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.