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 Makes 8 bunsHands-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.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat bewley's sticky bun

Bewley's sticky bun in Dublin

Bewley's Cafe Grafton Street ★ 4.0

south-city-centreWifi

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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