Trinidad Fried Bake, also known as Fry Bakes or Floats, are a popular breakfast/snack food/Maracas beach lime food in Trinidad and Tobago. In today’s post, you will learn how to make the tastiest, softest, fluffiest bakes you have ever eaten!
Serving Suggestions for Fried Bakes/Floats
My kids get excited at the sound of “fried bake”. Last Saturday, I made a quick, late breakfast, and since I had no saltfish on hand to make saltfish and tomatoes or saltfish buljol to accompany it, some of us enjoyed the fried bake with just butter, just cheese, and melted cheese, and my husband had his with fried eggs.
On Monday, we made it again to have with the tomatoes and saltfish(that I also made for this blog). Yes, I ate fried bake three times this week in enormous quantities to ensure that I had formulated the most precise recipe. I have the belly and a wide smile to prove it!
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Trinidad Fried Bakes – Ingredients You Will Need:
Makes 8
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder, aluminum-free
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar (increase to 1 tbs if you like it a little sweeter)
- 1 tablespoon butter (room temperature), optional
- Warm water, about 3/4 cup
- Oil (for frying bake) (2 cups)
- Pinch yeast – optional (makes for a more bread-like bake)
Time Tested Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Fry Bake Every Time!
**This recipe can be easily doubled for larger or hungry families! Disappears quickly –so highly recommended. You can save any extra dough in the refrigerator and cook the next day. Dough stays in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for best results.
**This recipe was also attempted with 1 teaspoon baking powder with soft, phenomenal results(3-4-19). That day I also increased the water in the recipe to make a very, very soft dough. This means that softer the dough, softer the results.
**For family gatherings, I have also multiplied this recipe by 6 (using 12 cups of flour) with exceptional results.
Step by Step Instructions on How to Make Fried Bakes:
1. In a large bowl, add flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Rub in butter (if using). Mix well.
2. While gradually adding water, knead to make a very soft, smooth dough, about 3 minutes–not too long. Do not fold over and please try to use ALL the water called for in the recipe. It’s better to have a sticky dough that you can add a pinch of flour to, rather than a stiff, dry dough.
3. Form into a large ball(or two) and cover with a wet paper towel. Let it rest for about 15-30 minutes. You can refrigerate for several hours or overnight. This helps to create a fluffier result.
4. Divide dough into small “golf” balls. On a lightly-floured surface flatten (1/4 inch) using hands or rolling pin. If you roll it out too thin, your bakes will be stiff and hard. (See other option below-“How to make triangles”).
5. Pour oil into a frying pan on medium heat.
6. Working in batches, fry the dough disks, turning once, until golden brown and puffed, about 30 seconds per side. Continuously pour oil on bakes to help it to rise. Always flip bakes as soon as it puffs up and has a golden color. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bakes to a paper towel-lined plate. Overcooking will also make the bakes stiff.
Step 1 – Kneading the Dough
In a bowl, add flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Mix well and knead..
Step 2 – Resting the Dough
Step 3 – Shaping the Dough – Round or Triangular?
Example 2 (How to make circles)—with the other ball cut it into four….
…my daughter helped flatten to make round discs(circles)..
Step 4 – Frying the Dough
Tip to help the dough puff up:
Continuously pour hot oil over the bake to make it “swell” quicker…my mother taught me this trick…
be careful!!
When finished cooking–golden brown and puffs up–drain excess oil on the sides and place on a platter lined with paper towel…repeat with the remainder of the dough..
Trinidad Fried Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder aluminum free
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar increase to 1 tbs if you like it a little sweeter
- 1 tablespoon butter room temperature, optional
- Warm water about 3/4 cup
- 2 cups vegetable oil for frying bake (2 cups)
- 1/4 tsp yeast - optional makes for a more bread-like bake
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Rub in butter (if using). Mix well.
- While gradually adding water, knead to make a very soft, smooth dough, about 3 minutes--not too long. Do not fold over and please try to use ALL the water called for in the recipe. It's better to have a sticky dough that you can add a pinch of flour to, rather than a stiff, dry dough.
- Form into a large ball(or two) and cover with a wet paper towel. Let it rest for about 15-30 minutes. You can refrigerate for several hours or overnight. This helps to create a fluffier result.
- Divide dough into small "golf" balls. On a lightly-floured surface flatten (1/4 inch) using hands or rolling pin. If you roll it out too thin, your bakes will be stiff and hard. (See other option below-"How to make triangles").
- Pour oil into a frying pan on medium heat.
- Working in batches, fry the dough disks, turning once, until golden brown and puffed, about 30 seconds per side. Continuously pour oil on bakes to help it to rise. Always flip bakes as soon as it puffs up and has a golden color. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bakes to a paper towel-lined plate. Overcooking will also make the bakes stiff.
Video
Notes
**This recipe was also attempted with 1 teaspoon baking powder with soft, phenomenal results(3-4-19). That day I also increased the water in the recipe to make a very, very soft dough. This means that softer the dough, softer the results.
**For family gatherings, I have also multiplied this recipe by 6 (using 12 cups of flour) with exceptional results. **Feel free to also double the butter for a richer result. Nutrition: This is just for estimation purposes only. Values are per bake.
Nutrition
Yummmmm!!!! Love this blog Ria!
I make them in triangles and eat them with cheese or eggs or saltfish 🙂
Great Pictures! i am so hungry right now LOL!!
Best of luck!
Amanda
Thank you Amanda!!!!!
Great site!
I love fried bake!
Nice in image. Must be awesome in eating
It seems amazing, I will try it.
Just made them Ria. They were great made them round. Fried an egg to go with them. Can't wait to try all your recipes 🙂
Thank you all!
i love trini fried bake so i tried out this recipe. i left out the sugar and used kefir instead of water. they turned out really good. thanks for this wonderful recipe!
Thank you for attempting my recipe and making it your own with the use of kefir. What an interesting addition! I am tempted to give it a try.Hope you continue to enjoy my posts and try more of my recipes!
The BEST fried bake recipe…EAT YOUR HEART OUT NAPS GIRLS
I tried this recipe today and I'm happy to say my fried bakes turned out great!!!! Thank you, Rita!!!
Your recipes are great. Thank you
This has become my Christmas breakfast go-to recipe. Thank you!
My hubby is from Trinidad and he makes this with corn beef with tomato, onion and ketchup heated up together in a pan. Then we just tear the bake apart and use it to scoop up the corn beef. My 8 yr old son is a very picky eater and he just loves this. We are going to try this recipe so we can surprise my hubby and make it for him. He will be so surprised.
Great recipe. Yumm
Great recipe. Yumm
I just tried making these and I'm so ecstatic im gonna try then again using the full recipe had 2 small ones with butter of course😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣
I tried your fry bake recipe and it turned out great. What about roast bake can i have that recipe please.
I could have never gotten my fried bake like this before so tried ur recipe omg i loveeeeeee it
It look great
i have tried your home made bread its awesome every 2 weeks i bake my co workers loves it, your cooking is great
I just tried making these and I'm so ecstatic im gonna try then again using the full recipe had 2 small ones with butter of course😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣
It is 9 pm at night and I am going to try to make this now. I will update later. My kids have been nagging and nagging me. I grew up eating fry bake but I have never tried this triangular technique or spooning the oil on top of the bake as it cook. I am eager to try this version.
My mom used to make these for us Saturday morning. When I started making them for my kids I mixed the dough in a food processor, like I do buttermilk biscuits. Much quicker.
It look great
Excellent recipe! Quick, easy and delicious!