Coco Bread
Coco Bread – a popular staple bread in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean made primarily with flour and coconut milk, then slightly sweetened just to tickle your tastebuds. Buttery, slightly sweet with a spot on firmness on the outside and softness on the inside. Great for breakfast, lunch, snacking or even as dinner!
Whoever invented these Jamaican Coco Bread must have been a serious sandwich lover! It’s firm enough to hold any filling you could possibly think of while still giving you that notable softness on the inside that we all love in a bread. And did I mention that it is shaped to form like a folded bread so you can easily fill it?
Hats off to the brains behind this bread. You’re truly a food genius! You’ve just earned a new big fan!
What is Coco Bread?
If the Americans have these Easy Dinner Rolls, well the Jamaicans have their Coco Bread. Although it’s not pointed out straight on why it was named as such, it could probably because it’s primarily made with flour and coconut milk just like this popular Samoan Coconut Bread Rolls a.k.a Pani Popo. Perhaps we all could agree on how coconut milk makes an incredible basketful of buns and rolls.
What Does Coco Bread Taste Like?
Think of Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, but a little bit denser. Coco bread is buttery and slightly sweetened with a note of coconut milk. But if you’re on the sweeter side of the spectrum, feel free to adjust the sugar.
Coco Bread Ingredients
You don’t have to worry. In fact, you’d probably have all the ingredients waiting to be taken out of your pantry. All you need are just 8 SIMPLE INGREDIENTS and you’re off to make a big batch of this for weekend sandwiches or lunches.
Here’s an overview of what you’ll be needing:
- coconut milk
- unsalted butter
- sugar
- egg
- salt
- rapid rise yeast
- unsalted butter
Can You Make It Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! In fact, I have some already frozen in my freezer. I’m just going to reheat a few of them on Saturday morning and BAM, hearty Jamaican breakfast on my table!
What I do to make it ahead, is to bake them as directed below. Then leave them to cool down completely and line in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan and flash freeze for an hour or until hard enough to touch. When already frozen, transfer them in a freezer-safe container bag, label and freeze for up to 2 months.
How To Reheat Coco Bread?
When ready to serve again, reheat your frozen coco bread by placing them snuggly in a baking dish or in a baking sheet pan, brush with melted butter and bake until warm enough for about 7-10 minutes in a 350°F oven.
What To Serve with Coco Bread?
You may enjoy these easy homemade coco bread as it is, like I do, or pair with any of the following:
….and a whole lot more. Feel free to enjoy it just the way you’d like to enjoy your sandwich. I’m pretty sure you could come up with a whole bunch of lists. 😉
More Jamaican Recipes to Explore
- Jamaican Beef Patties
- Brown Stew Chicken
- Ackee and Saltfish
- Jamaican Easter Spice Bun
- Callaloo
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Other Bread Recipes that You’ll Love
How To Make Coco Bread
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, spray with baking spray. Set aside. In a medium bowl combine Coconut milk, sugar, salt, and butter. Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds or more, until butter melts. Do not let it boil or overheat. Pour into a large mixing bowl, add yeast, mix. Then add the egg.
Stir in flour to form a soft dough, err on the side of less flour. Soft dough results in tender coco bread. Turn dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for 3-4 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the dough. Cover loosely with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours or until doubled. 
Punch the dough down. Transfer dough to a lightly floured board or surface. Cut the dough into about 10 equal pieces and roll each dough into a ball.
Roll each piece with a rolling pin to about 6-7 inch diameter and about ⅛-¼ inch thick. Brush the surface of the dough with melted butter, then fold the dough in half and brush again. Place onto dough on prepared pan and repeat with remaining pieces, until done. Let it rest for about 10-15 minutes.
Bake in a 350 F preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until nicely browned on top. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes. Brush again with butter, if desired. Serve warm or allow to cool. You may freeze when cool and reheat in the oven.
Watch How To Make It
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Coco Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240ml) coconut milk
- 2-3 tablespoons (25g-37.5g) sugar
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon (5g) salt
- 1 envelope (or packet) or 2 ¼ teaspoons rapid rise yeast
- 1 large egg
- 3 ½ – 4 cups (437.5g-500g) all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons (42g) or more unsalted butter , melted
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, spray with baking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine coconut milk, sugar, salt and butter. Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds or more, until butter melts. Do not let it boil or overheat.
- Pour into large mixing bowl, add yeast, mix. Then add the egg.
- Stir in flour to form a soft dough, err on the side of less flour. Soft dough results in tender coco bread.
- Turn dough on lightly floured surface and knead for 3-4 minutes.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the dough. Cover loosely with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours or until doubled. Punch the dough down.
- Transfer dough to a lightly floured board or surface. Cut the dough into about 10 equal pieces and roll each dough into a ball.
- Roll each piece with a rolling pin to about 6-7 inch diameter and about ⅛-¼ inch thick.
- Brush the surface of the dough with melted butter, then fold the dough in half and brush again. Place onto dough on prepared pan and repeat with remaining pieces, until done.
- Let it rest for about 10-15 minutes.
- Bake in a 350 F preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until nicely browned on top.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes. Brush again with butter, if desired.
- Serve warm or allow to cool. You may freeze when cool and reheat in the oven .
Tips & Notes:
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Nutrition Information:
Sorry if this has already been asked: Could I make them a little smaller, like when they’ll just be part of a pot luck and probably not a big part of anyone’s meal? Thinking of maybe making 16 with the recipe amounts that would normally make 10 (meaning that I’d roll them out to about 4″ instead of 6-7″). Can’t wait to try these!
Hi Jenn. Yes, you can make them smaller, then start checking them for doneness around 10 minutes because they’ll bake faster. Please do let me know how it goes.
Came out perfect
Thanks so much!
What does err mean when preparing the dough
Hi Regina. It just means it is better to use less flour than more. Happy Baking!
“err” means “to make a mistake”. When used like this, it mean to purposely make the “mistake” of using too little flour rather than too much.
This is a fantastic recipe – simple to follow and the breads come out like delicious clouds. Everyone loves them and I cannot wait to make them again. Thank-you!
Yay!! Love this! Thanks for stopping by, Hatty! 🙂
Can I use regular milk instead of coconut milk?
Hi Jameila. Yes, you can. Although it won’t have that distinct coconut flavor that is particular to Coco Bread.
Questions about the butter: Its not super clear on what to do with the melted butter vs. the non-melted butter, can you clarify? Also “greased bowl…” with unmelted butter? Apologies, I don’t want to make an over buttered goop 🙂
Hi William! So the first butter (non-melted one) mentioned in the recipe is be combined with the coconut milk, sugar and salt and then microwaved. The second butter mentioned (the melted one) is used to brush your shaped dough before baking and even after baking if you still have some leftover and would like a light shine to your coco bread. As for the greased bowl, only a little quantity of oil or butter is needed to make sure the dough doesn’t stick to the bowl while it is rising. Hope this helps. Happy Baking! 🙂
Can you use nu-salt in place of regular salt I’m on a low sodium diet.
Yes you can.