Discover the most popular traditional Jamaican puddings and make them at home with our recipes.
1. Jamaican Ginger Cake
The ginger cake is one of my guilty pleasures, and even though it is common to have at Christmas, I could eat it year-round. This cake is inspired by the classic Mcvities Jamaican ginger cake, sticky, sweet and delicious. Homemade is much better as you avoid all those artificial nasties that are added to commercial cakes. Make sure not to overcook the cake; otherwise, it may become dry. Serve this yummy pudding cold with hot custard or hot with ice cream. This cake is an excellent alternative to gingerbread men as the flavours are similar, but the ginger cake can be made in less time.
Not everyone likes Christmas cake with raisins, fruit peel and brandy cream, so why not try out this lovely ginger Christmas cake? It is moist, delicious, and a great alternative on Christmas day. You can serve it with custard, cream, ice cream or have it with a cup of tea/coffee. The method is easy, and I assure you, it will be used for many years to come. It doesn't have to be just a christmas cake, it can be used all year round, it really is a special treat to have as a family, due to the use of ginger and all spice it will leave your tummy feeling warm and cosy.
Ingredients for jamaican ginger cake
- Soft butter (65g)
- Room temperature egg (1)
- Treacle (115ml)
- Sugar (50g)
- Plain flour (150g)
- Bicarbonate of soda (1 tsp)
- Ground cinnamon (1 tsp)
- Ground ginger (1 tsp)
- Salt (1/2 tsp)
- Hot water (125ml)
How to make Jamaican ginger cake
Start by preheating the oven to gas mark 4 and grease a square tin around 9 inch. Then in a large mixing bowl, mix butter and sugar, add in the egg and treacle. Put the flour, bicarb, salt, cinnamon and ginger in another bowl, then pour the mixture into the other bowl and mix well. Stir in hot water and pour into the prepared baking tray. Cook for 1 hour until cooked through, then serve with cream, custard or ice cream and enjoy!
2. Jamaican Porridge
Porridge is popular worldwide; it is eaten plain with a little honey or syrup in England. Italians eat it with brown butter and cinnamon sugar. In China, they eat a porridge made from rice called congee, which differs from oat porridge.
Jamaican porridge is sweet, smooth, and spiced with whole grated nutmeg and cinnamon. This porridge is sometimes made with cornmeal as it is smooth in texture. Cornmeal porridge is recommended by doctors in Jamaica for babies as their first food after milk. Porridge originated in Scotland to be eaten during the cold months. It was brought to Africa by Scottish migrants, and the people of jamaica made regular porridge special. This recipe serves 4.
Ingredients for Jamaican porridge- Porridge oats (150g)
- Milk (600ml)
- Condensed milk or evaporated milk (400g)
- Ground nutmeg (1/2 tsp)
- Almond essence (1 tsp)
- Vanilla essence (1 tsp)
- Ground cinnamon (1/2 tsp)
- Salt (1/2 tsp)
How to make Jamaican porridge
Pour 600 ml of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce the heat. Add the oats and 200 ml of the milk to a bowl, give it a mix then transfer to the blender and blitz until smooth.
Slowly add the oat mixture to the pan stirring constantly for about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the milk, the condensed milk, ground nutmeg, almond essence, vanilla essence, cinnamon and salt and heat for a few minutes and serve warm.
Jamaican rum cake is also known as black cake, this is a rich, spiced fruitcake soaked in rum.
4. Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding
This is one of the most traditional Jamaican puddings. It's a staple at many Jamaican gatherings and is known for its rich flavor and dense texture.
5. Jamaican Cornmeal Pudding
Another classic, this pudding is popular for its creamy consistency and is often enjoyed at special occasions and family gatherings.
6. Jamaican Cassava Pudding
Made with cassava, this pudding is also quite traditional and features a unique texture and flavor that is distinctively Jamaican.
7. Jamaican Bread Pudding
While not as traditional as the first three, it’s still quite popular and is often served in Jamaican homes, especially when using leftover bread.
Jamaican Desserts (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is Jamaican ginger cake suitable for freezing?
Yes this ginger cake is suitable for freezing. After cooking allow it to cool then freeze straight away, consume within 2 months.
Can you eat Jamaican ginger cake cold?
You can eat Jamaican ginger cake hot or cold, we like it cold with a coffee or hot with custard or ice cream!
Which company makes ginger cake?
There are many companies that make and sell Jamaican ginger cake but McVities Jamaican ginger cake is considered the original best cake and is known for its moist sweet loaf cake.
Is Jamaican Porrridge Vegan?
As Jamaican porridge contains condensed milk it is not suitable for vegans. You can make a dairy free alternative by using a plant based milk instead of cows milk.
Is Jamaican Porridge healthy?
Due to the high sugar from the condensed milk, Jamaican porridge is not considered the healthiest, however you can change the amounts to reduce the sugar and use a lower fat milk to make it healthier.
What is the history of Jamaican Porridge?
There are different varieties of porridge all around the world. The first porridge to ever exist came from China in the form of rice porridge and quinoa porridge. After that porridge from oats was created in Scotland. Jamaican porridge was invented and passed down to the Caribbean during slavery times.
How long can I store Jamaican Porridge?
You can store Jamaican porridge for up to three days in the refrigerator however it is best eaten on the day that it is prepared to enjoy it at its best.
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