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Japanese-Style Pandan Coconut Bread

A Hokkaido milk bread loaf with a tropical twist, with the added bonus of being vegetarian-friendly.

Equipment

  • Stand mixer

Ingredients
  

For the Tangzhong

  • 40 grams water see note 1
  • 40 grams coconut cream
  • 15 grams bread flour

For the Dough

  • 300 grams bread flour
  • 15 grams coconut milk powder OR full cream milk powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon instant yeast
  • 20 grams fresh pandan extract OR 1½ teaspoons store-bought, see note 2
  • 90 grams coconut cream
  • 1 large egg about 55 grams
  • 55 grams unrefined coconut oil OR unsalted butter, melted
  • 50 grams coconut sugar OR granulated sugar

Instructions
 

  • First, make the tangzhong. In a small skillet or pan, add 40 grams water, 40 grams coconut cream, and 15 grams of bread flour. Whisk or stir until throughly combined and smooth.
  • Transfer the pan over low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened similar to the consistency of mashed potatoes, about 3 minutes.
  • Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, add the remaining bread flour, milk powder, salt and instant yeast, taking care not to let the yeast touch the salt. Whisk to combine.
  • In a separate jug or bowl, add the pandan extract, remaining coconut cream, egg, oil and sugar. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
  • Using your dough hook, start your mixer at speed 1 and add all the tangzhong and liquid ingredients to your dry ingredients. When a shaggy dough forms, increase to speed 2 and knead, until smooth and elastic, 15 minutes.
  • Remove the dough from the mixing bowl and shape into a tight ball.
  • Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise, until doubled in size, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
  • After the dough has doubled in size, gently punch down the dough and divide into 4 equal-sized pieces.
  • Working with one piece at a time, roll out the dough into a 5- by 8-inch rectangle.
  • Fold both short edges to the center into thirds, like folding a letter.
  • Rotate the dough and roll out into a 3- by 6-inch rectangle.
  • Starting from the bottom short edge, roll tightly into a log.
  • Arrange the log in a lightly greased 9- by 5-inch loaf pan. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  • Cover and let rise, until puffy, 50 minutes.
  • While the loaf is rising, preheat your oven to 180 degrees C (fan 160 degrees C).
  • Before baking, brush the loaf with coconut milk. I diluted my coconut cream with equal parts water for the glaze.
  • Transfer to the preheated oven and bake, until golden brown and the center part of the loaf 90 degrees C.
  • Transfer to a wire rack and let cool, before slicing.

Notes

  1. I used homemade pandan extract, and replaced the water with the clear part of the separated pandan juice.
  2. If using store-bought pandan extract, weigh the coconut cream and pandan extract to make 110 grams worth of liquid.