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Vermont’s Best New Comfort Food? Inside Bennington’s Amish Kitchen

Written by Dennis Regling in Uncategorized

A Vermont Twist on Tradition: Green Mountain Amish Kitchen Opens in Bennington

The rugged beauty of the Green Mountains has always attracted those who value hard work, land stewardship, and a simpler way of life. This week, that spirit finds a delicious new expression with the opening of Green Mountain Amish Kitchen, a family-run restaurant that brings the comfort of the “plain” table to Southern Vermont.

Located at 210 Northside Drive, Bennington, VT 05201, the kitchen is housed in a warm, timber-framed building that feels more like a neighbor’s dining room than a commercial eatery. While the Amish community in Vermont is small and centered further north in the Northeast Kingdom, this new Bennington outpost serves as a bridge, featuring recipes and goods from the Brownington settlement combined with Southern Vermont’s legendary local produce.

Comfort Food, Vermont Style

The menu at Green Mountain Amish Kitchen is a curated collection of “slow food” staples, where the focus is on depth of flavor and quality ingredients rather than rapid service. The kitchen uses local Vermont maple syrup, Grafton cheeses, and heritage-breed meats, all prepared with the precise, traditional techniques of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Early menu highlights include:

  • Maple-Glazed Ham Balls: A classic PA Dutch dish reimagined with a thick, dark Vermont Grade A maple glaze. These savory-sweet morsels are served alongside hand-mashed potatoes.
  • The “Green Mountain Haystack”: A hearty layered bowl featuring crushed crackers, seasoned beef, and fresh garden vegetables, all smothered in a creamy white cheddar sauce made with local sharp Vermont cheese.
  • Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding: Made from the bakery’s famous oversized cinnamon rolls, this dense, custard-rich pudding is served warm with a drizzle of maple cream.
beef and noodles
beef and noodles

Community Voices: “A Much-Needed Addition”

The grand opening saw a mix of local residents and hungry travelers coming off Route 7. Local teacher Clara Higgins was among the first to try the “Haystack.” “I’ve lived in Bennington for twenty years, and we’ve never had anything like this,” she shared. “It’s not just the food—which is incredible—it’s the atmosphere. You walk in and immediately feel like you need to put your phone away and just enjoy the company.”

Another diner, Robert Miller, raved about the craftsmanship of the baked goods. “I bought a loaf of their salt-rising bread to take home, and it didn’t even make it through the car ride. The crust is perfect, and you can tell it wasn’t rushed. It’s exactly the kind of quality you expect when you see that signature Amish style.”

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Lewistown’s Best Kept Secret: Inside the New Meadow View Amish Market

Written by Dennis Regling in Uncategorized

A Taste of Tradition: Inside Lewistown’s Newest Hidden Gem, the Meadow View Amish Market

The scenic Juniata Valley has a new destination for those seeking a slower pace, unparalleled craftsmanship, and the authentic flavors of the “plain” community. Nestled just outside the heart of Lewistown, PA, the newly opened Meadow View Amish Market has quickly become the worst-kept secret in Mifflin County, drawing locals and travelers alike to its doors.

Located at 4130 US Highway 522 S, Lewistown, PA 17044, the market is a collaborative effort involving several local Amish families who have created a space that celebrates a farm-to-counter ethos that predates any modern trend.

What Everyone is Talking About

The Meadow View Market isn’t just a grocery stop; it’s a full sensory experience. While you can find everything from organic produce to bulk spices, early patrons are already crowning the “Dutch Kitchen” section as the heart of the establishment. The bakery has seen lines forming as early as 7:00 AM, driven by the aroma of yeast, cinnamon, and sugar.

Here are the early fan favorites that are already cementing the market’s reputation:

Sandwich
sandwich
  • The “Farmer’s Bounty” Breakfast Sandwich: This is not your typical convenience store offering. Built on a fresh, hand-rolled sourdough roll, it features thick-cut, maple-smoked bacon, organic eggs from a neighboring farm, and a signature horseradish-mustard sauce that offers a delightful “Amish time” kick.
  • “Meadow Melts” Hand-Stretched Doughnuts: Rolled, fried, and glazed right before your eyes, these doughnuts are light-as-air with a complex, deep flavor that mass-market alternatives simply cannot match. They come in four daily flavors, but the Maple-Bacon glaze is already a local obsession.
  • Lancaster County (Lebanon) Bologna: A sweet and smoky beef-based meat that is a staple of Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Meadow View offers both the sweet and “super sweet” varieties, often served with their homemade “Dutch Honey” mustard.

What the Community is Saying

Local resident, David Stinner, was spotted leaving with a warm loaf of bread and three different jars of apple butter. “I’ve lived in this valley my whole life, and I’ve never tasted a sourdough roll like this,” he said, holding up his fresh purchase. “You can tell the recipe is old and has been passed down for generations. The quality is just impeccable.”

Another early review shared on a local food forum praised the atmosphere as much as the food. “In a world of fast-food and self-checkouts, walking into Meadow View is a gift. There’s no rush, everyone is smiling, and they take their time with you. And the chicken corn soup? I thought my grandmother’s was good, but this might be better. You just feel better after eating it.”

If You Go

Meadow View Amish Market

4130 US Highway 522 S

Lewistown, PA 17044

Amish Bakery–Style Huge Molasses Cookie Formula

Written by Dennis Regling in Uncategorized

Amish bakery molasses cookies are famous for being huge, soft, and almost cake-like, often 4–5 inches across and very thick. The difference isn’t just the recipe—it’s a few specific bakery techniques that many home bakers don’t use.

Here are the three classic Amish bakery tricks that make molasses cookies huge and fluffy instead of thin and flat.

1. Use a Combination of Baking Soda and Baking Powder

Most molasses cookie recipes only use baking soda. Amish bakeries often add a little baking powder as well, which gives the cookies extra lift.

Why it works

Molasses is acidic. Baking soda reacts with it and spreads the cookie.
Baking powder adds vertical rise, making the cookies thicker and softer.

Typical Amish bakery ratio

  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder

This helps create a puffy center instead of a flat cookie.

2. Roll the Dough Into Very Large Balls

Instead of tablespoon-sized cookies, Amish bakeries use very large dough balls.

Typical bakery size:

  • ¼ cup dough per cookie

That produces cookies about:

  • 4–5 inches wide
  • ¾–1 inch thick

Because the dough ball is so large, the center stays soft and fluffy.

molasses cookies

3. Bake at a Slightly Higher Temperature

Many bakery versions bake at 375°F instead of 350°F.

This does two things:

  • Sets the outside quickly
  • Prevents the cookie from spreading too much

The result is:

✔ crackled top
✔ thick edges
✔ soft cake-like middle

4. Chill the Dough First (Big Bakery Secret)

Many Amish bakeries chill molasses dough for 1–2 hours.

Cold dough:

  • spreads slower
  • holds its shape
  • bakes taller

This is one of the biggest differences between bakery cookies and homemade ones.

5. Slightly Underbake Them

Amish bakers remove the cookies when:

  • the tops are cracked
  • the edges are set
  • the centers still look slightly soft

They finish setting while cooling, which keeps them pillowy soft.

Typical baking time for large cookies:

10–11 minutes

Amish Bakery–Style Huge Molasses Cookie Formula

If you want the real farm-market style, use:

  • ¾ cup shortening
  • ¼ cup oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ⅓ cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 2½ cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • ½ tsp cloves
  • ½ tsp salt

Roll into ¼-cup balls, coat in sugar, and bake at 375°F for 10–11 minutes.

What the Finished Cookies Should Look Like

Authentic Amish bakery molasses cookies will be:

  • Very large (4–5 inches)
  • Crackled sugar crust
  • Soft, fluffy center
  • Thick edges
  • Deep brown color

They almost resemble a molasses muffin top more than a normal cookie.

Amish Bakery Molasses Cookies That Stay Soft for a Week

Written by Dennis Regling in Amish Recipes

(Perfect for Selling, Gifting, or Bake Sales)

If you’ve ever bought molasses cookies at an Amish bakery or farm market, you may have noticed something special about them: they stay soft, moist, and chewy for days. Unlike many homemade cookies that turn firm after a day or two, bakery-style molasses cookies remain tender almost an entire week when stored properly.

The secret is a combination of extra molasses, brown sugar, and a small amount of oil or shortening, which helps trap moisture in the cookie. Amish bakers also tend to make them larger and thicker, which keeps the centers soft even after several days.

This recipe produces large, soft molasses cookies with crackled tops and chewy centers—the exact style that sells well at bake sales, farm markets, or as packaged gifts.

Soft-for-a-Week Molasses Cookies Recipe

Yield

About 18–20 large bakery-style cookies

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup vegetable shortening (or butter)
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ⅓ cup dark molasses
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Cream the Fats and Sugar

In a large bowl, beat together:

  • shortening
  • vegetable oil
  • brown sugar
  • white sugar

Mix until smooth and fluffy.

3. Add Wet Ingredients

Beat in:

  • egg
  • molasses

Mix until fully combined.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients

In another bowl whisk together:

  • flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • ginger
  • cloves
  • nutmeg

5. Make the Dough

Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the molasses mixture until a soft dough forms.

If the dough feels sticky, chill for 30 minutes.

6. Form Large Cookies

Roll dough into 2-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons of dough).

Roll each ball in granulated sugar.

Place 3 inches apart on baking sheet.

7. Bake

Bake for 10–12 minutes.

The cookies should:

  • crack on top
  • look slightly underbaked in the center

This keeps them soft.

8. Cool Properly

Allow cookies to sit on the baking sheet 5 minutes, then move to a cooling rack.

They will soften even more as they cool.

amish molasses

The Secret to Keeping Them Soft All Week

For bakery-style softness, follow these storage tricks:

1. Store in Airtight Containers

Use tins or sealed containers.

2. Add a Slice of Bread

Place one slice of sandwich bread in the container.
The cookies absorb moisture from the bread and stay soft.

3. Package While Slightly Warm

For selling or gifting, place cookies in clear treat bags once barely warm.

4. Avoid Refrigeration

Cold air dries cookies out.

Bake Sale & Gift Packaging Ideas

These cookies are excellent for selling because they stay attractive and soft.

Popular packaging options:

  • clear bakery bags with twine
  • small kraft bakery boxes
  • mason jars stacked with cookies
  • parchment wrap with ribbon

Typical bake sale packs:

  • 3 large cookies per bag
  • $4–$6 per package depending on market.

Why These Cookies Sell So Well

These molasses cookies are popular because they are:

✔ Large and visually appealing
✔ Strong warm spice aroma
✔ Soft and chewy for days
✔ Affordable ingredients
✔ Perfect with coffee or tea

Their crackled tops and sugar coating also make them look homemade and traditional, which customers love.

Sweet, Dark, and Divine: Unlocking the Mystery of the “Midnight Gold” Molasses Cookie

Written by Dennis Regling in Uncategorized

Amish “Midnight Gold” Molasses Cookies

A Deeply Spiced, Old-Fashioned Treat from Amish Kitchens

If you spend any time around Amish baking traditions, you quickly learn that simplicity and richness often go hand in hand. One perfect example is the humble molasses cookie. In many Amish homes, these cookies appear regularly on kitchen tables, at church gatherings, and especially during the colder months when warm spices and dark molasses feel especially comforting.

Among these treasured recipes is a variation sometimes affectionately called “Midnight Gold” Molasses Cookies.” The name reflects the cookies’ dark, rich color and the golden warmth of their flavor. While they look deep and dark from the molasses, their taste is warm, sweet, and comforting—like something pulled from a wood-fired oven late in the evening after a long day’s work.

These cookies are soft, slightly chewy, and deeply aromatic with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. When baked properly, they develop delicate cracks on top and a lightly crisp edge surrounding a tender center.

Why Amish Bakers Love Molasses Cookies

Molasses has long been a staple ingredient in Amish and traditional American baking. Before refined sugar became common, molasses was an affordable sweetener that added both sweetness and depth of flavor.

For Amish cooks, molasses cookies offer several advantages:

  • Simple ingredients commonly found in a farmhouse pantry
  • Long shelf life, making them ideal for storing in tins
  • Easy to bake in large batches for church events and family gatherings
  • Rich flavor that pairs well with coffee, tea, or milk

Many Amish families bake them in the evening, letting the aroma of spices fill the house as the day winds down. That cozy late-night tradition is part of why some bakers refer to them as “Midnight Gold.”

Amish “Midnight Gold” Molasses Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup shortening (or butter)
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup molasses (dark molasses preferred)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening (or butter) and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the Wet Ingredients

Beat in the egg and molasses until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

4. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together:

  • flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • cinnamon
  • ginger
  • cloves

5. Combine

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the molasses mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms.

6. Shape the Cookies

Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in granulated sugar.

7. Bake

Place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake for 9–11 minutes, until the tops crack and the edges set.

8. Cool

Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

What Makes These Cookies Special

“Midnight Gold” molasses cookies have several signature characteristics:

  • Deep brown color
  • Soft, chewy center
  • Crinkled sugar-coated top
  • Warm spice aroma
  • Balanced sweetness with slight molasses bitterness

They taste even better the next day, once the spices fully settle into the cookie.

Amish Baking Tips

Amish cooks often follow a few simple tricks to perfect molasses cookies:

Use dark molasses
It gives the cookies their characteristic color and depth.

Do not overbake
The cookies will firm up as they cool.

Chill the dough if needed
If the dough feels sticky, chill for 30 minutes before rolling.

Store in a tin
Place a slice of bread in the cookie tin to keep them soft.

Serving Ideas

These cookies are wonderful served with:

  • hot coffee
  • fresh milk
  • hot apple cider
  • spiced tea

They also pair beautifully with vanilla ice cream for a simple dessert.

A Taste of Amish Comfort

In many Amish kitchens, molasses cookies represent something more than just dessert. They’re a reminder that good food doesn’t require complicated ingredients—only care, patience, and tradition.

Whether baked for a church supper, shared with neighbors, or enjoyed quietly late at night, Amish “Midnight Gold” Molasses Cookies offer a warm taste of old-fashioned farmhouse baking.

The Best Butter in Texas? Inside the Grand Opening of Lone Star Amish Market

Written by Dennis Regling in Uncategorized

Deep in the Heart of Tradition: Lone Star Amish Market Debuts in Dallas

The skyline of Dallas, TX, may be defined by glass and steel, but a new corner of the city is now smelling of fresh-churned butter and cedarwood. This morning, the Lone Star Amish Market officially opened its doors, bringing a slice of “plain” living to the high-energy pulse of North Texas. It is the first major establishment of its kind to bring the authentic craftsmanship of the Bee County and Lancaster settlements directly to the Big D.

Located at 9202 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218, just a stone’s throw from the Dallas Arboretum, the market has transformed a sprawling vintage warehouse into an indoor village of timber-framed stalls, bulk spice barrels, and a bakery that began running its ovens at 4:00 AM.

Texas Size, Amish Quality

While the market stays true to traditional roots, it has embraced its new home with items that blend Pennsylvania Dutch skill with Texas flair. Early visitors are already raving about the Smoked Brisket Hand-Pies, which take the classic Amish flaky pastry and stuff it with slow-smoked, pepper-crusted beef.

Other standout items making waves include:

  • “Midnight Gold” Molasses Cookies: A recipe passed down through four generations, resulting in a soft, chewy cookie that pairs perfectly with Texas pecans.
  • Hand-Rolled Garlic Herb Butter: Shipped in fresh, this roll butter is churned until it reaches a creamy consistency that makes store-bought alternatives pale in comparison.
  • The “Yellow Rose” Quilt Collection: Stunning, hand-stitched quilts featuring intricate floral patterns unique to this new Texas-based collective of artisans.
Hand-Rolled Garlic Herb Butter
Hand-Rolled Garlic Herb Butter

Voices from the Grand Opening

The heat didn’t stop a line from forming well before the ribbon-cutting. Local resident Elena Rodriguez was seen leaving with a crate of jarred “Copper Kettle” apple butter. “I usually have to wait for my sister to mail me stuff from the Midwest,” she said, wiping a bit of cinnamon sugar from her cheek. “To have a real sourdough pretzel, still warm from the oven, right here in East Dallas… it’s a game changer for my weekend routine.”

Mason Whitfield, a woodworker himself, spent nearly an hour in the furniture wing. “The joinery on these white oak dining tables is flawless. You don’t see dovetails like this in the big-box stores. It’s not just a table; it’s an heirloom. I think Dallas was hungry for something that was built to last.”

amish market