13 Traditional Amish Dishes For A Heartwarming Holiday

Amish kitchens have always carried a special kind of magic, especially when holiday season rolls around.

Simple ingredients and generations-old techniques come together to create dishes that warm the heart and fill the table with honest, comforting flavors. Whether you’re craving a sweet molasses pie or a hearty chicken stew, these traditional dishes bring a taste of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage straight to your home.

13. Shoofly Pie

Molasses lovers, this one’s calling your name. Shoofly pie combines a gooey, sweet bottom layer with a crumbly, buttery topping that practically melts on your tongue.

What most people don’t know is that folks used to set these pies on windowsills to cool, and the sweet smell drew flies, hence the quirky name. Amish families have been baking this classic for generations, especially during holiday gatherings.

Would you try it?

12. Apple Dumplings

Picture a whole apple tucked snugly inside flaky pastry, baked until the fruit turns soft and the syrup bubbles into something magical. That’s the beauty of apple dumplings.

Here’s the twist: many families serve these warm with a splash of cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Amish cooks have perfected this dessert over decades, making it a must-have at holiday dinners across Pennsylvania.

Did you know about this?

11. Amish Whoopie Pies

Some folks say whoopie pies are the original sandwich cookie, and honestly, they might be right. Two soft chocolate cakes hug a cloud of sweet cream filling in the middle.

Locals whisper about bakeries that guard their filling recipes like treasure maps. These treats show up at every celebration, from barn raisings to Christmas dinners, and nobody ever complains about having too many around.

Which side would you choose?

10. Slow-Cooked Apple Butter

Long before anyone had a fancy slow cooker, Amish families stirred pots of apples for hours until they turned into thick, spiced perfection. Apple butter isn’t actually butter at all, just pure fruit cooked down with cinnamon and love.

The part nobody expected? This spread can last all winter when canned properly, making it a holiday breakfast staple that tastes like autumn in a jar.

What do you think?

9. Bread With Apple Butter

Sometimes the simplest pairings create the most memorable moments. Warm bread straight from the oven meets a generous smear of apple butter, and suddenly breakfast feels like a holiday.

But here’s where it gets interesting: Amish families often bake their bread early in the morning so the whole house smells like comfort before the sun fully rises. This combination has graced holiday tables for over a century.

8. Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie

Forget the pastry crust you might expect. Pennsylvania Dutch chicken pot pie is actually a thick, soul-warming stew loaded with tender chicken, vegetables, and square noodles that soak up every bit of flavor.

People can’t agree on whether the dough squares should be thick or thin, but everyone agrees this dish belongs at the center of a holiday table. Regulars say many folks miss this regional treasure.

7. Chicken Rivel Soup

Tiny bits of dough called rivels float in a golden chicken broth, creating a texture somewhere between dumpling and noodle. This soup has been chasing away winter chills in Pennsylvania Dutch homes for generations.

What nobody talks about is how quick and easy it is to make, especially when you need something comforting in a hurry. Cold-weather holidays wouldn’t be complete without a steaming bowl of this classic.

6. Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Filling

Mashed potatoes meet bread cubes, onions, butter, and herbs in a casserole that takes the place of traditional stuffing at many Amish holiday meals. The top bakes up golden and slightly crispy while the inside stays soft.

Sharp-eyed readers noticed this dish often appears alongside roasted turkey or ham. Some families add celery or parsley for extra flavor, making each recipe a little different from the next.

5. Scrapple Breakfast

Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, scrapple is a pork-and-cornmeal loaf sliced thin and fried until the edges turn beautifully golden. This hearty breakfast dish has fueled Pennsylvania Dutch families through cold mornings for centuries.

Here’s the twist: some people love it, others aren’t sure what to make of it, but once you try a perfectly fried slice, you might just join the fan club.

4. Pickled Red Beet Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs take a bath in tangy beet brine and emerge a stunning shade of pink, with a flavor that’s equal parts sweet, sour, and savory. These colorful bites show up at church suppers and holiday tables across Amish country.

The part nobody expected? Kids often love them just as much as adults do, and they add a pop of color to any spread. Some say they’re an acquired taste, but they’re undeniably iconic.

3. Chow-Chow Relish

When the garden overflows at summer’s end, Amish cooks turn the harvest into chow-chow, a sweet-and-tangy relish packed with colorful vegetables. It sits alongside meats, potatoes, and beans at big community meals, adding a bright, zesty punch.

People who know the craft quietly suggest trying it with mashed potatoes or roast pork. Every family has their own recipe, making each jar a little different from the last.

2. Fasnachts

Fasnachts are the doughnuts you fry up before Lent begins, using up all the butter, sugar, and eggs in the house. These pillowy, yeast-raised treats get dusted with sugar and devoured while still warm.

But here’s where it gets interesting: some recipes use mashed potatoes in the dough for extra softness. Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish families have been making these for generations, turning a practical tradition into a beloved holiday treat.

1. Amish Friendship Bread

This sweet, cinnamon-kissed bread starts with a bubbly sourdough-like starter that gets passed from neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend. Every ten days, you bake a loaf and share the starter with someone new.

Fans were stunned when they realized the tradition is as much about community as it is about baking. Holiday seasons see these starters traveling through entire towns, spreading warmth and connection one loaf at a time.