I have signed up last 2 weeks of Blogging Marathon too for this month. I don’t know how i did that, the themes were so interesting, i couldn’t stop myself. I wasnt confident enough to do the post today, as i was still contemplating whether to do the regular marathon along with bake-a-thon. At the very last minute, i ditched the other feeling and went ahead and planned the posts for this week.
The theme for the marathon is to Cook from capital city. We have to pick a capital city and cook from 3 capital cities that start with the same alphabet. Yup, stop, catch your breadth and read that line again. Let me make it simple, pick an alphabet, and pick 3 capital cities that start with the same alphabet. Yeah, the master behind these themes are our one and only Srivalli!!! Many Bm-ers would agree on this hyper enthusiam which we get ourself into, valli makes very good of use of this, by giving delicious themes to us.
Coming to the theme, i picked up the alphabet ‘M’ and chose to cook from 3 capital cities that start with ‘M’. Today’s post is from Manila, the capital city of Philiphines.
Pan de coco, a soft and fluffy bun filled with sweet coconut filling. A bun that can be enjoyed warm with tea or coffee. The sweet coconut filling beautifully flavored with vanilla renders an amazing flavor to the buns. The roots of these buns are traced to honduras, but the original version has coconut flakes kneaded into the dough, so you can say this pan de coco with the sweet meat filling belongs to philiphines. This bread is quite popular in philiphines in most of the bakeries and is enjoyed for breakfast.
The filling is made using fresh coconut, but in case you are not able to source fresh coconut, go ahead and use dessicated coconut. The Original recipe doesnt use all spice int hefilling, but since i had a tsp of it left after the Christmas bread, i just used it up in this. This is one amazingly soft bread and a must try if your are bread lover.
1& 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tbsp vital wheat gluten
1/2 tsp Instant yeast
1/4 cup sugar
165 ml milk
30 grams unsalted butter, chopped into cubes
3 tbsp milk + 1 tbsp oil for brushing the top of the buns
3 tbsp milk + 1 tbsp oil for brushing the top of the buns
Filling
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3/4 cup freshly grated coconut
5 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp all spice(a mix of clove, cardamom and cinnamon)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp milk
Method
- In a large bowl, take together flour, gluten, and yeast together and whisk well to combine.
- In a microwave safe mug, take milk and heat it for 40 seconds, remove it and add butter and let it sit for a minute or two for the butter to melt.
- Add this butter -milk mixture to the flour mix and using a wooden spoon, mix it all together to form a dough.
- Once the flour gathers into a dough use your hand and knead the dough to form a soft dough. It is a easy dough and comes together like a dream.
- Cover the dough and let it sit for an hour or until it doubles in size. The climate here is a little cold, so I left it for 90 minutes to double up.
- When the dough is resting, let us make the filling. In a sauce pan, add butter ,when it starts to melt, add coconut, brown sugar, spices and vanilla and milk. Let this simmer in a slower flame until all the liquid dries up and comes together into a delicious mass. Let this cool well.
- Once the dough has doubled up, punch it down , deflate the air, knead it once more and divide the dough into 7 portions. I actually divided the dough into 5 (almost 90 grams each)parts and felt the buns were a bit big.
- Flatten each dough portion, stuff it with 2 tbsp of coconut stuffing, gather the edges of the dough and shape into a bun. Place the shaped bun in a greased baking pan. Repeat the same with the rest of the dough portions. Once done, using a fork, prick few holes on top of the buns.
- Let the buns sit for another 30 minutes for the second rise. Preheat the oven to 170C, brush then top of buns with milk-oil mix, bake the buns for 25 minutes, then again increase the oven temperature to 180C, brush the tops of the buns with milk-oil mix again and bake again for another 12 minutes.
- Remove the buns from the oven, let it sit for 2 minutes in the pan, then slowly remove the buns to wire rack to cool completely.
Check out the other bloggers doing this Bake-a-thon
I am totally in love with this theme and now I regret not picking it. Actually I was afraid I might not do justice to the theme. Anyway, nice pick and a lovely bake. Sweet coconut filling looks so delicious
Even i enjoyed thoroughly this theme and dished out truly three different dishes. What a tremendous pan de coco there, especially that coconut filling is seriously very inviting. Drooling here Priya.
It looks really nice.. Making it for my daughter can we omit the gluten?
Wow, Priya. Those buns look so inviting with my favorite coconut filling. They are so tempting.
Beautifully baked Filipino treats these are. Love the coconut filling — must have tasted amazing with the bread.
perfect tea time / breakfast treat… mildly sweetened coconut filling.. my kids r not fans of sweet stuffings so I would want to try this for others… the 3rd shot from top is perfectly alluring and very inviting ! great clicks and a lovely recipe too …
These coconut rolls are awesome Priya. Coconut and brown sugar makes an amazing flavourful filling for sure. Made with wheat flour, these are so healthy too.
Those buns look damn cute and love the filling.Its in my to do list.
That stuffing just looks so wow.. I bet it tasted awesome.
I'm feeling like a fool now. Why didn't I pick up this theme, that way I would have covered both bakeathon and regular BM posts. Anyway, now can't go back (:
The buns with the coconut and brown sugar filling must have tasted awesome. Your all bakes are always so good that I have a big list of bookmarks of just your bakes 🙂
Priya, I am humbled with your statement and I can only say you guys get me going on my crazy thought process and each time everybody excels with the theme clauses..:)..this one is amazing and you have really done an fantastic one!
I also did the letter M and I also did Manila – I love Filipino cuisine and your version of these buns look delicious!
The coconut filling sounds delicious. The color contrast is appetizing to look at too.
Wow sweet coconut filling in a whole wheat bun, that perfect bite. delicious.
Very delicious filling for the buns, what a yummy bake Priya!! beautifully baked buns!!
Wow buns with whole wheat flour looks tempting with delicious coconut stuffing.
Beautifully baked. That filling sounds very tempting. Now I want to bake these.
A heaven in every bite !! yummy and delightful!!
Priya must say your whole wheat buns really came out perfectly baked and spongy. Can't believe they are made with whole wheat. yummy coconut filling inside is such a treat to tastebuds.
The buns looks so delicious. Love the coconut filling.