Coconut Bakes

Relaxing with a hot cup of herb tea is my idea of winding down from a long, stressful day at work. Complete that image by adding a slice of freshly baked Coconut Bread, or a soft, chewy Coconut Raisin Drop, each made with freshly grated coconut, plump raisins, and whole wheat flour. The smell alone of something baking with coconut is heavenly; the taste is even more amazing.



Coconut Bread, or Sweet Bread as it is referred to here, is almost a staple in Barbados. Our version is less sweet and more "nutty", but just as satisfying. Most Sweet Breads are sprinkled with granulated sugar before being baked to produce a bread with a crunchy topping. We leave that step out to reduce the amount of sugar being consumed. In our view, adding a generous amount of raisins to the bread provides enough natural fructose (fruit sugar) which complements the nutty coconut flavour. This tea bread is moist and flavourful and oh so Caribbean.


The Coconut Raisin Drops tend to go first when offered at my dessert table. It's really very hard to just consume one of these absolutely delightful mini-cakes. That is why I usually have to make a double batch whenever I have visitors stop by. We also make a White Chocolate Cranberry variety which is also terrific. Sampling one of each is definitely the way to go!

Banana Cranberry Walnut Bread

Banana bread is a staple in many homes, and everyone has their favourite recipes. My mother made banana bread whenever there were bananas in the house going ripe. In fact, she made it so often that we nicknamed her Nana Banana!

Adapting her recipe into a more wholesome variety by using whole wheat flour and canola oil, this version is really moist and delicious. In Barbados, I grow bananas in my home garden, and prefer to pick them fresh for baking then to buy them at the grocery. Bajan bananas are really sweet, imparting a natural sweetness to the bread. That means less sugar is needed in the batter.

Banana bread is so versatile that you can enhance it to make it more festive, which is ideal for the holidays. In this variety, roasted walnuts and dried cranberries are added to boost the flavour and add more texture. Before being added to the batter, whole walnuts are roasted in the oven to bring out the nutty flavour, and are then crushed into coarse pieces. For breakfast, tea time, or dessert, this luscious banana bread is perfect for any occasion.

Scones

Scones are best served warm from the oven. Made plain or with corn meal, our whole wheat scones are loaded with raisins, cranberries, or other fruits. They are a great alternative to breads at tea time or breakfast, and can be sweetened by adding your favourite jams with every bite. Our special Oatmeal Raspberry is made with organic oats and seedless raspberry jam, a variety that is sure to please!