So, you love bread? How about Bajan sweet bread? If you are among those people who love eating bread then this one is worth trying. However, there are essential things that you must learn about this kind of bread.
In fact, you will be surprised of the secret behind this delicacy. But, do you know what this kind of bread is? Well, if you want to know, continue reading this article.
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What is Bajan Sweet Bread?
Also referred as coconut bread, Bajan sweet bread is a popular delicacy found in Barbados. This is considered as the Barbadian version of banana bread that uses grated coconut than using a banana.
Some other ingredients which might be added are butter, flour, and raisins.In addition, this kind of bread is indeed special in Barbados which is often baked on Christmas holidays. You might also find this bread in some grocery stores, bakeries and also at each cake sale in the country.
What Makes It Special?
And don’t you know that Bajan sweet bread is considered as a special kind of bread? Well, unlike other pastries, it will give you a taste of sweet coconut goodness. Once it is served warm, you might see a cluster of coconut huddled in the center if you cut the bread into slices. And to add more texture and flavor, there will be a crispy rugged crust on top.
So, you think that it has a tough crust? Well, you are definitely wrong! In fact, the crust will crumble and snap easily in one’s mouth leaving nothing but the flavor that will swarm to your senses. Once you eat this bread, it would fuse a soft crispy crust along with raisins as well as warm gentle shreds of the sweet coconut.
Special Ingredients
So, what do you think is the secret behind this best Bajan sweet bread that almost everyone loves? Indeed, these are dried fruits including mixed peel, raisins and cherries. You might be fooled due to its appearance but worry not since they are nutritious like their fresh counterparts.
Raisins | Raisins are known as dried grapes that are packed with fiber which could help in relieving constipation. They also contain high levels of catechins helpful in preventing cancer. And there is also a fact that raisins might as well help in reducing blood pressure. |
Mixed Peels | These are known to be dried lemon and orange peels. Mixed peels contain high levels of fiber and Vitamin C. You might also get some traces of B-Vitamins, Calcium, and Magnesium. |
Dried Cherries | Dried cherries contain anthocyanin components which give anti-inflammatory effects on one’s body. They as well contain flavonoids that are known in preventing cardiovascular disease as well as certain forms of cancer. |
Indeed, these special ingredients are the secrets for you to enjoy and savor the best Bajan sweet bread.
How to make Bajan Sweet Bread? Best Recipes to Make
If ever you are not in Barbados, and you can’t find this bread in the nearby store or supermarket, you can still experience how good it is right at the comfort of your home. Here are some of the best recipes to make Bajan sweet recipe:
Homemade Bajan Sweet Bread
There is a need for you to prepare the following ingredients:
- Half pound of flour
- Three ounces of margarine
- ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
- Two teaspoons of baking powder
- Half teaspoon of almond essence
- A cup of milk
- Half cup of dried fruits
- Half cup of grated coconut
- Two teaspoons of baking powder
- Three ounces of sugar
Homemade Bajan sweet bread
Procedure:
STEP 1 | Put the baking powder, nutmeg, and flour in the mixer. Mix them and add the margarine. |
STEP 2 | Now, add the three ounces of sugar once the mixture becomes like fine breadcrumbs. You also have to add the dried fruits, almond essence, milk and the grated coconut. |
STEP 3 | Once it is firm, take out the dough from the mixer. |
STEP 4 | Put it in the loaf pan and in the preheated oven. It must be about 350 degrees. |
STEP 5 | You now have to bake it for around 45 minutes. It must be brown. |
STEP 6 | And finally, serve it the moment it cools down together with a cup of coffee or tea. |
The Bajan Sweet Bread
There is a need for you to prepare the following ingredients:
- A teaspoon of baking powder
- Four cups of flour
- ¾ cup of sugar
- Half cup of margarine
- A teaspoon of sea salt
- 2 ½ freshly grated coconut
- A teaspoon of shortening
- A cup of raisins
- An egg1 ¼ cups of evaporated milk
- A teaspoon of almond essence
The Bajan sweet bread via I'm addicted to cooking
Procedure:
STEP 1 | Preheat the oven up to 350 degrees. You should use the teaspoon of shortening to grease the loaf pans. |
STEP 2 | Now, combine the baking powder, salt, coconut, raisins, and flour in the bowl. |
STEP 3 | After that, you add the margarine, egg, almond essence and the milk. To make a firm dough, you need to mix them well. |
STEP 4 | Then, cut the dough in halves and fill the pans. |
STEP 5 | Mix two tablespoons of sugar and a tablespoon of water and use this mixture for brushing the dough. |
STEP 6 | You now have to put them at the center of the oven then bake for around an hour. Make sure that the skewer would come out clean.Finally, allow the pans to cool prior to removing the bread. |
Bajan Coconut Bread
There is a need for you to prepare the following ingredients:
- Four cups of flour
- A teaspoon of baking powder
- 2 ½ cups of freshly grated coconut
- A cup of raisins
- ½ cup of butter or margarine
- A teaspoon of sea salt
- ¾ cup of sugar
- An egg
- A teaspoon of almond essence
- A teaspoon of shortening
- 1 ¼ cups of evaporated milk
How to make coconut sweet bread via Caribbean Pot
Procedure:
STEP 1 | First, preheat the oven up to 350 degrees. You have to use the shortening in greasing the pans. |
STEP 2 | Next is to grate the coconut, beat the egg and melt the butter. Then, combine the sugar, raisins, baking powder, flour and the salt in the bowl. |
STEP 3 | You now have to add the egg, almond essence, margarine and milk and mix them all up until you have a firm dough. |
STEP 4 | Cut this dough in half and place it in the loaf pan. With warm water and sugar, make a glaze and use this to brush over the bread. |
STEP 5 | For about an hour, you need to bake the loaves. Once there is an inserted skewer, it must come out clean. You can use either a knife or for as a skewer. |
STEP 6 | And finally, let the loaves cool in the pans prior to taking them out and serve. |
Eggless Coconut Bread
There is a need for you to prepare the following ingredients:
- A cup of brown sugar
- Three cups of flour
- ¼ cup of milk
- A teaspoon of spice
- A cup of grated coconut
- A teaspoon of nutmeg
- A pinch of salt
- ¼ cup of butter
- ½ cup of currants
- A teaspoon of vanilla essence
- A cup of raisins
- ½ cup of cherries
- Three teaspoons of baking powder
The eggless coconut bread via I'm addicted to cooking
Procedure:
STEP 1 | First is to combine the vanilla, grated coconut and the sugar in a bowl. Add a butter into the mixture using a fork. |
STEP 2 | You need to sift the flour in the different bowl, the nutmeg, spice, the nutmeg and the salt together.Into the sifted flour, add now the mixture together with the grated coconut. |
STEP 3 | Pour the milk and add the vanilla essence. To make a soft dough, mix the mixture. You can add milk in terms of preventing the dough from the idea of drying. |
STEP 4 | Now, add the currants, cherries, and raisins in the dough. |
STEP 5 | You have to cut the dough and put it in the loaf pans. Bake them for about an hour in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius. The skewer should come out clean. |
STEP 6 | And when it is ready, let it cool for a couple of minutes before serving. |
How to Store Homemade Bajan Sweet Bread?
Now that you have learned how to make your own Bajan sweet bread, why not learn to store them properly in order to make them last longer.
Once you like to store this bread at room temperature, you need to wrap it with the use of plastic bag as for keeping the air out. This air will dry the bread a lot faster and will make it crumbly. And you can keep the bread on the counter not more than three days.
Knowing that this bread utilizes freshly grated coconut, you can keep this longer through storing it in the fridge and in an airtight sealed container. You might also keep the Bajan sweet bread longer for almost three months in the freezer. The only thing you need to do is to put the bread in the freezer bag.
And to serve frozen bread, you have to thaw it first in the oven. Do this by wrapping the bread in the foil and warming it in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for around 20 minutes.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, Bajan sweet bread is a special treat to have during holidays since it tastes like a cake along with dried fruits and a crispy and soft crust. Though you are not in Barbados, the included recipes could be considered in order to enjoy this special treat. You can watch this to learn how to make coconut bread.
Let us know your thoughts about this bread in the comments section below! Hit like and share if the article is helpful and interesting! Thank you!
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