Johnny Cake from The Bahamas

Johnny Cake is a dense, biscuit-textured bread from The Bahamas made with flour, sugar, milk and baking powder. Johnny Cake is best served warm with jam and butter or for breakfast with slices of cheese.

Recipe Origins

Johnny Cake is a traditional recipe of the Bahamas that can be found across the islands. It is often served in local restaurants and can be bought by the loaf at local bakeries as well! 

Though the word “cake” in the name implies that this recipe will be sweet, this is actually not normally the case. I like to think about this recipe as a mix between a dense biscuit and a scone, with just a touch of sweetness.

It is an incredibly versatile food and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dessert. 

History of Johnny Cake 

It’s unclear exactly where the origin story of Johnny Cake begins, though a good guess is within Native American/Indigenous tribes in North America. 

Many indigenous tribes used the abundant corn plants to make round cakes made of cornmeal called janiken. It is expected that European settlers saw this practice and brought it to the Bahamas. 

It is also expected that this recipe came about from the mid-Atlantic slave trade! At the time, the recipe was called Journey Cake, because it was made on the long journey from Africa to America. It was a perfect recipe for travel because it could be made with dry ingredients and cooked on an open fire. 

The Bahamas received the recipe (and changed the name) likely around 1780 when the American War for Independence caused American citizens/slaveholders to flee the country and arrive in the Bahamas with their slaves, who brought the recipe with them. 

Why Make this Recipe

1. “Travel” to the Bahamas: The Bahamas is an absolutely beautiful country to visit. The beaches are beautiful and the food there is just delicious! If you want to visit the Bahamas but aren’t able to, making this recipe at home will give you a feeling that you are there. 
2. Made with Pantry Staples: We all know those days that we want to bake but just don’t want to leave our houses. This recipe is so simple, and can be made with ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry at home!

What Ingredients are in this Recipe

1. Dry Ingredients: Granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder
2. Butter: I use unsalted butter. Leave it out for a few hours before baking so that it is softened and at room temperature
3. Milk: I use 2% milk, but you can use whatever you have on hand. 

How to Make this Recipe

Step 1: Make the Dough 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. 

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until combined. 

Add the flour, water, salt, and baking powder to the bowl and mix with a hand mixer.

Add the milk slowly until the batter is slightly sticky, mixing by hand with a wooden spoon. 

Step 2: Knead the Dough 

Dust your hands with flour. Transfer the dough from the bowl to a greased 9×9 pan. Gently flatten the dough into the pan (you can also use a round pan or a cast iron skillet). 

Step 3: Bake

Bake the cake for approximately 1 hour, or until the edges are browned. It will not rise much. 

Let the Johnny Cake cook for several minutes before cutting into it. Enjoy! 

Expert Tips 

• I’ve found that eating johnny cake at room temperature is not normally conducive to a delicious experience. Instead, heat it up in the microwave. Add a little bit of butter and then jam (Papaya Jam and orange marmalade are my favorite options). You will love how much softer and more delicious your snack gets!
• This recipe calls for a circle or square, glass pan. The traditional method is actually to use a cast iron skillet (in the oven). If you have a cast iron skillet at your disposal, this is a great way to cook the recipe. 
• Bake some coconut into the recipe to add a bit of sweetness 

Recipe FAQs

How Should I Store Johnny Cake? 

To store the cake, wrap it up in wax paper first. Then, wrap that wax paper in aluminum foil! 

You can keep the cake on the counter at room temperature for up to a week. Once the cake begins to harden or turn stale, throw it out. 

How Should I Cut the Johnny Cake? 

You can cut the cake into wedges and serve them warm!

Some good ways to enjoy Johnny Cake are: 

• Warm with butter and jam 
• Used to soak up broths or soups at dinner time
• Served with slices of cheddar cheese as a lunchtime snack. 

How Is this Recipe Different From Other Johnny Cakes I Have Seen? 

The Bahamas is not the only country that is famous for its Johnny Cakes. In fact, many countries have a dish by this name but they are not all made the same. 

In the Bahamas, the recipe is cooked either in an oven or on the stove. However, other countries it can be typical to fry the cakes instead of baking them. 

Additionally, Bahamian Johnny Cake is made using all-purpose flour. In other countries, including the United States, Jamaica, Colombia, and more, the recipe features cornmeal as its main ingredient. 

This version of the cake is much thicker than the recipes in other countries, such as South and Central America. In those regions, the cakes are cooked on a griddle and are much thinner than the slices you see here. 

Did you enjoy this recipe for Johnny Cake from The Bahamas? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you: 

• Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
• Pigeon Peas and Rice from The Bahamas
• Bahama Mama from The Bahamas 
• Rum Cake Recipe from The Bahamas 
• Plantain Chips from The Bahamas 
• Coconut Bread Recipe from The Bahamas