Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (2024)

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Hannah Klinger

Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (1)

Hannah Klinger

Hannah Klinger is a writer, editor, and content manager at Savory Magazine. She has a passion for helping home cooks build their confidence in the kitchen with hacks, how-tos, and guides to inspire them to try something new. She's contributed to America's Test Kitchen, Cooking Light, Food & Wine, EatingWell, and more.

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Published on May 6, 2020

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (2)

Simple, hearty, comforting, and practical — this is what Amish and Mennonite cooking is all about. Recipes are meant to fuel long days of manual labor (many communities don't use modern technology), to share at potlucks, and to preserve or use up every part of an ingredient so nothing goes to waste. Here you'll find Pennsylvania Dutch classics like shoofly pie and apple butter, plus some lesser known favorites like baked oatmeal and creamy macaroni salad. And since the Amish and Mennonites both have roots in Germany and across Eastern Europe, we've also included recipes for borscht, kielbasa, and cabbage.

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Shoofly Pie

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (3)

Shoofly pie is as traditional to Pennsylvania Dutch cooking as pecan pie is to southern cooking. The molasses and buttery streusel filling is baked in a flaky pie crust. It is usually served for breakfast with coffee.

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Amish Macaroni Salad

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A potluck classic, this creamy pasta salad goes with just about everything. Sugar gives it a traditionally sweet edge, though you can use less if you like. Hard-cooked eggs and bell pepper are also a must.

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Amish Casserole

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (5)

Simple, hearty, and budget-friendly are the hallmarks of Amish cooking, and this casserole has all three. You also probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry already. "Plain and simple, yet delicious," says Martha.

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Cabbage Borscht

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (6)

Cabbage borscht is a very traditional Mennonite dish that's just as delicious today, especially on a chilly night. This version is made even heartier with the addition of chicken, potatoes, and carrots.

  • Our Most Popular Cabbage Recipes

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My Amish Friend's Caramel Corn

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (7)

Foolproof caramel corn came to creator Anitalouise from an Amish family who gives it away during Christmas. It's a classic, no-frills recipe that had Recipechase raving: "I am speechless ... only because my mouth is stuffed with caramel corn."

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Amish White Bread

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (8)

Over 5,000 reviewers agree that this simple white sandwich bread is as delicious as it is foolproof. It's a staple in Amish homes where nearly everything is made from scratch. "If I could give this recipe more stars I would!" says Luvz2bake.

  • 20 Easy Bread Recipes to Make at Home

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Pennsylvania Dutch Pickled Beets and Eggs

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (9)

Many reviewers love this recipe, a Pennsylvania Dutch classic, for after Easter when there's plenty of leftover hard-boiled eggs around. "I actually tripled the recipe and it didn't last a week in the fridge," says Mtfreg.

All-Day Apple Butter

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (10)

This concentrated spiced apple spread is famous in Lancaster, PA, an Amish country town where apples are harvested and preserved every fall. A slow cooker makes this version even easier (and makes your kitchen smell amazing).

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Amish Slaw

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (11)

Christina J shares the slaw she makes in her Amish community. The quick pickle method (a hot sugar and vinegar mixture that's poured over the cabbage) helps preserve the mix for a few days in the fridge.

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Amish Meatloaf

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (12)

"I have made it so many times I have lost count," says Lori W. of this meatloaf. The Amish twist to this classic includes crushed butter crackers in place of breadcrumbs in the filling and a couple slices of bacon layered beneath the ketchup glaze.

  • 10 Best Side Dishes for Meatloaf

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Whoopie Pies

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (13)

The story goes that when Amish farmers and school kids found these snack cakes in their lunch boxes, they'd shout "whoopie!" Well, we're just as excited to eat them now. The cake and frosting sandwiches were originally made to use up extra cake batter.

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Mennonite Cabbage Potato Kielbasa Bake

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (14)

The Mennonite faith has roots in Germany — which is why kielbasa and cabbage star in this comforting casserole. "The kielbasa really flavors the whole dish," says Pazla. "It's simple and delicious."

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Amish Custard Cottage Cheese Pie

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (15)

In true Amish form, this silky-smooth custard pie uses affordable ingredients like cottage cheese and evaporated milk with fantastic results. Whipping the egg whites before folding them into filling makes it wonderfully fluffy.

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Pennsylvania Dutch Corn Pie

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (16)

Recipe creator Imlizard has a lot of love for this hearty pie. "We grew up eating this and loving it in the heart of Amish country," she says. A few shortcuts like refrigerated pie crust and creamed corn streamline the dish while keeping the classic flavors.

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Baked Oatmeal

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (17)

Hearty, warming, and ready to feed a crowd, this recipe is the perfect breakfast for a busy day on an Amish farm. Creator BlanchL picked it up on a visit to Pennsylvania Amish country. "Everyone who tries it, loves it!" she says.

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Our Most Traditional Amish and Mennonite Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a traditional Mennonite meal? ›

Russian Mennonites also commonly participate in a late-afternoon lunch called faspa, which usually consists of zwieback, deli meat, raisin buns, pickles, and cheese (especially cheese curds). This meal is easy to prepare and intended to give farmers a mid-afternoon lunch and Mennonite women a rest on Sunday.

What are traditional Amish meals? ›

Traditional Amish food includes dishes like tasty roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes & gravy, seasoned vegetables, fresh bread, and homemade jam. The Amish are also known for excellent baked goods, especially pies, cookies, breads, cakes, and fry pies.

What is the difference between the Amish and the Mennonites? ›

Unlike the Amish, Mennonites are not prohibited from using motorized vehicles. In addition, Mennonites are also allowed to use electricity and telephones in their homes. When it comes to their beliefs, the Amish and Mennonite faiths are very similar. The differences lie mainly in the outward practice of those beliefs.

What do Amish eat for breakfast? ›

In fact, they eat lots of things in soup form—even breakfast! A typical Amish breakfast includes coffee soup, a bowl of creamed coffee served with freshly baked bread for dunking.

What do Amish people eat the most? ›

Grains, dairy, and locally sourced meats play a pivotal role in the Amish diet. These ingredients are staples cultivated, harvested, and processed within their communities. In a world where farm-to-table is a luxury, for the Amish, it's simply a way of life.

What is the food of the Mennonites? ›

The Mennonite, with their farming tradition, are well grounded in agriculture, and most Belizeans benefit from the sale of their produce throughout the country. Practicing organic farming, they grow peanut, potato, corn, beans, tomato, watermelon, carrot, papaya, sweet pepper, cabbage, and coriander.

Is there anything the Amish don't eat? ›

The Amish Have No Dietary Restrictions

Having no dietary restrictions means they can eat whatever their heart desires.

Why do Amish cook so good? ›

The Amish cook their dishes on a wood-burning stove or over an open fire. This cooking method brings out the natural flavors in all ingredients. Additionally, the cooks use cast iron pots and pans. These pots and pans retain heat better, giving their dishes that classic, home-cooked flavor everyone loves.

What are Amish bedroom rules? ›

Each person sleeps on their side of the bed, with a board in between them to prevent any physical contact. The couple is allowed to talk to each other during the night, but they're not allowed to touch each other.

Who is more strict Amish or Mennonite? ›

The Amish tend to be stricter and more conservative in their beliefs and practices than the Mennonites. For example, the Amish tend to live in isolated communities and avoid using modern technology, while the Mennonites are not restricted in these ways.

Do Mennonites have to marry Mennonites? ›

9. Mixed marriages: Like many ethnic and religious groups, Mennonites prefer that their members marry persons from similar ethnic, racial or religious groups. The preference is less strong than formerly, and most Mennonites would seek to be charitable where mixed marriages occur.

Can Amish have Mcdonalds? ›

Can Amish people eat at McDonald's? They sure can. Due to it being cheap and ubiquitous, it's a very common place for Amish to stop for a meal when traveling.

What is Amish coffee? ›

The Amish sometimes boil coffee in a pot, but also may use a french press to brew their coffee. Then toast two slices of homemade bread fresh out of the bread-serving basket until they're golden brown. Place the toast into a large bowl and then pour the coffee over it.

What do Mennonites eat and drink? ›

Generally speaking, Mennonites typically eat more fruits and vegetables than the average person. There is no 'typical' diet for Mennonites, and their diets vary depending where they live. Mennonites may eat pasta, rice, and some local foods.

What are some Mennonite traditions? ›

Traditionally, Mennonites sought to continue the beliefs of early Christianity and thus practice the lovefeast (which includes footwashing, the holy kiss and communion), headcovering, nonresistance, the sharing of possessions and nonconformity to the world; these things are heavily emphasized in Old Order Mennonite and ...

How do you greet a Mennonite? ›

“Shalom!” I can still hear this customary greeting from Raymond Charles, once my overseer. He nearly always began his sermons with this word of greeting, beckoning his hearers to respond with a hearty “Shalom!” The ancient Hebrew greeting best expressed Raymond's desire for peace embodied in holistic wellbeing.

Can Mennonites drink alcohol? ›

During the last 100 years, the church considered the consumption of alcohol to be a sin. But that “marker” is passing away. While a large majority of us—probably 75 percent by now—accepts some use, we honor those for whom the consumption of alcohol continues to be “always wrong.”

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