St. Martin Chemnitz’s “Two-in-One” Biscuits

History

St. Martin Chemnitz’s day on November 9th might be a fairly new addition to the Church’s calendar; however, there are still some pious ways in which you can celebrate his day and learn more about this Lutheran father!

First, as Chemnitz was instrumental in publishing the Book of Concord in 1580, taking the time to do any study of the book and its various parts (including Chemnitz’s own Formula*)*, would be an appropriate way to weave his own theological doctrine into your celebration.

Second, one of Chemnitz’s most famous teachings on the two natures of Christ provides ample inspiration for how one might engage in a celebration of this Lutheran saint. Describing the complete God-ness and complete man-ness of Christ, Chemnitz wrote his Two Natures in Christ in 1578, solidifying this piece of Lutheran Christological doctrine for centuries to come. Running with this idea, there are plenty of “two-in-one” culinary delights that you can use to teach this concept to those in your household and to enjoy the Church’s commemoration of Chemnitz.

St. Martin Chemnitz’s “Two-in-One” Biscuits

“Two-in-One” biscuits, or two ingredient biscuits, are a great example and are the easiest things ever to make! Soft and flaky on the inside, but crispy on the outside, this bread goes well with literally every meal. It is also extremely quick, taking about 15 minutes to make from start to finish. That means that you can easily decide to make these in the spur of the moment and without much thought or preparation.

These “Two-in-One” biscuits are a great illustration of Chemnitz’s teaching since Chemnitz insisted—over against various Protestant opponents—that the two natures of Christ, though distinct, were united at the Incarnation in such a way that they could never be separated again. Similarly, the flour and cream that come together to make this dish are united when you cook them in such a way that it’s impossible to think of separating the two. They are simply one dish, as our Lord Jesus is one person.

Even though the recipe calls for self-rising flour, if you don’t have any on hand, it is easy to make your own and still keep to the simplicity of this dish. All that you do is combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt before you get started.

Please also note that the temperature of this recipe is correct, as you’ll want an extremely hot oven to crisp the outsides of the biscuits and ensure a short cooking time. However, feel free to add cheese or chives to the batter before you bake or just slather them with butter and jam afterwards. They are especially delicious right out of the oven!

And if you are looking for other recipes that feature a similar concept, try making  two-ingredient fudge—using sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chunks—or chocolate mousse—using cocoa powder and whipping cream. Better yet, challenge yourself to make a full fledged two-ingredient meal including easy dishes such as slow-cooker chicken with poultry seasoning, our biscuits, a two-vegetable medley, and one of the aforementioned desserts!

Ingredients

2 cups self-rising flour

1 ¼ cups heavy cream

chives, optional

cheese, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 500ºF degrees and line one baking sheet with parchment paper that can withstand hot temperatures.
2. Place your flour in a large bowl and gradually combine with your cream, stirring in just enough for it to become a sticky dough. This might mean that you don’t use all of your cream! Add in any additions, if using (chives, cheese, etc.).
3. Pour biscuit dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead and roll the dough to about a ½-inch thick.
4. Cut your dough with a biscuit cutter, rerolling as necessary.
5. Place biscuits on the lined baking sheet, baking for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.