Pina Colada Amish Friendship Bread: A Tropical Twist
Got an AFB starter? This Pina Colada Amish Friendship Bread recipe turns it into a moist, tropical loaf packed with pineapple and coconut your family will love!
You know that moment when you reach day 10 and spot your Amish Friendship Bread starter hanging out on the counter? Today is the day you make something seriously amazing with it.
Pina Colada Amish Friendship Bread is sweet, moist, and packed with tropical flavor in every single slice. It’s an easy bread recipe the whole family will love. And honestly, it’s like a little tropical paradise landed right on your kitchen counter.
Let’s bake! 🥥
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?
If this is your first time hearing about it, here’s the scoop!
Amish Friendship Bread is a sweet quick bread recipe built around a fermented starter. The Amish Friendship Bread starter contains flour, sugar, and milk. It ferments over 10 days on your counter, and on day 10 you divide it four ways. You share portions with friends, keep one cup of starter for yourself, and bake with the remaining batter. That’s it!
The fermentation gives the bread batter a slightly tangy depth that makes every loaf taste incredible. Furthermore, the starter is super forgiving. Even beginners end up with beautiful, golden brown loaves.
The best part? You can flavor your cups of starter any way you like. This tropical pina colada version might just be the most fun variation out there. 🍍
Ingredients for This Tropical Loaf
Here’s everything you need. Simple pantry staples, plus a few tropical stars!
- About 1 cup of starter (the remaining batter after dividing on day 10)
- 1 cup oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup milk
- 1 box (5.1 oz) coconut cream instant pudding mix — not sugar-free!
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup drained sweet crushed pineapple
- 1 cup shredded coconut (coconut flakes work great too!)
How to Make Pina Colada Amish Friendship Bread
Ready? This comes together fast and the steps are totally beginner-friendly. 🙌
- Heat things up. Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Spray two to three smaller loaf pans well with cooking spray. You’ll pour batter into these in just a few steps!
- Combine your wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, eggs, and milk until smooth. Next, add in the coconut cream pudding mix and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients. Add the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda into the same large bowl. Mix everything together until the bread batter is well combined. Don’t overmix — just stir until you don’t see dry streaks.
- Fold in the tropical goodness. Now fold in the drained crushed pineapple and shredded coconut. This is where the magic happens! 🥥🍍
- Fill the pans. Pour batter evenly into the prepared pans, filling each one about halfway full. This gives the bread room to rise beautifully in the preheated oven.
- Bake it! Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. The loaves are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs or comes out clean.
- Cool completely. Let the mini loaves cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling before slicing. 😍
Where to Take This Bread
This pineapple bread is truly a crowd-pleaser. Here are some perfect places to bring it:
- Potlucks and cookouts — It stands out next to the usual banana bread!
- Special occasions — Baby showers, birthdays, and brunch gatherings love this loaf 🎉
- Teacher gifts — Wrap a mini loaf with a ribbon for an easy, heartfelt gift 🎁
- Neighbor drop-offs — Who wouldn’t smile getting a tropical sweet treat on their doorstep?
- Holiday cookie exchanges — It’s an unexpected twist that people remember
In addition, this pina colada bread makes a great sweet treat to keep on the counter for a busy school week. It slices beautifully for lunchboxes too!
Fun Variations to Try
One thing I love about this easy bread recipe? The possibilities! Here are some ideas for next time:
- Cream cheese swirl — Drop small spoonfuls of sweetened cream cheese into the batter before baking for a cheesecake-like surprise 🤩
- Coconut extract boost — Add ½ teaspoon of coconut extract to deepen that tropical flavor
- Chocolate chips — Stir in a handful of white chocolate chips for extra sweetness
- Brown sugar topping — Swap the cinnamon sugar for brown sugar and a sprinkle of coconut flakes on top
- Bundt pan — Pour all the batter into a bundt pan for a showstopper presentation! Adjust baking time to 55 to 70 minutes
- Pineapple chunks — Swap crushed pineapple for finely diced pineapple chunks for more texture
Equally fun, you can bake this batter as muffins! Fill a greased muffin tin two-thirds full and bake at 325°F for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Great news for busy moms — this bread is fantastic for making ahead! 🙌
Room temperature: Wrap cooled loaves tightly in plastic wrap. Store in an airtight container and they’ll stay fresh for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Wrap cooled loaves in plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter overnight when you’re ready to enjoy.
Make-ahead tip: Bake a double batch. Keep one loaf out for the week and freeze the rest. You’ll thank yourself later — especially when the holidays hit and you need a quick gift in a pinch!
The flavor actually deepens the next day, so don’t be surprised if leftover slices taste even better. That’s not a bug, that’s a feature. 😂
Common Questions
Can I use coconut milk instead of regular milk?
Yes! Swapping in coconut milk adds even more coconut flavor. It works great and makes the loaf extra moist and tender.
What if I only have unsweetened coconut?
No problem! Unsweetened coconut works fine. The pudding mix and sugar in the recipe add plenty of sweetness to balance it out.
My starter is frozen — can I still use it?
Absolutely. Thaw the starter completely at room temperature first. Then resume the 10-day process before baking. Easy!
Can I use a cake pan instead of loaf pans?
You can! A standard 9×13 cake pan works. Reduce the baking time and start checking for doneness around 35 to 40 minutes.
Do I need an electric mixer?
Nope! A wooden spoon or silicone spatula works perfectly. This bread batter comes together easily by hand in one large bowl.
Pina Colada Amish Friendship Bread Recipe
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
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1- 5.1 oz coconut cream 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
- 1 cup drained crushed pineapple
- 1 cup shredded coconut
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 pineapple and coconut.
- Pour batter evenly into the greased 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.
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Ready to Bring the Tropics Home? 🌺
There you have it, friend! Pina Colada Amish Friendship Bread is the kind of recipe that turns a regular Tuesday into something worth celebrating. It’s moist, flavorful, and easy enough to whip up even on a busy weeknight.
Whether you share loaves with neighbors, bring them to your next special occasion, or just treat your family to a little something sweet, this recipe never disappoints. If you have a sweet tooth (or live with someone who does 🙋), this one’s for you.
Save this to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find it again on day 10! And don’t forget to grab my free printable recipe card below — plus sign up for my email list for more easy, seasonal recipes delivered straight to your inbox every week. 💌
Happy baking! 🍍🥥
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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…
