With the Easter weekend just a few days away, we’ve decided to tell you today about a traditional treat for this time of year… though not from our own country. We’re talking about the Jamaican Easter Spice Bun.

We could describe it as the ‘Caribbean take’ on the Easter bun or hot cross bun, but that would be an oversimplification and wouldn’t do justice to this truly intriguing treat.

The origins of the Jamaican Easter Spice Bun: a touch of history

Like its distant European relative, the Jamaican Easter Spice Bun is typical of the Easter period; it is eaten mainly on Good Friday and Easter Monday, accompanied by cheese.

It is believed that the origins of this sweet date back to the 17th century when missionaries introduced the Hot Cross Bun to the island.

The recipe was adapted and reworked according to local tradition and has gradually evolved over time, to the extent that the current, popular version today includes Guinness among its main ingredients! The famous dark beer.

Over time, the bun has become increasingly popular, and as it strikes us as one of those delights that a spice lover should try at least once in their lifetime, we thought we’d share it with you.

What spices are used in the Jamaican Easter Bun?

To make the spiced Jamaican bun, you will need: nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and, of course, Jamaican allspice.
Other ingredients in the bun include the aforementioned Guinness, molasses, oil and butter, browning sauce (a typical Jamaican sauce that’s fairly easy to make), candied fruit, raisins, honey, maraschino cherries, brown sugar, eggs, flour and a pinch of salt. 
For the method and exact quantities, please refer to the recipe published on Jamdown Foodie, a blog dedicated to Jamaican cuisine and traditional recipes.

What do you think? Will you give it a go?