Jamaican Easter Spice Bun with Cheese
Local name: Spice bun
In short: Dark, sticky loaf of dried fruit, molasses and warm spices, sliced thick and eaten with a wedge of cheese at Easter in Jamaica. It takes about 1 h 35 min in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h 10 min
- Total
- 1 h 35 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 400 kcal
Spice bun is the Jamaican Easter treat, a dark, moist loaf packed with raisins and mixed fruit and flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and molasses. It is traditionally eaten in thick slices with slices of mild yellow cheese, a pairing that surprises visitors and wins over most of them. The salty, creamy cheese sets off the sticky sweetness. This version is a simple stirred batter with a splash of stout and no yeast, so there is no rising time.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Grease a 23 x 13 cm (9 x 5 inch) loaf pan and line it with parchment.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt together in a bowl.
- Beat the butter, brown sugar and molasses for 3 minutes until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.
- Stir in the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the stout and milk. Fold in the dried fruit.
- Scrape the batter into the pan and level the top. Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean and the top is dark and cracked.
- Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Slice when cool and serve with the cheese.
Tips
- For an even moister bun, soak the dried fruit in the stout for 30 minutes first and add the fruit and liquid to the batter together.
- Wrapped well, the bun keeps for 5 days at room temperature and improves after a day. A toasted, buttered slice is very good.
Questions and answers
Why is cheese eaten with Easter bun?
In Jamaica the pairing is simply the tradition. The salty, creamy cheese offsets the dark, sweet bun, and mild yellow cheddar or processed cheese slices are typical.
Can I make spice bun without alcohol?
Yes. Replace the stout with strong black tea plus 1 tablespoon of extra molasses. The flavor will be a little lighter.
Can I freeze Easter bun?
Yes. Wrap the loaf or slices tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature, or toast slices straight from the freezer.
How long does it take to make Jamaican Easter Spice Bun with Cheese?
About 1 h 35 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Jamaican Easter Spice Bun with Cheese?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 430 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
