Traditional Caribbean Baking Recipes

It’s more than seventy years since the HMT Empire Windrush

ship anchored at Tilbury Docks in Essex, carrying hundreds of

passengers – predominantly from the Caribbean but also from

Mexico, Bermuda, Poland and other countries – who were hoping for

a new life in Britain. These first travellers and their descendants

infused British culture with their spirit, music and distinctive flavours.

In 2018, Hackney Councillors made a commitment to celebrate

the Windrush Generation and Commonwealth citizens who settled

in Britain between 1948 and 1971. As part of the Windrush

Generations Festival 2019, Hackney Council’s Culture Team brought

enthusiastic cooks together to swap recipes and stories and bake for

each other.

These communal sessions, attended by Hackney’s own Bake Off star

Liam Charles – a Windrush descendant – were as lively, connected

and filled with as much laughter as anyone could have hoped for.

Participants argued for the merits of duckunoo – a sweet pudding

wrapped up in parcels and boiled – over rum and wine soaked black

cake. Each bite triggered a memory and the elders reminisced about

school days, migrating to the UK, and family as the younger

members listened in. The age span of our bakers ranged from eight

years old to 91 years old. It’s a tribute to all of them and to the

sharing spirit of the islands that the cooking collaborations were so

warm and rewarding.

The sweet treats that follow were all stirred, folded, cooked and

sampled at our inter-generational baking sessions. Amongst the

Caribbean delicacies created were plantain tarts, sweet bread and

coconut drops. Four of the recipes reflect the Rastafarian plant-

based Ital tradition and are free from refined sugar.

Whether you have Windrush migration roots or are simply curious

about Caribbean culture, we hope you enjoy this taste of the islands.