This homemade Jamaican Easter Bun recipe is all you need to get you through the season

Easter always comes with a lot of planning and celebrations. For the over 2 billion Christians in the world, Easter symbolizes the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion and is preceded by the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and repentance.

Many of us have the desire to be with our extended families and friends during this period but we are stuck indoors and practicing social distancing in order to save ourselves from the novel coronavirus.

Most families are now looking for alternative ways to observe the holidays. From across the world, food plays a special role in Easter celebrations.

That is why we would want you to try the Easter bun and cheese, a delicacy which is primarily taken in Jamaica. The delicacy dates back to England, where cross buns were made and consumed on Good Friday with the cross serving as a symbol of the crucifixion.

Even though the custom of eating hot cross buns on Good Friday has diminished in Britain, the tradition is still prevalent in Jamaica, where locals have adapted it to suit their tastes. The Jamaican delicacy is made from a spiced bun with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, filled with raisins, currants and dried fruit, eaten with cheese.

Here’s how to make the sweet treat which you can share with family during the Easter holidays:

Ingredients:

• ½ lb Raisins
• 2 ozs. Currants
• 2 ozs Mixed Peel
• 1 small bottle Stout
• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder
• 7 ozs Brown Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 2 tbsp Corn Syrup
• 1 tsp Grated Nutmeg
• 1 tsp Ground Anise
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 2 tsp Vanilla

Instructions:

1. Combine raisins, currants and mixed peel.  Pour the bottle of stout over the fruits, cover and soak overnight.
2. In a large bowl, combine the soaked fruits and all other ingredients. Mix well with a large spoon.
3. Pour batter into a greased loaf tin. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for about 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in middle comes out clean.
4. Cool completely and serve!