Pão de Deus — Portuguese Coconut Buns

Soft, sweet brioche-style buns topped with a golden coconut and sugar glaze.

TIME BREAKDOWN
Prep: 2h 30m
Cook: 20 min
Total: 2 hours 50 minutes
Vegetarian
✅
Nuts
❌
Serves
12 people
Difficulty
Medium

Ingredients

  • 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 7g fast-action dried yeast
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 250ml lukewarm whole milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 70g unsalted butter, softened
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • For the topping: 100g desiccated coconut
  • For the topping: 100g caster sugar
  • For the topping: 2 eggs
  • For the topping: 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Milk, for brushing

Method

  1. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the milk, eggs, butter and lemon zest and mix to a soft, sticky dough. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.

  2. Cover and leave to rise for 1 hour 15 minutes until doubled in size.

  3. Knock back the dough, divide into 12 equal pieces and shape into smooth balls. Place on two lined baking trays, spaced apart. Cover and leave for 45 minutes until puffy.

  4. Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Mix the coconut, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a bowl.

  5. Brush the buns lightly with milk, then spoon a generous amount of the coconut mixture over the top of each bun.

  6. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until the buns are golden and the topping is set and lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.