Pani Popo

It's amazing how tasty such an unassuming little roll can be. It doesn't look like much more than any other roll but it is, I promise. My church does frequent pot lucks, we get together and chat and enjoy lunch. It's so fun to see what other people cook.  There is a Polynesian lady at who always brings huge pans of pani popo to every pot luck. I grew up not liking coconut so I always passed them by until my oldest daughter convinced me to try one. It was love at first bite, they are amazing. Imagine a deliciously soft, gooey, roll dripping with a warm sweet coconut sauce.

1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp yeast
1 1/2 c. warm milk

4 eggs
8 Tbsp. butter, softened
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract

7 cups flour 

Whisk together the warm milk and the sugar and sprinkle the yeast over the top to proof. Leave it about 5 minutes to make sure it gets foamy. 

Add in the eggs, butter in cubes, salt, and vanilla. Dump in the flour all at once and mix to combine. I used an electric mixer for that part. 

Turn out on to a floured surface and knead until smooth. Put in a lightly greased bowl and let rise about and hour or until doubled in size. Cut the dough in half and divide each chunk in to 12 equal pieces, for smaller rolls, make them in to three pans.  Shape in to rolls and place in a 9x13 baking dish. Let rise until doubles in size again. Pour 1/3 of the coconut sauce over one pan of rolls and another 1/3 over the other pan. It will look like too much but it's not, I promise.

Bake at 350 until golden on top. Divide the coconut syrup between the two pans and drizzle over the top. Serve while still warm.

Combine 
2 cans coconut milk
1 cup sugar

Whisk together over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Original Picture - Post updated 7/19/2017