7 Mennonite Recipes: Relief Sale Tea Balls, Relief Sale Doughnuts, and More!

By Kevin Williams

So, how is Mennonite cooking different than Amish?

Not very different, actually. The two groups of Anabaptists intermingle so much, trade recipes so much, go back and forth so frequently that the culinary line has blurred. Now, if you start factoring in Russian Mennonites and Mexican Mennonites, then you see culinary differences that reflect the ethnic bent.

Old Order Mennonite buggy in Missouri...

In the USA, though, the different between Old Order Amish recipes and Old Order Mennonite are pretty tough to discern. You will generally find more elegant and elaborate and varied menus among the Mennonites, especially in Pennsylvania where some of those old, old Germanic influences hold sway.

The first two recipes are from Mennonite Relief Sales that are popular events used to raise funds for the less fortunate. These events are a great place to sample traditional Mennonite baking and cooking.
TEABALLS
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 tbsp. melted fat
½ tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. nutmeg
½ tsp. salt
2 tsps baking powder
2 cups flour

Beat eggs. Add sugar, vanilla and milk. Add sifted ingredients. Beat well and then add warm fat. Drop spoonfuls into hot fat (350 - 365)

MENNONITE RELIEF SALE DOUGHNUTS

Dissolve 1 package yeast in 1 cup warm water.
1 cup mashed potatoes
1 cup lard
1 cup scalded milk
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon salt

Mix in order given and add enough flour so dough will not stick to fingers. Let rise until double in bulk. Roll out and cut in donut shape. Put on floured trays. Let rise again, then fry in deep fryer. Drain. Finally, while donut is still hot, dip each in syrup : 1 pound icing sugar ½ cup water

5 Other Mennonite Favorites:

MENNONITE TACO SALAD

OLD MENNONITE DELICATE WHITE CAKE RECIPE