Bajan Sweet Bread

Name: Bajan Sweet Bread
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups Coconut; 1/2 cup Melted Butter; 4 cups Flour; 1 tablespoon Shortening; 1 tablespoon Baking Powder; 1 tsp Salt; 3/4 cup Sugar; 1 cup Raisins; 1 beaten Egg; 1 1/4 cup Evaporated Milk; 1 tsp Almond Essence

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Here is a straightforward way to make Bajan Sweet Bread at home, with a clear ingredient list and step-by-step instructions you can follow without guesswork. Most of the time is hands-off while the oven does its thing, which makes it an easy one to fit around other dishes. Read through the tips before you start — a couple of small details go a long way with this one.

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Bajan Sweet Bread — Side recipe — Bajan Sweet Bread

Level Hard

Ingredients

2 ½ cup Coconut
½ cup Melted Butter
4 cup Flour
1 tbsp Shortening
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
¾ cup Sugar
1 cup Raisins
1 Beaten Egg
1 ¼ cup Evaporated Milk
1 tsp Almond Essence

Method

Add all the flour, baking powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
Melt the butter in a saucepan.
Mix the coconut and most of the sugar in another bowl – leave some back to cover the loaves later, raisins, egg, milk, almond essence, vanilla essence, and melted butter.
Mix well until you have a creamy paste.
Add this to the bowl with the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until you form a stiff dough.
Now divide the mixture between the baking tins.
Now boil the water.
Mix two tablespoons of sugar with some hot water and brush the top of each loaf.
Bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour.
Leave to cool in tins before serving; slice and serve with a fresh pot of tea.

Tips for the best Bajan Sweet Bread

Rest the finished dish for a few minutes before serving — it lets the flavours settle and the texture firm up.
Preheat the oven fully before anything goes in — a cold start changes the texture.
Taste as you go. Seasoning at the end is fine, but adjusting halfway through gives a more balanced result.
Use a kitchen scale for the dry ingredients if you have one — baking is less forgiving than cooking.

Variations

Spicier version: add a pinch of chilli flakes or a sliced fresh chilli with the aromatics.
Vegetable boost: stir in a handful of spinach, peas or diced peppers in the last few minutes of cooking.
Individual portions: divide into ramekins or a muffin tin and reduce the baking time by about a third.

Serving ideas

Serve slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a spoon of thick cream.

Storage

Keeps in an airtight container at room temperature for 2–3 days, or refrigerated for up to a week. Most versions freeze well for 2 months.

Frequently asked questions

What can I substitute for coconut?

Any ingredient with a similar texture and cooking time works; see the variations below for ideas. Keep quantities the same and adjust seasoning at the end.

Can I make Bajan Sweet Bread ahead of time?

Yes. It actually improves after a few hours, so make it earlier in the day and reheat gently before serving.

Is this Bajan Sweet Bread recipe hard to make?

It is rated hard: 11 ingredients and 10 steps. Follow the order and the tips above and it is very forgiving.

Recipe data via TheMealDB — source