Are you a lover of pastries? If so, you must taste one of Barbados’ sweet and savory buns- Coconut Turnovers. These are light, fluffy, and soft, with a sweetly-seasoned coconut filling. When visiting the Caribbean island’s bakery, these yeasty baked buns are a must-have. But why wait to visit the country to sample this treat when you can make your own in the comfort of your home?
Here’s an easy recipe just for you.
Ingredients needed to make the dough
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4oz cold butter (unsalted)
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 cup warm milk
- ⅓ cup sugar water (dissolve sugar in water)
- Brown sugar
Ingredients needed to make the filling
- 2 cups grated or shredded coconut (fresh or frozen; NOT dried coconut)
- ¾ cup white granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon almond essence
Method
Step 1: Mix the flour and salt, then cut in the cold butter until you have a breadcrumb-like consistency.
Step 2: Mix the white sugar, yeast, and milk in a separate bowl,
Step 3: Blend the wet ingredients into the dry ones, mixing until a dough forms. Then, transfer this dough to a lightly floured board and gently knead it for 1-2 minutes.
Step 4: Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, place it in a warm spot, and allow it to rise for approximately 1 hour (the dough should double in size).
Step 5: Combine the filling ingredients in a bowl, stirring well so that the sugar begins to dissolve and the mixture is moist. Set aside.
Step 6: After the dough has risen, gently punch it down, then knead it lightly for about half a minute. Divide the dough into equal portions. Take each piece, roll it into a 3-inch circle, and spoon a heaping tablespoon of the filling into the center, spreading it out to within ½-inch of the edges. Lift one end of the dough to meet the other, folding and sealing the ends together to create a loaf shape.
Step 7: Place each turnover on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, seam-side down. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Step 8: Brush the turnovers with a sugar-water mixture and sprinkle them with brown sugar. Then, put them into an oven that has been preheated to 350°F. After 18 minutes, take them out, brush them once more with the sugar water, add an extra layer of brown sugar, and return them to the oven to bake for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Step 9: Remove from the oven and cool on racks for 15 minutes.
There you have it! Enjoy these sweet-tasting buns.
Source: https://barbados.org/barbados-recipes-turnovers.htm#.Y1WGWnbMK3A
