Coconut Turnovers - Barbados

Barbados - Coconut Turnovers

Barbados fluffy yeasted buns/turnovers are heavenly to your lips and stomach.  They are baked and stuffed with sweet coconut seasoned with a variety of spices. The aroma that fills the room when they are baking makes your mouth water and you are too anxious for them to be ready for consumption.

On Sundays in Barbados, coconut turnovers are usually consumed with a glass of tea or juice.  They can also be made for brunch or to take on a picnic.  They are best tasty when they are warm.

These turnovers are a must have treat once visiting Barbados.  Make sure to visit one of the local bakeries and try what genuine turnover tastes like.  The recipe below will also guide you as to how to make this heavenly delight.

Recipe

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

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

Mix the flour and salt, then cut in the cold butter until you have a breadcrumb-like consistency. 

In a separate bowl, mix the white sugar, yeast and milk. 

Combine the wet ingredients with the dry, mixing to form a dough. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured board and knead gently for 1-2 minutes. 

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, leave somewhere warm and let rise for about 1 hour (the dough should double in size).

Combine the filling ingredients in a bowl, stirring well so that the sugar begins to dissolve and the mixture is moist. Set aside.

Punch down the risen dough and lightly knead it for half a minute. Cut the dough into equal pieces. With each piece, roll into a 3-inch circle, place a heaping tablespoon of the filling in the centre; spread the filling out to ½-inch from the edges. Lift one end of the dough to the other, folding and sealing the ends together. Form into a loaf shape.

Place each turnover on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, seam-side down. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Brush turnovers with sugar water and sprinkle with brown sugar, then place in an oven preheated to 350F. After 18 minutes, brush again with sugar water, sprinkle with more brown sugar, and allow to bake for another 2-3 minutes. This will help develop a sugary crust. Remove from the oven and cool on racks for 15 minutes.

Turnovers are best eaten warm, when the filling is still gooey :) Enjoy your turnover with a glass of juice or tea.

Recipe adapted from: www.barbados.org