Visiting Jamaica In 2025? 5 Popular Desserts You Can’t Miss!
Let’s face the music: Jamaica is more than any ordinary next vacation spot.
Even after putting its energetic locals and white sand beaches aside, there are still countless other reasons why Jamaica landed on your radar! The island is bustling with unique rum blends, newsworthy seafood recipes, plus some of the most delectable desserts you’ll ever have.
But, you already knew that—you plan on visiting soon, after all!
Do you want to know what the most popular desserts in Jamaica are? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Despite being based in Fort Lauderdale, Aunt Agnes Cakes is Jamaican through and through. Her recipes have survived over 100 years of traditions—preserved, perfected and packaged by Jamaicans since 2021.
Yet, with these credentials, it is still no easy feat to pinpoint what the most popular dessert in Jamaica is. If we were to list them all, you’d be with us all day.
Instead, we want to share the top 5 Jamaican desserts of 2025, and give you the chance to pick the winner yourself!
5 Most Popular Jamaican Desserts You’ll Love
Whether you fancy fruitcake or coconut treats, all desserts satiate one need: Sweetness. Thankfully, some of the sweetest and most beloved traditional Caribbean desserts are found in Jamaica.
We’ve picked our top five: 1) Rumcake, 2) Coconut Drops, 3) Grater Cake, 4) Banana Bread, and 5) Christmas Fruit Cake.
This list is not exhaustive—hundreds did not make the cut—so feel free to widen your palate even further when you ‘touch down’ 🇯🇲!
For now, let’s start with one of our favorites. . .
1. Rum Cake
Ever craved a little alcohol with your dessert?
Traditionally, each slice of a Jamaican rum cake is loaded with quality rum, hence the name. Some of our favorites happen to be Pina Colada [pictured above] or Coconut, though there are countless other options here.
When baked right, rum cakes are soft and moist with an added kick of flavor. What sets a rum cake apart from your average cake is its process and preparation. So much goes into ensuring that the flavors blend well together.
Rum cakes can also take on different sizes, varying from miniature bundt cakes to regular-sized rum cakes.
Here at Aunt Agnes, we prioritize taste over aesthetics instead, ensuring that the alcohol bakes evenly throughout the cake pan. If you’re on the lookout for Jamaican rum cake for sale, look no further.
2. Coconut Drops
At a glance, these brown treats seem more complex than they actually are.
What you’re looking at is a combination of only three ingredients. In the right hands—like the hands of a Jamaican—three is more than enough!
So, what are Jamaican coconut drops made of? ‘Drops’ are made of coconut, ginger and brown sugar, though some may reach for vanilla, cinnamon and other spices to put a spin on the age-old tradition.
Despite their jagged appearance, coconut drops don’t taste nearly as jarring as they look. Combining the nutty flavor of coconut with the spicy ‘kick’ of ginger, drops make a great treat for just about any sweet tooth.
Usually, you can find them year-round in Jamaica, but they make a resurgence in early August—just in time to celebrate the island’s independence!
3. Grater Cake
If coconut drops seemed up your alley, you’re in luck! We’re introducing yet another coconut treat: Grater cakes.
We don’t blame you for not knowing much about this treat—the name isn’t very clear. So, what is grater cake?
Known for their distinct pink and white colors, grater cakes are Jamaican treats made from ‘grated’ coconut. By combining coconut and white sugar, you can make them exceptionally sweet. Usually, we recommend adding a touch of almond extract for a nutty flavor that offsets the sweetness.
While coconut drops are shaped by a thick syrup, grater cakes are made into little squares, and their texture is much chewier! Their vibrant taste make grater cakes a must-have dessert whenever you’re on the island.
Picture of Jamaican Banana Bread
4. Banana Bread
Now that you’ve had your fill of coconuts, you can indulge in other tropical fruits!
While bananas are not indigenous to Jamaica, the island’s traditional banana bread recipe remains unmatched! Some common ingredients in Jamaican banana bread include an infusion of butter, brown sugar, flour, vanilla, and (of course) bananas, among other spices.
But, why stop at those key ingredients?
Depending on where you go, you may be lucky enough to find raisins or chocolate chips, too! Countless Jamaican homes modify their recipes, putting modern spins to centuries-old traditions. That’s the fun of it all!
Even with the changes, you’ll find that banana bread’s general taste remains the same: A sweet, fruitiness from the bananas and a splash of flavor from everything else!
5. Christmas Fruit Cake
We know what you’re thinking: “Why should I try fruit cake in Jamaica?”
Traditionally, fruit cakes leave much to be desired—either tasting too strongly or having too many chunks inside.
The beauty of a Jamaican Christmas Fruit Cake is its simplicity: Specifically, how it blends premium local rum and dried fruits together without ruining your palate.
Whether you call it ‘Jamaican Christmas Fruit Cake’ or ‘Jamaican Black Fruit Cake’, we have perfected the best recipe for it here at Aunt Agnes Cakes: By incorporating your favorite natural spices among our Jamaican black fruit cake ingredients.
Jamaicans also treat fruitcake as more than a December dessert.
Despite usually being eaten around the holidays, you can always reach for a slice year-round—whether you choose to order online for pick-up / delivery or visit the island yourself in-person.
Picture of Jamaican Bundt Rum Cakes | Aunt Agnes Cakes
Where Can I Find Jamaican Desserts In Florida?
Don’t be fooled: You don’t need to book a plane ticket or go on a Caribbean cruise to try out the most popular desserts in Jamaica. Aunt Agnes Cakes has you covered!
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Aunt Agnes Cakes is a Jamaican-owned bakery specializing in your favorite (or soon-to-be favorite) desserts! From fruit cakes to rum cakes, we know our way around the kitchen. Just ask our customers.
So, what is the most popular dessert in Jamaica?
Depending on who you ask—and what you like—the answer may surprise you.
Banana bread is easy to bake and even easier to love! Meanwhile, grater cakes and coconut drops are deeply ingrained in the island’s history, which is why their resurgence around Independence is very common. Meanwhile, Jamaican fruitcake holds a special place around the Christmas holidays!
Here at Aunt Agnes Cakes, rum cakes are our favorites. So much so, we’re always waiting on the chance to bake one fresh!
Prefer to give rum cake a try before you get to Jamaica? Consider ordering one from us or request a custom cake using our contact form! We deliver Jamaican desserts near Fort Lauderdale—plus locally to other Miami and Florida locations
There is no right answer or catch-all guide to Jamaican desserts. Why not try them all?
