Name: Panipopo Recipe (Samoan Coconut Buns)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 12 buns
Cuisine: Samoan
Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup warm milk; 1/4 cup melted butter; 1 egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cups coconut milk; 1/3 cup sugar for the coconut sauce

Panipopo is a Samoan coconut bun recipe where soft yeast buns are baked in a sweet coconut sauce until rich and lightly caramelized around the edges. It is a comforting island-style bake that works well for tea-time, family gatherings, or a sweet bread to share.

If you enjoy this style of Pacific cooking, you may also want to try our lolo bun recipe, tropical banana loaf.

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1/3 cup sugar for the coconut sauce

Instructions

Whisk the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large bowl.
Mix the warm milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients and knead until a smooth dough forms.
Cover the dough and let it rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Divide the dough into 12 balls and place them in a greased baking dish.
Mix the coconut milk with the remaining sugar and pour it around the buns.
Let the shaped buns rest for 20 to 30 minutes while the oven heats to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake until the buns are puffed and golden and the coconut sauce is bubbling, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool slightly before serving so the sauce thickens around the buns.

Helpful Tips

Use warm milk, not hot milk, so the yeast stays active.
Leave a little space between the buns so the coconut sauce can rise around them.
Serve warm for the softest texture.