Warm, comforting, aromatic, and delicious – Pumpkin Spice Molasses Tea Biscuits are rustic in presentation and are the definition of home style, old-fashioned baking.

Commonly known as molasses buns, or lassy buns, these are probably one of the most recognized and passionately loved flavours in Newfoundland. I think everyone’s mom had a molasses tea biscuit recipe that they would turn to over and over again.

The majority of my story here will refer to my mom’s molasses tea biscuits. It’s important to note that the recipe below is not for her recipe. It is an updated version. It has that same molasses flavour, but also with pumpkin spice!

THREE WAYS TO ENJOY THESE BISCUITS

In our home, mom’s molasses tea biscuits were almost always present. To my knowledge, tea biscuits were eaten in three ways. The first is probably the most obvious. Molasses tea biscuits were often consumed with a hot cup of tea. They were usually eaten as a snack, light lunch, or for breakfast.

Home-packed lunches were also a place where tea biscuits would show up. If we were going berry picking or hunting rabbits – anything that involved being away from home, tea biscuits tagged along.

My mom would slice them in half, smear them with butter, and sandwich them together. Wrapped in plastic wrap, the tea biscuits would be eaten at the first sign of hunger.

The third way was in the form of a dessert. In our family home, desserts were not always present in the form of a pie or a cake. But, every meal ended with something a little sweet.

Tea biscuits, again served with a liberal smearing of butter and a hot tea, were the norm. The tea had to be King Cole brand! I can also remember eating them as a bedtime snack!

THE CLASSIC VERSION LIVES ON

My dad still makes this same version that my mom used to make. In retrospect, I’m not sure if mom ever did bake them more than my dad. My dad was never one of those men too afraid to throw around a little baking soda and flour!

I remember tea biscuits being made at least once a week while my dad was away at work. For much of my childhood, my dad would go to work out of town late Sunday night. We wouldn’t see him again until later in the evening on Friday. So, my mom is going to win the honour of being assigned the master of the tea biscuit in our family.

WHAT MAKES THIS BISCUIT SO SPECIAL?

So, what makes these tea biscuits so special? Would you believe me if I replied with everything? Pumpkin Spice Molasses Tea Biscuits take every flavour you have come to know and love about fall, and bakes it into one very basic treat.

First, there’s the sweet and familiar taste of molasses – a Newfoundland staple. We were never without it – like ever! Then, there’s the butter and the sugar. And, what compliments molasses better than a class pumpkin spice blend?

There’s all-spice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. All of these spices are warming and cozy. They have a bit of heat at their core. And, you’ll taste that in these tea biscuits– not in excess, but as a back note to the other flavours.

Every fall, I make a big batch of Pumpkin Spice blend. The original owner of the blend that I use is the Pioneer Woman, so you know this stuff is good! I make a lot of recipe with those flavours, so I tend to make a double batch.

CONCLUSION:

I encourage you to make these Pumpkin Spice Molasses Tea Biscuits as soon as you can. Oh, also, try smearing them with butter. (Oh, I wish I could go back and eat one of these fresh from mom’s oven with a nice helping of Eversweet butter!) If you’re not a tea drinker, a coffee will do just fine. I swear, you’ll love the aromatic rustic flavours so much, you just might eat two!

In true Newfoundland fashion, especially in our home, tea biscuits were often served with a slice of cheddar cheese as well. Weird, yes, but tradition nonetheless! I have to go now, Dear Reader, I’m feeling a bit hungry. Bye!

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