Easter Bun Making: A Manifestation of Afro Caribbean Cuisine in Panama

In honor of the Easter holiday, we are excited to share a new video created by Vern Best, Armando Hartley, and Wendell Franklin. These men share the history of the buns and demonstrate the labor of love that goes into baking these special and meaningful treats. Vern’s nephew, Adebayo Lumumba-Umoja, filmed the process, making the video a multi-generational effort to preserve this important tradition. We hope you enjoy and are inspired to make your own buns! Recipe: Buns From the Kitchen of Vern Best Ingredients: 10 lb Flour 2 boxes Brown Sugar (1 lb ea.) 1 bottle Molasses (12 oz) 0.5 oz Anise Extract 16 oz Raisins 16 oz Mix Fruit 8 oz Cherries Anise Seed (To Taste) 6 pk of Yeast 1 lb. Butter 6 Eggs Nutmeg to Taste Cinnamon to Taste 1 Can Evaporated Milk 1 Can of Water Think of making buns as having three stages: 1st, is the starter mixture 2nd, is blending all of the ingredients together and making it rise, and 3rd, is making the individual buns. [Cooking Instructions] First Stage: • melt butter in milk and water; set aside • dissolve yeast in hot water (not too hot) and/add a spoon of granulated sugar (allow to rise - it should triple original volume) this is your proof. • beat four eggs and stir • combine all the above ingredients (i.e. milk, yeast proof, eggs) • add a box brown sugar to above mixture • add three cups flour to above mixture • add 12 oz. Molasses to above mixture Allow above Mixture to Rise 1 ½ hours This is your starter and end of 1st Stage Second Stage • add Anise Extract to your starter • combine four cups of flour, anise seed, cinnamon, and nutmeg and add it to above mixture • combine raisins with flour add it to above mixture • combine mix fruit with flour and add it to above mixture • add more flour to bring mixture to kneading consistency • Divide in two and kneed • When finished kneading cover in two separate bowls and allow • to rise for two (2) hours. This is the end of the second stage Third Stage • Divide dough into desired bun size • Knead and place into greased baking pan • Preheat oven for five (5) minutes at 350 degrees • Bake bun for approximately one hour (when fully baked, bun has a hollow sound when you knock it at the bottom) Glaze • Combine one cup water, one cup brown sugar, and one tablespoon butter on top of stove at medium heat • Bring to boil and then lower heat • allow above to thicken to syrup consistency. Remove from heat and allow to cool. • Glaze top of buns one hour after removing them from oven. ENJOY!