Coconut buns

Hearing “coconut bread” was all it took for me to start researching. After looking at several recipes that piqued my interest and doing several tests, I’m giving this one a big thumbs-up and I’m beyond excited to share this delicious, easy, and fluffy recipe for making these coconut buns. The result is some buns with a light coconut flavor, incredibly soft, with a thin crust and really delicious.

I didn’t know that coconut bread was typically served in some parts of the Caribbean. It’s common for coconut bread to accompany some fish dishes, and I can actually see how it pairs beautifully: rice in many of those areas is made with coconut, and the fish itself can likewise be grilled with coconut oil.

In any case, I choose to serve these rolls anytime because they’re truly delicious, and rather than yielding a bread with an intense coconut flavor, they’re a soft bite—perfect for both coconut lovers and those who aren’t big fans (take it from Claudia!).

Today they were a terrific treat for the kids: paired with chocolate, they made the perfect afternoon snack.

De Buyer Baking Mat and Claudia&Julia natural linen bread basket.

Ingredients

• One packet of dry baker's yeast (4,6 gr)
• 1 cup of coconut milk
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1 cdp of salt
• 1 heaping tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 full cda of white sugar
• 1 cup of wheat flour
• 2 cups bread flour
• 3/4 cup coconut flakes

*For measuring the cups, you can just use the "1 cup" scoop from the Nordic Ware measuring Set, or take a glass or cup from your dinnerware with a 220 ml capacity, filled with water.

Preparation

1. Warm the coconut milk in a saucepan or in the microwave by a few degrees and add the dry yeast. Stir and let it sit for a couple of minutes.

2. Mix the melted coconut oil with the sugars. Add the flours and the salt and mix with the KitchenAid stand mixer at low speed, with the paddle attachment.

3. Add the coconut milk with the yeast, mix, and add the coconut flakes.

4. Switch to the dough hook attachment and knead at medium/high speed (speed 6) for several minutes, with a few rests in between. This dough doesn’t require much work or kneading; you’ll see it quickly takes on a smooth, cohesive texture.

5. If it seems too dry, add one more teaspoon of coconut oil and mix a little longer with the paddle attachment.

6. Let the dough rest in a warm place (see notes) until it nearly doubles in volume. In three-quarters of an hour or an hour, you'll see the dough has risen.

KitchenAid Artisan stand mixer.

7. Remove, turn out onto a floured surface, divide into portions as desired with the help of a scraper (I’ve made 9 rolls, each between 100 and 110 gr, with this amount of dough, but you can make fewer if you want larger rolls, or bake a round coconut loaf instead). Shape it, place on a baking sheet with perforated mat, make a cut and cover them with plastic wrap.

Set of 3 spatulas and scrapers by Küchenprofi.

8. Covered, let them rest 20 more minutes. After that time, sprinkle with grated coconut and place in the lower-middle of the oven, preheated to 220 ºC for 10 minutes. Then reduce to 180 ºC and bake for about 15 minutes more.

De Buyer baking mat and Küchenprofi Set of 3 Scoops and Scrapers.

9. When they look done, take them out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before enjoying. The wait will be tough with the aroma they give off—consider yourself warned.

De Buyer Baking Mat and Claudia&Julia natural linen bread basket.

Notes

• You'll find they bake quickly if you make the buns small. Don't get distracted or go too far!
• I haven’t brushed them, but you can, with liquid coconut oil or with beaten egg, before adding the coconut on top.
• To let it rise, the oven is a very good place: heat the oven for 5 minutes to 50 ºC, turn off the oven and place the bowl with the dough that needs to rise inside. Cover the bowl with a dampened cotton cloth so the dough doesn’t dry out, and the bowl will absorb some heat so the dough rises beautifully.
• Next time, I'll add a teaspoon of cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg; I think they'll be amazing after having tried them.

I hope you like them. If you feel like making them, let me know how they turned out.