Jamaican Easter Spice Bun Recipe

Cut slices of Jamaican Easter Bun, also popularly known as Spice Bun (or Spiced Bun), when it is not during Easter. Then, put a piece of slightly salty and creamy cheddar cheese (usually paired with Tastee cheese, a popular canned cheese in Jamaica) between the slices and make a sandwich. That’s a flavour you will never forget!

The aroma is instantly recognizable: a warm, inviting blend of sweet spices that promises a delicious taste. The texture is equally enticing, a soft, slightly dense crumbless with flavourful bursts of dried fruit. This is what the Jamaican Easter Bun is: a beloved snack, lunch, and sometimes dessert during the Lenten season. It is also a highlight of Good Friday celebrations in Jamaica.

How to Make Jamaican Easter Bun

The bun is usually a premade purchase, but there’s something magical about the aroma of freshly baked homemade Jamaican Easter Buns. The homemade treat makes a difference, creates timeless memories, and is an experience worth sharing.

Now, let’s dive into how you can make your own Jamaican spiced bun at home!

Ingredients for Jamaican Easter Bun

Spiced Bun Dry Ingredients :

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp Ginger Powder
• ½ tsp allspice
• ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients For The Stout Syrup:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 bottle Stout, 284 ml (e.g., Dragon Stout or Guinness)
• 1 Tbsp Browning ( dark Caramel)
• ¼ cup honey or molasses
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• 1 ½ tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1 Tbsp Guava Jam (use preferred jam, but optional)
• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 6 pieces cloves
• ¼ cup water

Add-Ins:

• ¼ cup White Rum (To soak raisins)
• ½ cup raisins (soaked in white rum); you can also add dried citrus peels and cherries
• ½ cup chopped mixed peel (or dried cherries)
• ¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)
• 2 tbsp red wine (optional for extra richness)

For the Glaze To Later Add To The Bun:

• 2 tbsp honey
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp Lime Juice
• Pinch of Salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Ingredients and Equipment for the Easter Bun

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter. Of course, a nonstick pan is even better, as you will not need to line it. This step ensures the bun doesn’t stick and can be easily lifted after baking.

Soak the raisins and dried fruit in red wine, white rum, or warm water for about 15 minutes to plump them up, then drain (you can add the drained liquid to the glaze to reduce wastage.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, and other dry ingredients in a large bowl. This ensures even distribution of the spices throughout the bun.

3. Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a separate saucepan over low heat, warm the stout, brown sugar, molasses, butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, jam and the other wet ingredients. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely.

4. Bring It All Together

Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until well combined.

Now, it is time to add the soaked fruits. If not already done, drain the fruits and lightly coat them in flour. The flour coating is a simple step that helps prevent the fruits from sinking to the bottom of the bun during baking, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Fold in the soaked raisins and mixed peel. Avoid overmixing—this keeps the bun moist and tender.

5. Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes clean.

You should start checking for doneness around the 60-minute mark. If the top is browning too quickly, you can loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

The top should be firm and crusty. However, do not worry; the glaze will soften the buns just like you are used to, traditionally.

Prepare The Glaze For the Spiced Easter Bun

While the bun is baking, prepare the glaze by combining the honey, water, and other ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring the combined liquids and ingredients to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for 2-3 minutes or until slightly thickened and syrupy. This simple glaze will add a touch of sweetness and a nice sheen to the finished bun.

Remove the Baked Easter Bun From The Oven

Once the bun is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before carefully lifting it using the parchment paper overhang and placing it on a wire rack to cool down a bit. Allowing the bun to cool slightly in the pan prevents it from breaking when transferred to the wire rack.

6. Apply the Glaze

While the bun is still slightly warm, brush the top generously with the prepared honey glaze. Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.

Pro Tips & Variations

• No Stout? Substitute with grape juice or a mix of brewed tea for a non-alcoholic version.
• For a Softer Texture, reduce baking time by a few minutes and cover loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.
• Want More Spice? Add a pinch more of ground ginger or clove for extra warmth.
• Dairy-Free? Use coconut oil instead of butter and a plant-based milk alternative.
• Experiment with different dried fruits based on your preference or what you have on hand. Dried cranberries, chopped dates, or apricots are excellent alternatives to raisins and cherries.

How to eat Jamaican Easter Bun (Serving Suggestions):

The classic way to enjoy an Easter Bun is with thick slices of Jamaican cheddar cheese, which balances the sweetness with a rich, savoury contrast.

The most common way to eat a Jamaican Easter Bun is with a slice of hard cheese, like Jamaican Tastee cheese or a sharp cheddar cheese. The salty cheese and sweet bun taste really good together. However, I have discovered that cream cheese is the best substitute for most Jamaicans’ Tastee cheese.

Other serving ideas include:

• Toasting slices with butter for a warm, caramelized flavour. Try making a grilled cheese sandwich with slices of the Easter bun instead of regular bread. It tastes surprisingly good! The toasted version is like French Toast.
• Pairing with cream cheese for a decadent twist.
• Enjoying with a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or a tall glass of milk.
• You can put avocado on a slice of warm bun for a different snack.
• Put a slice of warm bun with some ice cream or whipped cream and upgrade to a more luxurious dessert.

Storage & Reheating Tips

• Storage: Wrap the cooled bun in plastic wrap or foil and store at room temperature for up to 4 days. For more extended storage, refrigerate for up to two weeks.
• Freezing: Slice the bun, wrap each piece individually, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature or warm in the oven.
• Reheating: warm up slices in the microwave for about 15 to 30 seconds, but the texture might change slightly.

Spiced Bun Plays a Special Role During Easter.

While many Jamaicans eat spiced buns year-round, a more fruity version takes over the local shops, kitchens, pantries, and dining tables during the Easter holiday, boosting consumption. 

The Easter Bun is more aesthetically pleasing than the original spiced bun and is garnished with a beautiful and tasty arrangement of dried fruit and citrus peels.

This recipe will bring life to your kitchen with the fantastic aroma of spices that combine so well to create this masterpiece that our ancestors invented. It is an easy recipe for the family. 

You can even bond with your children and teach them how to make the recipe.

The best thing about the recipe is that no eggs are needed. So, this Spice Bun Recipe will fall into the vegan category.

Jamaican Easter Bun and Spiced Bun History

The story of the Jamaican Easter Bun begins with the arrival of the British in the mid-17th century. They brought the tradition of eating hot cross buns on Good Friday.

Over time, this tradition underwent a fascinating transformation on Jamaican soil. Local ingredients and preferences shaped the recipe, creating a familiar and distinctly Jamaican bun. Molasses, readily available in Jamaica, replaced honey as the primary sweetener, lending a rich, dark colour and a unique depth of flavour.

Generous dried fruits were incorporated, making the bun a substantial and festive treat. While reminiscent of those in hot cross buns, the spices often take on a slightly warmer and more pronounced profile in the Jamaican version.

While traditionally enjoyed during Easter, particularly on Good Friday, the Jamaican Easter Bun has become a year-round favourite. It is often paired with cheese as a satisfying snack or light meal. This combination of sweet and savoury flavours is a hallmark of Jamaican culinary tradition.  

To truly experience the joy of this iconic bake, the following recipe combines the best elements from various sources, offering a comprehensive guide to creating your own delicious Jamaican Easter Bun.

The Main Differences of Jamaican Eater Bun and Jamaican Spiced Bun

While the terms are often used interchangeably, subtle differences exist between the Jamaican Easter bun and the Jamaican Spiced bun, primarily related to tradition and ingredients.

Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

Jamaican Easter Bun	Jamaican Spiced Bun
Traditional: This is the name most commonly associated with the bun eaten during the Easter season in Jamaica, particularly around Good Friday.	General Term: This can be considered a broader term encompassing any spiced bun in Jamaica, including the Easter bun.
Ingredients: Recipes often include stout or red wine, molasses, browning, and a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. They’re also characterized by dried fruits like raisins and sometimes cherries.	Ingredients: The ingredients are very similar to an Easter bun, featuring spices, molasses, browning, and dried fruits. However, some variations might omit the stout or wine or use different types of dried fruit.
Shape: Typically baked in a loaf pan, resulting in a dense, dark-coloured loaf.	Shape: While the loaf shape is familiar, you might also find spiced buns in other shapes.
Serving: Traditionally served with a slice of cheese, often the processed “Tastee Cheese.”	Availability: While Easter buns are strongly associated with the Easter season, spiced buns are often available year-round in Jamaica.

In essence:

• Easter bun is a specific type of spiced bun traditionally eaten during Easter. It has a few characteristic ingredients, like stout and a loaf shape.  
• The spice bun is a more general term, and while it often refers to the same thing as the Easter bun, there might be slight variations depending on the baker or the time of year.

Therefore, while most Jamaican Easter buns are spiced buns, not all Jamaican spiced buns are necessarily Easter buns in the strictest traditional sense. However, the terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation to refer to the same delicious treat.

Final Thoughts: A Taste of Jamaican Heritage

Jamaican Easter Bun is a special bread that comes from Jamaica. It’s a tasty treat that people love to eat, especially during Easter. The spices, the sweet taste of molasses and honey, and the soft fruit make it so good.

Try making your own Jamaican Easter Bun, whether you’ve eaten it before or this is your first time hearing about it. It’s a fun way to bake something delicious for yourself and your family. We hope you enjoy making and eating this yummy bread!

Whether recreating childhood memories or experiencing this holiday favourite for the first time, this recipe brings the warmth and joy of a Jamaican Easter straight to your kitchen.

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Don’t forget to tag us on social media with your Easter Bun creations.

If you love traditional Jamaican flavours, check out our other island-inspired recipes for culinary adventures!