Close your eyes and imagine: the warm smell of friendship bread from the oven, the sweet icing on a whoopie pie, or the fruity flavor of a warm apple pie. What do they all have in common?
The renowned heritage of Amish baked goods.
Across the United States, folks have become fans of the Pennsylvania Dutch and their renowned baking skills.
Here at the Market at Shrewsbury, we’re an Amish market with insider knowledge on the magic behind the flavors. Take a tour with us through the best, classic Amish dessert recipes to add to your taste test list today with the top eight recipes.
The History Behind the Flavor: What Makes Amish Baked Goods Special?
Amish baked goods are more than just sweet treats—they’re a glimpse into a way of life more than 400 years in the making. The Amish, founded in the 1600s, are a Christian group that live set apart from the modern world. And the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of simplicity and self-sufficiency shows up deliciously in the kitchen.
Because they often avoid technology and electricity, Amish bakers have passed down their legendary baking skills through the generations and have stayed true to the finest, handmade traditions.
You just can’t mass-produce that kind of heartfelt flavor and sell it in a supermarket chain. So, when you bite into an Amish market dessert, you’re tasting hundreds of years of tradition just as much as you are frosting.
P.S. Not sure where to start baking but want to sample authentic Amish market desserts for yourself? Stop on by the Markets at Shrewsbury—we’d love to chat and find your new favorite Amish delight dessert.
Insider Secrets Behind Amish Dessert Recipes
So, what makes Amish dessert recipes so irresistible? Although a good cook is never supposed to reveal secrets, there are several key Amish baking tips that have leaked out of Amish country.
The Joys of Butter
Farm life has been at the center of Amish tradition for generations. Handmade and fresh butter is a key ingredient behind the rich, delectable flavor of authentic Amish delight desserts.
From pie to cakes, Amish baking uses fresh butter to achieve a moist consistency and savory flavor. For example, Amish bakers brush melted butter on top of the dough before it bakes and after it’s finished for a soft and golden finish.
Lard is another secret ingredient, typically rendered from a pig’s animal fat. It’s an outstanding binding agent and adds a layer of irreplaceable richness to baked treats.
Handmade With Love
Moms around the world have preached about the heart behind the recipe. There’s something special when someone cooks with love for the friends and family gathered around the table.
In Amish tradition, much of family and church life centers around serving others at events centered around food. In Amish country, buying bulk ingredients, stocking the pantry, and cooking from scratch is a way of life.
You’ll never find a substitute like margarine, artificial sweetener, or preservatives in an Amish dessert recipe. And since these home chefs typically don’t use electricity, every step in the process is done by hand with loving care.
Amish bulk food and baked goods are the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country tradition. Become a part of it with a journey through flavor today.
Top 8 Classic Amish Dessert Recipes You Need to Taste to Believe
No whirlwind tour through the best Amish dessert recipes is complete without a roundup of the classics. While there is a wide variety of Amish treats to enjoy, here’s our list of must-try favorites.
1. Shoofly Pie
Shoofly pie is an iconic standout dessert from Pennsylvania Dutch Country with a fascinating history and flavor. Originally intended as a companion to strong coffee at breakfast, this pie has become an Amish staple.
What makes it so unique? Shoofly pie is actually a crumb cake baked inside a pie made with molasses.
The name originates from the fact that the sticky molasses base attracts flies—kids and bakers alike would have to “shoo flies” away.
2. Whoopie Pie
A whoopie pie is like a mini-pastry you can take on-the-go. It’s a unique hybrid that’s not quite a cake, a cookie, or technically a pie. It’s an Amish delight dessert made with two soft chocolate cake “pucks” with a squishy, marshmallowy filling that oozes out the sides.
Legend has it that Amish children would find these tucked into a lunch pail and shout “Whoopie!” when they found them. Who doesn’t want a bite of pure joy?
3. Apple Dutch Baby
The Apple Dutch Baby is less like a traditional pancake and more like a breakfast centerpiece. Picture a skillet filled with batter that balloons in the oven like a golden souffle and that collapses under powdered sugar and caramelized apples.
Is your mouth watering yet?
Fans of Pennsylvania Dutch country cooking have loved this iconic dessert for generations. The recipe traces its origins back to farmhouse kitchens where farm-fresh eggs, milk, and fruit were always on hand.
4. Funny Cake
The funny cake is Pennsylvania Dutch baking with a knowing wink and a sense of humor. It looks like any run-of-the-mill pie until you cut into it and find a surprise—a rich layer of chocolate syrup hidden beneath.
So, what makes it “funny?” The batter and syrup swap places in the oven and create the delectable treat that feels a little like a farmhouse magic trick.
5. Friendship bread
Amish friendship bread is less about the recipe and more about the tradition of the community. It starts with a yeasty, sweet starter that’s shared from neighbor to neighbor like a delectable chain letter. Each person feeds it, bakes with it, and passes a portion along to a friend.
The end result? A moist, cinnamon-sugar loaf that carries with it butter, spice, and a little taste of generosity.
6. Amish Date Pudding
Amish date pudding is a sweet, warm delight with sticky dates folded into a moist cake base. Then, its crowned with warm, buttery sauce that soaks into every bite. Many versions of this recipe have a tasty caramel topping.
It became iconic as a favorite at church gatherings and family dinners with the tradition of Amish hospitality baked into every bite.
7. Sticky Buns
The ultimate guilty pleasure, the Amish sticky bun is an iconic cousin to the cinnamon roll. It’s soft with pillowy rolls baked together in a pan, then drenched in a bubbling mix of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add a touch of pecans for crunch and a sticky topping to make the delectable recipe.
Originally brought to Pennsylvania by German settlers in the 19th century, the Amish eventually made them a staple of country kitchens.
8. Fasnachts
The fasnacht is a fried treat with deep roots in Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. Its name originates from the German term “fast night.”
Why? Because these donuts were made the day before Lent on Shrove Tuesday as a way to use up the last of the lard, sugar, and butter before the traditional period of fasting.
Unlike traditional frosted doughnuts, the fasnacht is simple, sturdy, and less sweet with dusted powdered sugar or plain molasses. They’re more than just an everyday dessert—they’re a yearly tradition in Amish country that celebrates heritage and thrift before the 40-day fast.
