Jamaican Spice Bun Recipe

1. Soak the cranberries, raisins and cherries in 1 cup of the beer and set aside for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°F, grease an 8x4 loaf pan, and set aside.
3. Stir the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.
4. In another bowl, mix the brown sugar, egg, milk, honey, melted butter, molasses, caramelised sugar sauce, vanilla and the beer drained from soaking the fruit (the beer only, not the fruit yet) until combined.
5. Take 2 tablespoons of flour from the flour mixture and toss the fruit in it.
6. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the wet mixture, and stir until fully combined, then fold through the floured fruit.
7. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a rack to finish cooling. Serve with slices of cheddar cheese.

Tips from the ZestyPlate Kitchen

• Soak the dried fruit in the beer first so it plumps up and brings moisture to the loaf.
• Toss the fruit in a little flour before folding it in, which keeps it from sinking to the bottom.
• Stop mixing as soon as the wet and dry come together, for a tender crumb.
• Cut it thick and serve with sharp cheddar, the way it's eaten at home.