Breakfast is without a doubt my favorite meal.
Maybe it is because breakfast is so versatile. Maybe it is because I love eggs. Or maybe it is because breakfast gives you permission to be creative in a way that still feels comforting.
Whatever the reason, breakfast has always been the meal where my imagination can run wild.
Around Easter time in Jamaica, bun and cheese is usually everywhere. Jamaican bun is in abundance at home, and once you have bun and cheese sitting there, you start thinking of different ways to enjoy it. Bun and cheese by itself is already perfect, but one morning I decided to experiment.
I made bun and cheese French toast.
Yes, bun and cheese French toast.
I made it the same way French toast is usually made, but instead of using regular bread, I used slices of Jamaican bun. Then I placed cheese in the middle and toasted it like a sweet and savory breakfast sandwich.
And honestly, nobody was upset with the idea. Nobody changed their mind about eating it again. It was one of those food experiments that sounded unusual at first, but once it came together, it made sense.
The texture was perfect.
The outside had that soft French toast coating, the bun stayed rich and spiced, and the cheese gave it that savory balance. At first, I wanted the cheese to melt properly, but with the Jamaican cheddar-style cheese we use back home, it did not melt the way I wanted. The flavor was there, but I wanted that moment where you slice into it and the cheese starts oozing out.
So I tried it again with sliced cheese, and that is when I got the reaction I wanted.
When I cut into the finished bun and cheese French toast, the cheese melted and came out exactly how I imagined. That was the moment the experiment really worked.
There is a trick to it though.
The bun has to be sliced thinly, and you have to watch it carefully because it can burn fast. Jamaican bun is already sweet and dark, so it browns quicker than regular bread. You cannot walk away from the pan and hope for the best.
This is not something I would drown in syrup either. The bun already has sweetness from the molasses, spices, dried fruit, honey, or whatever is used in the recipe. Adding syrup would be too much for me. The sweetness is already there. The cheese is what balances it.
You can serve it on its own, or if you want to make it more of a full breakfast, you can have it with fried eggs or whatever else feels right to you. I will not suggest too much because I know my grown palate may not be for everyone, but I will say this: it is worth trying.
Sometimes the best food ideas come from looking at something familiar and asking, “What else can I do with this?”
That is exactly how bun and cheese French toast ended up at my island table.
Bun and Cheese French Toast Recipe
Yield
Makes 2 stuffed French toast sandwiches
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Total Time
About 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 thin slices Jamaican bun
- 2 slices cheese, preferably sliced cheese if you want it to melt
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk or evaporated milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
- Pinch of nutmeg, optional
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon butter, for cooking
- 1 teaspoon oil, optional, to help prevent the butter from burning
Preparing the Bun and Cheese
- Slice the Jamaican bun thinly.
- Place one slice of cheese between two slices of bun.
- Repeat with the other slices to make two sandwiches.
- Press each sandwich gently so it holds together.
The bun should not be too thick because thick slices can make it harder for the center to warm through before the outside gets too dark.
Making the French Toast Mixture
- In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs.
- Add milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt.
- Mix until combined.
- Dip each bun and cheese sandwich into the egg mixture.
- Coat both sides, but do not let the bun soak too long because it can become too soft.
Cooking the Bun and Cheese French Toast
- Heat a frying pan over low to medium heat.
- Add butter and a small amount of oil if using.
- Place the dipped bun and cheese sandwich into the pan.
- Cook slowly for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
- Watch carefully because bun can brown quickly.
- Flip gently and cook the other side.
- If the outside is browning too fast but the cheese has not melted, lower the heat and cover the pan for a short time.
- Remove from the pan when the outside is golden and the cheese is melted.
- Let it sit for one minute before slicing.
My Tips for the Best Bun and Cheese French Toast
- Slice the bun thinly so it cooks evenly.
- Use sliced cheese if you want that melted, oozing effect.
- Jamaican Tastee cheese gives the classic flavor, but it may not melt the same way.
- Do not soak the bun too long in the egg mixture.
- Cook on low to medium heat.
- Watch it closely because bun can burn faster than regular bread.
- Do not add syrup because the bun is already sweet.
- Serve warm so the cheese stays soft.
What to Serve With Bun and Cheese French Toast
This can be eaten on its own, but if you want to turn it into a fuller breakfast, you can serve it with:
- Fried eggs
- Scrambled eggs
- Fresh fruit
- Tea
- Cocoa tea
- Coffee
- A light fruit drink
For me, fried eggs would work because I already love eggs for breakfast, and the savory egg balances the sweet bun nicely.
What’s on My Table
When bun and cheese French toast is on my table, I want it warm and freshly sliced.
My plate would have:
- Thin slices of Jamaican bun
- Melted cheese in the middle
- A light French toast coating
- No syrup
- Fried eggs on the side if I want a fuller breakfast
It is sweet, savory, rich, and different in the best way.
A Little Reflection
Bun and cheese French toast reminds me that food does not always have to stay in the box we first met it in.
Bun and cheese is already a Jamaican classic, especially around Easter. It does not need changing. But sometimes when something is always around, you start seeing new possibilities. That is what happened with me.
I looked at bun and cheese, thought about breakfast, thought about French toast, and decided to try something different.
And it worked.
That is one of the things I love about cooking. You can respect tradition and still play with it. You can take something familiar and let your imagination give it a new life.
For me, this was one of those experiments that proved breakfast really is the best meal for creativity.
Next at My Table
If you enjoyed this creative Jamaican breakfast idea, pull up another chair and continue with Jamaican Bun and Cheese, the sweet and savory tradition that inspired this recipe.
From My Island Table to Yours—may the spice linger, the stories inspire, until another story, another bite.