Jamaican Spice Bun Rolls

Its almost Easter in Jamaica and what I love to call 'Easter Bun Holiday'. There is so much Easter Bun to choose from Stout Buns, Yeast Buns and some thats neither.
So with my love for Buns and Cinnamon Rolls I decided to try a fusion. They are awesome. Give them a try and let me know if you love them too.

50 Jamaican Dishes

This year Jamaica celebrates 50 years of independence and we are counting down our top 50 Jamaican dishes.

1. Cornmeal Porridge
2. Hominey Corn Porridge
3. Green Banana/Plantain Porridge
4. Peanut Porridge
5. Stamp and Go (Saltfish Fritters)
6. Solomon Gundy
7. Janga (Crayfish) Soup
8. Mannish Water (Goat Head Soup)
9. Pepperpot Soup
10. Pumpkin Beef Soup
11. Fish Tea
12. Red Peas Soup
13.  Rice and Peas
14. Jerked Chicken
15. Jerked Pork
16. Jerked Sausage
17. Steamed Fish
18. Roast Fish
19. Escovitched Fish
20. Run Dung
21. Peppered Shrimp
22. Ackee and Saltfish
23. Curried Shrimp/Conch
24. Curried Goat
25. Cow Foot and Beans
26. Tripe and Beans
27. Stew Peas
28.  Beef Patty
29. Roast Breadfruit
30. Pumpkin/Callaloo Rice
31. Boiled Dumplings
32. Callaloo
33. Festivals
34. Bammy
35. Pressed Plantatin
36. Roast Yam and Saltfish
37. Fried Dumplings
38. Vegetable Salad
39. Cornmeal Pudding
40. Sweet Potato Pudding
41. Duckunoo
42. Toto
43. Rock Buns
44. Coconut Drops
45. Grater Cake
46. Plantain Tart
47. Fruit Cake
48. Bulla
49. Gratto
50. Hard Dough Bread
51. Spice Bun

Jamaican Grater Cake

Grater cake, Pink Top, Pink on Top, Pink pon top is a traditional Jamaican confection. This was a common school gate snack along with coconut drops. Fresh coconuts were widely available and people just used what they had. 

Ingredients

4 cups grated coconut

2 cups granulated sugar
½ tsp Strawberry flavoring
½ tsp peppermint essence
Method

1. Peel the brown part from the coconut leaving only the white meat.
2. Grate the coconut. Into a pot add, coconut and sugar. Cook on a low flame until coconut pulls away from the sides of the pot. DO NOT LET IT BROWN.
3. Reserve some of the coconut mixture, and add flavouring and colouring. Add the peppermint essence to the remainder.
4. Spread white mixture in a greased baking pan (8*8*5) . Spread colored mixture on top.
5. Cool, cut into squares. Store in a cool covered container in a cool dry place

*They dont usually last long so I cant say how long they can stay out.

Jamaican Coconut Drops

 

2 cups diced coconut

1 tbsp powered ginger or 1 tsp grated root

1 tsp vanilla (optional)

1 cup lb brown sugar

1 pinch salt

Combine all ingredients adding about ½ to ¾ cup water to cook coconut. 

Boil about 20-30 minutes on low heat in a heavy bottom pan.

Stir well. When it reaches to caramel stage, test a small portion.Should be like Pralines

Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased tin sheet or greased paper

Yields 12