These Barbadian Bakes are made by combining flour, sugar, water, and some spices to make a dough. Fry the dough in oil, and… that’s it. You have an absolutely mouth-watering dessert in under 10 minutes. And a tiny taste of Barbados!
Hello Reader! I try my hardest to research recipes as best as I can before posting to ensure I am representing each culture correctly. If this recipe is from your country and I have made a mistake or you have suggestions for how to make it more authentic, I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below letting me know what should be different, and I will rework the recipe. It is always my intention to pay homage and respect to each cultural dish that I cook. Thanks for reading!
I’m just going to say this before we move on. Today, my brother bit into these Barbadian Bakes and said “wow… I think this is the best recipe you’ve ever made for The Foreign Fork.”
He later edited himself to say, “well, that’s a lie… You’ve had some pretty awesome meat dishes. But this is definitely the best Foreign Fork dessert I’ve ever had.”
You wanna try it now…. Right?? And you should.
So What is This Magic Recipe??
These Barbados bakes are EASY. AS. PIE. to make and they are sooo good. They taste a little bit like donuts without being overly sweet. They resemble– both in look and in taste– mini elephant ears. Sweet, fried balls of dough in under 10 minutes. Seriously, what more could you ask for?
This recipe came from the blog The Crane.com, but it matches almost every other recipe for Bakes that I have ever seen. So simple, people. Flour, sugar, spices, and water. Then you fry them in some corn oil for about 3 minutes on each side, and you have yourself a delicious, sweet snack.
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Barbadian Bakes…. Breakfast or Dessert?
My Michigander tastes have been comparing these Bakes to foods that we eat as dessert in America… donuts, elephant ears, etc.
In Barbados, though, these Bakes are typically enjoyed as a breakfast food.
They can be served with butter, jam, or powdered sugar, or you can enjoy them plain. Because of my elephant ear analogy, butter didn’t seem like the right option. Powdered sugar was getting better, but still not quite right.
But the jam? Oh my goodness, warm Barbadian Bake with a spoonful of jam? I’ll gobble that up all day long.
Plain is fantastic as well. Be creative! If you want to try serving them with some cheese, do it! That could be just as delicious, too.
If you liked this Barbadian Bake recipe, also check out this Coconut Bimini Bread from The Bahamas or this Kaiserschmarrn from Austria. Both compare to this dish by being delicious, sweet foods that us Americans would love to enjoy as dessert. If you make this recipe, tag @TheForeignFork on Facebook or Instagram or hashtag #TheForeignFork. LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE PLEASE! You’ll make me so happy.
Bakes (Barbados)
Equipment
- Oven Mitt
- Frying Pan
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 – 1 ½ cups water
- corn oil for frying
Instructions
- Combine all of the dry ingredients together.
- Add the vanilla to the mixture, and a little water at a time until a runny dough (similar to pancake batter) is formed.
- Heat some oil in a frying pan or cast iron skillet. Only put about ¼ inch of oil or so in the pan, as we don't want the oil coming over the top of the bake when you drop the batter in. If it does this, carefully remove some oil from the pan.
- Grab a spoon and, scooping up some batter, drop it into the heated oil in the pan. The bake should bubble and rise. Once it's browned on one side, flip it over and allow it to cook on the other side.
- Remove the bake from the oil and leave on a paper tower lined plate to remove excess oil. Enjoy with powdered sugar, butter, jelly, or plain.
Sukie Clarke says
As a Bajan descendant I can attest to the authenticity of this Recipe for Bajan bakes, which I have been cooking and eating for 39 years! Thank you for posting on Foreign Fork website. Its wonderful to see something I love available to anyone in the World!
Alexandria Drzazgowski says
Hi Sukie, this comment made me so happy! I’m glad you enjoy and approve of the recipe 🙂
margaret waithe says
I have shared your recipe with my family in New York and California. We are making these almost every week. Thanks again. Be blessed.
The Foreign Fork says
I am so glad that you like this recipe, Margaret! Thank you for the comment and rating 🙂
Margaret says
Excellent, I was looking for a recipe like this for a very long time. My mother use to make these for us almost every morning along with salt fish cakes for breakfast before school.
The Foreign Fork says
Hi Margaret, Yay! It makes me so happy that this recipe reminds you of breakfast with your mom 🙂 Thanks for the review! enjoy it.
Cher says
This recipe was perfect. Tasted like home!
The Foreign Fork says
Cher, this is the highest compliment I can receive on my blog. I’m so glad you liked it!