Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Coconut Bubble Bread






From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I've been searching for something new to serve for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. When you've cooked as long as I have, novelty can be a problem. I've whisked and woked my way through lots of kitchens and have seen food fads come and go, then come and go again. Ming Tsai, Emeril Lagasse and, worse yet, Jamie Oliver have aged before my eyes, so perhaps you can understand why I'm vexed that it's so hard to find something really new for the holidays this season. It once was a very easy thing to do. Alas, that is no longer true. I decided I'd have to cast a wider net to find what I was looking for this year. If it could be eaten, didn't bite back and came with a readable recipe, it became fair game in my hunt for the new or novel. A fairly general query led me to a wonderful site called The Knead for Bread and there I found this lovely yeasted coconut bread. While there are many recipes for coconut quick breads, this was the first I'd seen for one leavened with yeast. I wanted a sweet bread that could be toasted for a holiday breakfast and this recipe was perfect for my needs. I did make some minor changes to the recipe after tasting the first of the loaves I baked. I added coconut extract to the ingredient list to give the bread a more pronounced coconut flavor. I also removed the grated coconut from the dough but left it in the topping. The bread is delicious and it has a wonderful crumb. It makes marvelous toast and will be perfect for a holiday breakfast. If you prefer, the bread can be pulled off in hunks and eaten out of hand, gorilla style. I know you will like this. Here's the recipe.

Coconut Bubble Bread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, courtesy of The Knead for Bread

Ingredients:
Dough
2/3 cup coconut milk
2/3 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 to 2 teaspoons coconut extract
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoon milk powder
4 teaspoons instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg
4 cups all-purpose flour
Topping
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
3 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoon butter, soft
2 tablespoon coconut(finely chopped)

Directions:
1) In a large bowl add coconut milk, lukewarm water, butter, coconut extract, sugar, milk powder, yeast, salt and egg. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Add half of flour and continue to mix till smooth. Gradually add in remainder of flour. When it becomes difficult to mix, dump onto a work surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes. Oil bottom and sides of a bowl. Add dough and turn to coat all sides with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for about 1 hour, or until double in bulk. Cut dough into two equal pieces. Take one piece and cut into 16 more pieces. Roll the first eight piece of dough into a ball and place into the bottom of an 4-1/2 X 8 greased loaf pan. Now, roll out the other 8 pieces of dough and place them on top of those already in pan. Do the same with the other large piece of dough and you should end up with two loaves. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for about an hour or till the dough reaches about 1 inch from the top of the pan.
2) To make the topping, mix flour, butter, sugar and coconut together in a small bowl. Using your fingers mix till the mixture becomes a crumble. In a separate bowl combine the egg white and the tablespoon of water. Beat with a wire whisk till foamy. Brush the tops of the loaves with the foam and then sprinkle with the crumble topping. Place into a 350 degree preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack. Yield: 2 loaves.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Christmas Stollen - The English Kitchen
Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls - Two Peas and Their Pod
Lemon Pull-Apart Loaf - Buttercream Barbie
Quick Brioche - Piece of Cake
Day Before Cinnamon Rolls - Cookie Madness
Hot Cross Buns - Buttercream Barbie

This post is being linked to:
Wild Yeast - Yeast Spotting

59 comments :

Chele said...

I love the knead for bread site! They have brill recipes and it looks as though you have managed to pick a good one. Very yummy looking, think I may need to gove this a try too.

Alessandra said...

This look really fragrant, something I could have for breakfast.

Have a good day

ciao
Alessandra

theUngourmet said...

This is such a nice bread for the upcoming holidays. I am a big fan of coconut. Have a lovely Thanksgiving, Mary.

Katerina said...

I think you found the different and unique taste you were looking for. This bread looks perfect for the festive days coming ahead.

cocoa and coconut said...

Sounds like a fabulous find Mary. I love the bubble pattern in the bread (oh, and you reference to Jamie Oliver aging haha).

Red Nomad OZ said...

Oh, anything you can rip apart by hand and eat by hand will win me! Just call me an uncivilized Australian!!

Happy travels!!

Flavia Galasso said...

Hi Mary...we usually cook bread with yeast cube -it's fresh (we call it brewer's yeast)...leavening lasts from 1/2 to 2 hours (it depends on how many ingredients you use for recipe)... I also have the natural yeast (just made with flour, honey and water...it's alive...if you feed it..it lasts forever).... Now you probably ask to me why I'm telling all these infos...well I find difficult to translate in English these words.... I think "brewer's yeast"- "instant yeast" or "natural yeast" are different..but I don't Know as you called them in the same way... .

HAve a good day..hugs, Flavia

P.S. Anyway this coconut Bubble bread" looks delicious!!

Sushma Mallya said...

Awesome,very beautiful bread..

๓คקเ said...

This coconut bread is simply wonderful. Its shape reminds me a little of the French Brioche Nanterre, the procedure of which makes your life easier: they just roll the dough into 7-8 "sausages" and place them one next to the other, then let them raise.
At the moment of putting the topping on, they simply cut the raised "sausages" in the middle with a pair of scissors, thus obtaining the same aesthetic effect, but with much less effort!

Priya Suresh said...

Great looking bread...

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

What a beautiful, celebratory bread! I could really identify with your search for something new (and the thought of celebrity chefs aging). I run back and forth between trying new things, and sticking to standards - can't decide if I want to be an inventive, or a reliable cook - or just eat truck food :-)

Unknown said...

oh wow. this looks and sounds so delicious. I'm sure it has a nice texture to it. Have a great day. Michael

From the Kitchen said...

My husband and I have been watching the "French Chef 2" Julia Child WGBH Boston series. After watching her segments on croissant and French bread, I've been feeling the need to knead! You've offered an intriguing opportunity in this coconut bread. Sounds like the perfect slice for chilly morning toast!

Have a deliciously wonderful Thanksgiving!

Best,
Bonnie

Kim said...

I really have to prepare this bread! I love coconut and I think it will be perfect for french toasts!!!!!

Unknown said...

Oh I bet that tastes so good...mmmmmm...I could go for a toasted slice of it right now with my coffee! This looks and sounds wonderful, Mary!

Cathy said...

I can imagine that this does make lovely toast. Your loaf is perfect, Mary.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Mrs K said...

Congratulations Mary :) you found yourself the perfect loaf for toasting the holiday breakfast and celebrating the holiday season. I love the bubbles ,they show so well and add so much glamour to the loaf ,I feel like running a knife through the loaf now or no maybe just pulling it out the gorilla way. Coconut happens to be my most favorite ingredient for almost everything :) Happy Thanksgiving to you !!!

CaSaundraLeigh said...

I've always loved coconut flavor..this bread would be great!!

Biren @ Roti n Rice said...

That's a delicious looking loaf of bread. It reminds me of the coconut filled buns of my childhood. Can't get them here. I guess I'll have to make some.....

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Kath said...

That is a great-looking bread, Mary! I would love a slice, toasted, right now!

Mickey said...

Looks delicious!
mickey

Josie @Skinny Way Of Life said...

What a lovely bread to serve at the Holidays! I bet your house smelled amazing : )

Marguerite said...

I love coconut and this bread is beautiful and looks scrumptious! And I bet it would make great French toast, as well. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Monet said...

So I wasn't planning on baking today...but I may just change my mind! This coconut bread looks and sounds heavenly. Isn't coconut milk just wonderful? Thank you for sharing. Continue to enjoy great food and good company!

PeggyR said...

That sounds so good!

Kelly said...

Yum. I imagine if I tore into that I would get a nice steamy slice!

brokeintrovert said...

I just love all of your recipe chocies on your blog. My husband loves to try new things....my 13 year-old daughter...not so much.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

thanks so much and a very happy thanksgiving to you and yours too!!!

La Bella Cooks said...

You are so creative! Wishing you and your family the best this holiday.

tasteofbeirut said...

what a great idea! that bread looks soft and the crust golden and warm!

The Blonde Duck said...

I can imagine you'd have a hard time finding new things!

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Oh sooo pretty a bread Mary!!
Love that bubble and coconut work together to bring lods of deliciousness here!
Must check the site and bookmark this coconut bread too!

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Thannnk u very muc for ur thoughts ,love support and votes too!!!
Really meant a lot!!
Huggies ,
mia.

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

Thannnk u very muc for ur thoughts ,love support and votes too!!!
Really meant a lot!!
Huggies ,
mia.

Rita said...

This looks so so good; almost sinful; keeping this one and will go check out that site; thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving Mary!
Rita

Alicia said...

Mmmm, this sounds delicious and looks beautiful! Thank you for sharing the recipe.

Angie's Recipes said...

Mary, this looks totally flavoursome with coconut. I love its golden brown look!

Flavia Galasso said...

thank you , mary... xoxoxoxo

Chef E said...

Oh Mary, I think I would gladly give up gluten free eating for this recipe one weekend, and will be making it! You made me chuckle when you said Jamie Oliver was aging before your eyes...I kind of am feeling this sentiment as well lately!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Unknown said...

This bread looks fantastic! I have never even thought of coconut bread but the combination I think would be wonderful! Qick breads are not really something I make a lot of. The yeasted bread would be, though!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Well, I have never, ever heard of coconut bread! But But looks so lovely and good, and sounds so yummy! I would love to smell it, too.

My Kitchen Antics said...

tht is something new to me..would love to try it...

Unknown said...

I agree this bread looks like a great one for the holidays. I'm going to check out the Knead for Bread site, thanks for sharing the link. Have a nice Thanksgiving;)

Leslie said...

Coconut Bubble bread???? AMAZING!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I know what you mean by cooking your way through life. I've been there and down that too.

What a gorgeous bread Mary. It's perfect for the holidays. Somehow (and I know it's not the same), but the bubbles on top remind me in a way of monkey bread. Perhaps I've been around too long.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Sam

Susan at www.ugogrrl.com said...

I LOVE, LOVE anything with coconut. This looks unique and so yummy. I cannot wait to try!

Susan www.ugogrrl.com

Beachlover said...

I love anything in coconut!! coconut flake,coconut milk and etc...I bet this bread must taste fragnant!!going to bookmark it!!

Joanne said...

I'm all for gorilla style eating. Mostly because I don't think I'd be able to control my inner cavegirl instincts around this bread! You know those that say EAT NOW. Looks delicious.

Banana Wonder said...

Yum, Mary! I just love the coconut addition. It's gentle and delicious! Thanks for adding me to your list, I will add you too. I love your blog! I wish I could have invited you to my POM dinner!

We Are Not Martha said...

Oh my goodness!! This is definitely going to be one of the next breads I bake!! :)

Sues

Chiara said...

The perfect bread for upcoming holidays Mary, I love it,looks delicious!

aipi said...

I love the name..very new to me, but looks beautiful..baked to perfection!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Mary :)


US Masala

Lucie said...

"Gorilla style"--I love it! This is a totally new kind of recipe for me--thank you for sharing, Mary!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

It does look appetizing Mary. I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving. Especially after your recent trip we have so much to be thankful for.

Alicia said...

Oh, I just adore coconut!. Looks delicious!

marla@familyfreshcooking.com said...

Your bubble bread looks amazing & I love the cute bubbles on top. Looks like you still found a way to get creative. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Alicia Foodycat said...

I would love this for breakfast! Yum!

Jamie said...

Oh I often feel the need to knead! Beautiful bread, Mary! An all around talent, you are! I would love to eat a meal at your house.

Joy, The Herbed Kitchen said...

Hi Mary, this coconut bread is absolutely beautiful. I like to bake bread but now that it is warmer I want something a little lighter.

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