Holy Thursday Bread

 This recipe is a family favorite around Lent time for bread and water fasts, especially for picky children. These are reminiscent of molasses cookies.  It's a soft but dense bread that baked in a sheet pan can be cut into many little cubes or cut like biscuits serving minimum 12 people. (35 - 3" circles unleavened)(104 - 1" cubes leavened)

We leave out the baking powder and soda to make it unleavened for Holy Thursday. With this change, its best to roll out to 1/4 inch and cut into circles (with a canning lid or similar, then cut or fork poke in a cross before baking. Everyone gets their own round biscuit. They are not flexible like a flatbread/pita/naan, but like a soft, chewy bread cookie.  It's been a long time favorite tradition for our Holy Thursday dinner.

DIRECTIONS

Whisk together:
6 c. White Flour
1/2 c. Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Salt

1 Tbsp Cinnamon 

~
2 tsp Baking Powder (omit if wanting unleavened)
2 tsp Baking Soda (omit if wanting unleavened)

In a medium bowl or stand mixer, mix well:
1/4 c. Honey
1/4 c. Molasses (or just use 1/2 cup Honey)
1/2 c. Crisco shortening
2 c. Warm Water

Mix all together for about 5 minutes. I used my Kitchen Aid stand mixer - arm locked! Do not overknead, but batter should become less sticky. Let set for 10 minutes.

Leavened: Grease/flour a large jelly roll pan/cookie sheet (one with edges). Roll dough out in pan to around 1/4" thick. Cut into 1/2" squares or desired size with a pizza cutter before baking. 

Unleavened: Roll out into additional flour about 1/4in thick. Cut into circles with a canning lid, or desired size/shape. Set onto lined (or greased/floured) baking sheet. Then cut or fork poke in a cross. 

Bake at 450* for 10 minutes.

When cooled, the leavened cubes break apart easily at cut marks. The unleavened biscuits are filling with only one or two. Serve warm or room temp with grapes or jelly, and The Last Supper scripture!

I remember when I was a little girl our church made a huge batch of this. As soon as I tasted the first bite it took me back to that moment. Ahhhh.

RECIPE TO PRINT - (Highlight text and right click to print selection.)

HOLY THURSDAY UNLEAVENED CINNAMON BISCUITS

by Homegrown Catholics

Makes (35) 3" circles or (104) 1" cubes

Whisk together:
6 c. White Flour
1/2 c. Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Salt

1 Tbsp Cinnamon 

~
2 tsp Baking Powder (omit if wanting unleavened)
2 tsp Baking Soda (omit if wanting unleavened)

In a medium bowl or stand mixer, mix well:
1/4 c. Honey
1/4 c. Molasses (or just use 1/2 cup Honey)
1/2 c. Crisco shortening
2 c. Warm Water

Mix all together for about 5 minutes. I used my Kitchen Aid stand mixer - arm locked! Do not overknead, but batter should become less sticky. Let set for 10 minutes.

Unleavened: Roll out into additional flour about 1/4in thick. Cut into circles with a canning lid, or desired size/shape. Set onto lined (or greased/floured) baking sheet. Then cut or fork poke in a cross. 

Leavened: Grease/flour a large jelly roll pan/cookie sheet (one with edges). Roll dough out in pan to around 1/4" thick. Cut into 1/2" squares or desired size with a pizza cutter before baking. 

Bake at 450* for 10 minutes.

When cooled, the leavened cubes break apart easily at cut marks. The unleavened biscuits are filling with only one or two. Serve warm or room temp with grapes or jelly, and The Last Supper scripture!