Spiced Bun: A Traditional Jamaican Delicacy You Need to Try
Cut slices of Spiced bun, then put a piece of slightly salty and creamy cheddar cheese between the slices and make a sandwich. That’s a flavour you will never forget!
Jamaican Spiced Bun is a traditional Jamaican delicacy that is a must-have during Easter. The spiced bun is typically enjoyed with cheese. It is a sweet, dense, spiced cake-like bread made with molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices. Dragon Stout, a popular Jamaican beer, adds a rich and unique flavour to the bun.
Spiced bun plays a unique role during Easter.
While spiced bun is eaten by many Jamaicans year-round, a more fruity version of the spiced buns takes over the local shops, kitchens, pantries, and dining tables during the Easter holiday. As a result, consumption is boosted during the Easter holidays.
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.
Spiced Bun History
The history of Jamaican Easter Bun can be traced back to the days of slavery when enslaved Africans were given rations of flour and molasses by their masters. They would combine these ingredients with spices to create a tasty bun they would eat during their celebrations. Today, the Jamaican Easter Bun is enjoyed all over Jamaica and symbolizes the island’s rich cultural heritage.
Ingredients
For The Stout Syrup (Liquid Ingredients)
- 1 bottle Dragon Stout (284 ml) (use preferred stout )
- 1 ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Browning ( dark Caramel)
- 1 Tbsp Honey
- 1 Tbsp Guava Jam (use preferred jam)
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 1 ½ Tsp Vanilla Extract
- ½ piece Star Anise
- 6 pieces cloves
- ¼ piece mace
- ¼ cup water
Spiced Bun Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups All-Purpose flour
- ½ Tsp Salt
- 2 Tbsp Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon Powder
- 1 Tsp Ginger Powder
- ¼ Tsp All Spice powder
- ¼ Tsp Coriander Powder
For the glaze:
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- ¼ cup water
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Tbsp Lime Juice
- 2 Tbsp Guava Jam
- Pinch of Salt
Rum Soaked Raisins
- ¼ cup White Rum (To soak raisins)
- ½ cup Raisin (soaked in white rum); you can also add dried citrus peels and cherries
Instructions:
- Soak Raisins Overnight
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Except for the stout, Combine all the liquid ingredients in a pot and simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove from heat.
- Strain the liquid into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the stout to the liquid ingredients and mix well to make the Dragon Stout syrup.
- Mix the flour and the other dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Combine the dry ingredients with the Dragon Stout syrup. Mix until there are no dry areas in the batter.
- Add the raisins to the batter and stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a greased baking tin and bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the bun is baking, prepare the glaze by mixing all of its ingredients in a small saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes until the glaze thickens.
- Once the bun is done, remove it from the oven and brush the glaze over the top.
- Allow the bun to cool before serving. Enjoy with cheese!
Flavour and Texture
Jamaican Easter Bun with Dragon Stout has a rich and deep flavour, thanks to the combination of molasses, spices, and stout. The texture is dense and moist, with chewy bits of raisins, mixed peel, and cherries throughout.
The Jamaican Easter Bun is a delicious and meaningful dish deeply rooted in Jamaican culture. With this recipe, you can bring a taste of Jamaica into your home and celebrate the Easter season authentically.
