Sweet Cinnamon Bread

Last Supper Meal / Cinnamon Bread Bites

 This is a family favorite around Lent time for bread and water fasts, especially for picky children. Flavorful enough on its own.  It's a soft but dense bread that baked in a sheet pan can be cut into many little cubes 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 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 loaf. It tastes just as delicious. 




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. Serve room temp with grapes and The Last Supper scripture!



I remember when I was a little girl our church made a huge batch of this and cut it into tiny cubes for communion bread on Holy Thursday. As soon as I tasted the first bite it took me back to that moment. Ahhhh.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hello there!
I'm going to make this recipe for my college class "Ethics of Biblical Interpretation"

Just one question,
have you ever made this substituting something else for the shortening?
I would like to try it, but I don't want to mess it up!

I will let you know how mine turns out, thank you so much for the recipe :)

In Christ,
Kayla
Anonymous said…
This is NOT unleavened bread - as UNLEAVENED bread does not contain baking soda or baking powder or yeast. A typical UNLEAVENED bread recipe consists of Flour, Water and oil - some recipes have salt, milk and sugar added as well.

If you are taking for communion - no baking soda or baking powder.
Thank You!

A Christian in God's service.
JLUV said…
This definitely is leavened. Baking soda and baking powder
Kim said…
It said to leave out the soda and baking powder if you want it to be unleavened.
Thank you for all your comments. Hopefully everyone sees I adjusted the post to be more accurate for leavened or unleavened. I was new to baking science at the time and thought leavened meant made with yeast, but yes as you've mentioned, baking soda and powder are also leaveners. We learn as we go!