History

Ernest Bewley introduced the sticky bun to the Bewley's Oriental Cafe menu at Grafton Street in 1927; the recipe came from the Bewley family bakery and was based on an English Chelsea bun with the Irish addition of a lemon syrup glaze and sultanas. The bun became the city's signature pastry across the twentieth century, a Sunday-morning Grafton Street ritual. Bewley's still bakes the same recipe in its restored Grafton Street cafe.

Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Egg

Make it at home

Yield 8Hands-on 40 minTotal 3 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 400g strong white flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 sachet (7g) instant yeast
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 250ml whole milk, warmed
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 50g butter, softened, plus extra for the tin
  • 100g sultanas
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Glaze: 100g caster sugar, juice of 1 lemon, 50ml water
  • Extra sultanas to scatter

Method

  1. In a stand mixer, combine the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add the warm milk, egg and softened butter.
  2. Knead with the dough hook for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover; let rise 1 hour until doubled.
  3. Turn out onto a floured surface, knock back. Roll into a 30cm x 40cm rectangle.
  4. Scatter the sultanas and lemon zest over the dough. Roll up from the long edge into a tight cylinder.
  5. Cut into 8 thick slices; arrange cut-side up in a buttered 23cm x 30cm baking tin. Cover; prove 30 minutes.
  6. Bake at 190C for 25 minutes until golden.
  7. For the glaze: heat the sugar, lemon juice and water in a small saucepan to a thick syrup.
  8. Brush the warm syrup over the buns straight out of the oven; scatter the extra sultanas; let cool 10 minutes.

Tip from the editors. Brush the glaze on while the buns are hot or it slides off; the lemon juice is the cut against the sweetness.

Where to eat bewley's sticky bun

Bewley's sticky bun in Dublin

Bewley's Cafe Grafton Street ★ 4.0

Café€south-city-centreMon-Wed 07:30-19:00; Thu 07:30-21:00; Fri 07:30-20:00; Sat 08:00-20:00; Sun 09:00-20:00Wifi

Bewley's Cafe on Grafton Street in Dublin, the Ernest Bewley grand cafe since 1927, restored across three floors, the city's heritage tea-room and lunch room.

Signature drink: Bewley's coffee blend

Order: The Bewley's house blend coffee and a sticky bun; an afternoon cream tea upstairs.

Tip: Three floors; the first floor is the historic Harry Clarke window room. The basement Theatre cafe runs lunchtime plays.

78-79 Grafton Street, Dublin 2

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