This might not be something I have shared before on here, but I was not a big fan of fruit cakes growing up. My 10-year old self would pick out every little raisin there was in my cake, even if it meant losing the whole slice. But ask my food-loving self now how I feel about them, especially after trying the famous Jamaican Easter bun, I love it!
If you are yet to try this bun, this is your sign! It is widely eaten with thick slices of cheddar cheese (Tastee cheese). The pairing of this cakey bun and a thick slab of cheese caught my curiosity. I was determined to know how it tastes together as I had never experienced it. I decided to treat myself to this at a Jamaican restaurant last Easter and my oh my, was it good! But one thing I can say confidently is, bun and cheese are not a common, this flavorful pair is as Jamaican as it gets.
The bun itself is not your typical level of sweetness, however, the addition of raisins, sultanas and the likes pack a punch of sweetness the loaf. I was pleased to see just how easy-to-follow the recipe is, but first, let’s dig a little into the history of the Jamaican Spiced Bun.
Origin of the Jamaican Spiced Bun
The story behind this aromatic bun is linked to the British hot cross bun. The British colonized Jamaica in the 1600s and brought with them the hot cross bun tradition especially during Easter. The Jamaicans then took this and modified it in their own unique way. The cheese part is especially a Jamaican invention.
While hot cross buns and the Jamaican spiced bun do not really bear any semblance, they both have similar ingredients.
Ingredients for making Jamaican Easter bun
As I mentioned, a good many of the ingredients used in traditional hot cross buns are also used in the spiced bun. But, there are also ingredients that are unique to the bun.
Stout
You can use any type of stout brand that you prefer. Stout gives this loaf a similar essence to rum fruit cake also part of Jamaican cuisine. I used the Guinness brand for this recipe because of its rich malt flavour.
Molasses & Honey
These are used in place of all the sugar-sweetness that is known to such recipes. Molasses is a product of crushed sugar-cane and has been said to be a much healthier option than refined sugar.
Recommended
Browning
There are many brands of browning. This ingredient is common in Jamaican cuisine, it is used to add that brown color to baked goods, stews, sauces etc. It adds the signature brown color to the Jamaican spiced bun. The more the browning, the darker your bun will be.
Vanilla Extract
Some vanilla essence adds another layer of flavor.
Brown Sugar
You can use either light or brown sugar.
Baking Powder
This is the only raising agent needed for this recipe.
Spices
These are a key part of the aromatic appeal the bun is known for. You need cinnamon, all-spice and ground nutmeg.
Dried Fruits
A combination of dried fruits are used such as sultanas, raisins etc. I have heard some people add shaved almonds to add a little crunch, different strokes for sure!
The ingredients are pretty much dump ‘n’ mix. The dry ingredients are sifted into the wet ingredients, mixed and transferred into a loaf pan. Yes, a loaf pan is what gives this bun its loaf shape. The bun is finished off with more raisins and if you like, some cherries.
Jamaican Spiced Bun Recipe
Equipment
- 1 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 330ml stout
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 2 teaspoon browning
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 egg
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mixed dried fruits raisins, currants, sultanas
Extras
- 3 tbsp softened butter to grease pan
- 2-3 tbsp water as needed
- 1 block cheddar cheese sliced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan with butter.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the stout, melted butter, molasses, browning, honey, egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Use a sieve to sift in the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt. Begin to mix, if too thick, you can add 1 tbsp of water.
- Fold in the dried fruits until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove the bun from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
The recipe was super helpful. I adpoted it in making what turned out to be really yummy. My kids loved the finished product. I defo recommend it.
Hello Olu, thanks for trying out the recipe!
Happy to hear your kids loved it too, we hope to keep delighting you and your family with our recipes.