5 Easy Secrets for Bold, Flavorful Family Meals, everytime! DOWNLOAD
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups

Immaculate Bites

African and Caribbean Recipes Made Easy

  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups
Home / Baking

Coco Bread

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Author: Imma Published:2/27/2020Updated:9/24/2021
FacebookTweetPin130kYummlyEmail61Shares130k

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!

Coco Bread

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?

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

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. 

Coco Bread

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:

  • Picadillo
  • Pulled Pork
  • Baked Chicken Tenders
  • Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
  • Jam
  • Butter

….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

  • Garlic Knots Bread
  • Challah Bread
  • Irish Soda Bread
  • Cinnamon Bread Rolls

Coco Bread

 

How To Make Coco Bread

 

Melting the Butter 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.

Making the DoughStir 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. Shaping the Coco BreadPunch 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.

Shaping the Coco BreadRoll 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.

Coco Bread

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.

Coco Bread

Watch How To Make It

 

Looking for more recipes? Follow on...
My Newsletter
Coco Bread
Print

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!
4.91 from 42 votes
Prep: 40 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Resting Time: 1 hr
Total: 2 hrs
Jamaican
Servings 10

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 â…›-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:

  1. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 472kcal (24%)| Carbohydrates: 75g (25%)| Protein: 11g (22%)| Fat: 14g (22%)| Saturated Fat: 10g (63%)| Cholesterol: 37mg (12%)| Sodium: 274mg (12%)| Potassium: 156mg (4%)| Fiber: 3g (13%)| Sugar: 3g (3%)| Vitamin A: 269IU (5%)| Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)| Calcium: 23mg (2%)| Iron: 5mg (28%)
Author: Imma
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Jamaican
Tag Us On Instagram!Did you make this recipe? I love hearing how it turned out! Tag me on Instagram @ImmaculateBites and be sure to leave a rating below!
Follow on Instagram

 

Nutrition Facts
Coco Bread
Amount Per Serving
Calories 472 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Cholesterol 37mg12%
Sodium 274mg12%
Potassium 156mg4%
Carbohydrates 75g25%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 11g22%
Vitamin A 269IU5%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 23mg2%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Coco Bread
Coco Bread
Coco Bread

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments & Reviews
  1. Theresa says

    Posted on 2/21 at 10:53AM

    5 stars
    I have made coco bread with this recipe twice now, and it was perfect both times!! Beautiful soft, slightly sweet bread that is a gorgeous golden colour. It’s now a part of my regular baking. Great with Jamaican patties, and makes a sandwich extra special. 🙂

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 2/21 at 11:04PM

      Yaaay! I’m glad this one always turns out great for you. And a big yes for sandwich!

      Reply
  2. Darcy Smart says

    Posted on 1/14 at 1:10PM

    Making these right now. They are rising as I am writing this. I am going to pair it with jerk chicken beans and rice. Makes me miss Jamaica so much

    Reply
  3. Thandy says

    Posted on 12/27 at 10:15PM

    I made this recipe but my coco breads didn’t come out fluffy like yours , maybe I should have made it rise longer , I’m not sure . I had not done the 1-2 hrs to rise , I do about 1. Or maybe I rolled the dough too thin . The taste was awesome though . I’m gonna try the recipe again .

    Reply
    • Amina says

      Posted on 12/28 at 5:53AM

      Yeah try it again and follow instructions. You would have the same results. Thanks

      Reply
  4. Carmyn says

    Posted on 12/14 at 12:55PM

    Can you make the dough and freeze in advance, then make a week later ?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 12/15 at 6:23AM

      Yes! 🙂 You can freeze it until you need it 🙂

      Reply
  5. Charles Parry says

    Posted on 12/1 at 7:43AM

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. Taste is so good. One thing I found is if I wanted puffy ones as pictured I should shape by hand, not use a rolling pin. But the rolled ones had a more intense coconut flavour so my flatmate actually prefers them.

    Reply
  6. Cenobia says

    Posted on 11/30 at 10:56AM

    Not sure where I went wrong, but these did come out right at all. I followed the recipe exactly.

    Reply
  7. Paul says

    Posted on 10/25 at 3:20PM

    This is a great recipe, I did half with frozen berries in the middle, makes a lovely breakfast pastry!
    I don’t know if tablespoons are different where you are though (I’m in the UK), but I’d get 15g (3 tsp) sugar per tablespoon?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 10/26 at 7:55AM

      Yes Paul, that is about right! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Sassiah Campbell says

    Posted on 10/3 at 4:51PM

    I love this recipe its very nice and easy

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 10/6 at 8:25AM

      So glad you liked it!

      Reply
  9. Chantell says

    Posted on 9/20 at 11:04AM

    Hi I would like to know do you freeze the left over dough ?

    Reply
  10. Motzi says

    Posted on 9/14 at 5:38AM

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love that you made it so easy to follow and even a video for us beginning bakers I’ll post another review once I make them, but I just had to thank you for making it easy to follow

    Reply
  11. Irene says

    Posted on 9/9 at 5:24PM

    This recipe looks great but I am celiac – do you have suggestions for using gluten free four – would it be the same proportions

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 9/11 at 7:22AM

      sorry Irene, I can’t say for sure without having tried it out .

      Reply
  12. Kat says

    Posted on 8/7 at 4:58PM

    5 stars
    My fiancé is Jamaican and I make these at least once a month for him! The recipe comes out perfect everytime. I love them! He says they taste and look just like the ones he buys in shops back home.

    Reply
    • Immaculate Bites says

      Posted on 8/8 at 9:32PM

      Aww thank you, Kat and fiancé! Glad you enjoyed this! You can try more of my Decadent Coffee and Desserts To Make Your Day. Enjoy!

      Reply
  13. Jaleesa says

    Posted on 5/16 at 3:14AM

    I would like to try the recipe, I live in Germany and it’s difficult to find rapid rise yeast. What would be the adjustment for the recipe ?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 5/17 at 2:51PM

      Instant yeast or any yeast would work out here . The only drawback is that you might have to give it an additional 30 minutes or more to rise. Hope this helps

      Reply
      • Jenny says

        Posted on 6/19 at 10:04AM

        This recipe sounds awesome! Should we use a can of coconut milk or the refrigerated kind? Thanks!

      • Immaculate Bites says

        Posted on 6/21 at 1:43AM

        Hi Jenny! You can use either kind 🙂

  14. Mary I says

    Posted on 5/16 at 1:41AM

    wondering if I can make this dough in bread machine’s dough cycle and finish in oven ?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 5/17 at 2:52PM

      Yes you sure can. It would work out just fine .

      Reply
  15. Brenda Mitchell says

    Posted on 4/27 at 8:14AM

    I made this recipe, and everyone loved it! The bread was soft, and it tasted wonderful!!!!

    Reply
    • Immaculate Bites says

      Posted on 4/28 at 5:50AM

      Thank you, Brenda! 🙂

      Reply
Older Comments
Newer Comments

Primary Sidebar

  • Southern
  • African
  • latin fusion
  • comfort food

favorites...

a bowl of gumbo dish with a spoon to scoop it out

Gumbo Recipe (Plus Video)

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with evaporated milk

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Easy Homemade Bread

Basic Homemade White Bread

best thanksgiving desserts

Caramel Cake

Footer

Recipe by Type

  • African
  • Caribbean
  • Southern
  • Mediterranean
  • French
  • Italian

Recipe by Category

  • Dinner
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast
  • Breads + Cakes
  • Pasta
  • How To’s

FOLLOW ALONG

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Immaculate Bites

  • About Imma
  • Subscribe by Email
  • Contact

Site Resources

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2022 · African Bites · All Rights Reserved · Website by Anchored Design

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe & Receive A FREE Recipe Book!

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!