutely! Fill a muffin tin about two-thirds full and bake at 325°F for about 20 to 25 minutes. Such a fun option for parties or school treats.
What if I don’t have a starter yet?
You can find a starter from a friend (it’s literally called friendship bread, after all 😄), or learn how to make it from scratch here. It takes about ten days, but it’s simple!
Double Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread
Ingredients
- About a cup of starter remaining batter You will have this remaining in a bowl after you split your starter four ways on the tenth day into a ziplock bag or bowls if you want to make separate batches of the starter batter for different loaves if you want to stop the chain
- 1 cup oil
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1- 5.1 oz chocolate pudding mix Instant pudding mix, not sugar-free
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius). Spray two to three smaller bread pans with cooking spray.
- In a large or medium bowl, mix together oil, sugar, eggs, milk, pudding mix, flour, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and baking soda until well combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- In a separate small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar to make the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Sprinkle the prepared greased loaf pans with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Pour batter evenly into the pans. Fill pans halfway full.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool in the mini loaves pans for 10 minutes before removing and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Download your FREE COPY of the Amish Friendship Bread Recipe to gift with friends here
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Make Someone’s Day 🍫
In conclusion, Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread is more than just a recipe — it’s a tradition worth passing along. Whether you bake it for your family on a cozy weekend, bring it to a neighbor, or package it up as a holiday gift, this moist chocolate loaf always brings smiles.
Go ahead and try it this weekend! And when you do, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Drop a comment below, save this post to your favorite Pinterest baking board, and if you’re into easy seasonal recipes and fun printables, make sure you grab my free baking printable from the email sign-up below! 📌
More Variations of Amish Friendship Breads to try:
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Hi there!
I’m Emily, a mom and wife with a passion for crafting, celebrating holidays, and creating memorable moments. From Idaho to the world, The Benson Street is a treasure trove of easy, fun DIY projects, delightful printables, and delicious recipes. With over a decade of experience in blogging and a love for all things seasonal, I’m here to share my tips, ideas, and occasional mishaps. Join me in adding a dash of joy and creativity to every day! Read more…
