Sunday, October 21, 2007

bill's Coconut Bread


I must've seen the recipe for bill's coconut bread at least a couple of years ago. Being a coconut fiend, I mentally added it to my list of things to bake. Finally I got around to actually making it recently. As for the results, it wasn't as good as I thought it would be but I'm happy I made it and would try it again with some modifications. It's like a very thick dense loaf mixed with bread - not as moist as a loaf and not as dry as bread. I loved how the exterior was crispy when it first came out of the oven - unfortunately it became completely soft the next day. The addition of cinnamon was interesting and people seemed to like it (in fact my boyfriend I think said that it was the thing about the bread that made it special) but personally I wouldn't put that much cinnamon in next time - maybe I'd add lots of vanilla extract, and extra coconut flakes sprinkled on top before baking? I made coconut nutmeg cookies once and that experience might still be traumatizing me from enjoying coconut with spices.


My loaves always puff up so much in the middle so I must remember to try and make sure the ends and corners have ample amounts of batter (assuming that would help fix it). I do love that this is unabashedly a real coconut bread. I think it would be wonderful made into French toast, and more simply, it's good toasted with some butter. And as for the lowercase b in bill's, it's not a typo - it seems to be typed that way for his show and on his site, etc.


bill's Coconut Bread
Adapted from Sydney Food by Bill Granger found on Baking Bites

2 eggs
1 1/4 cups 2% milk
1 tsp vanilla
350g (2 1/2 cups) flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
225 g (1 cup and a bit) granulated sugar
150 g (2 cups) shredded coconut
75 g (1/3 cup) butter, melted

Preheat oven to 180C /350F.

Whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon. Stir in sugar and coconut. Make a well in the center and pour in egg mixture. Stir until just combined.

Add butter and stir until just smooth, being careful not to overmix.

Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan and bake for 1 hour, or until tester comes out clean.

Cool in tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

20 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

oooh this coconut bread looks great - haha, my loaves always puff-up more in the middle as well :0)

Anh said...

I have made this recipe a dozen of times!!! My BF absolutely adores it, and so do I...

Carla said...

Coconut bread sounds yummy! I'll keep this in mind next time I buy shredded coconut.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

This looks like a lovely loaf. Nice and moist like a banana bread. Good job!

Anonymous said...

feed me, Seymour!

KJ said...

I've tried this recipe too. I kinda agree with you. I'm not a great fan. But I know that lots of people love it. Oh well, not everyone can like everything.

Anonymous said...

How funny- I just broke out the coconut too and made coconut blondies! Now I wish I had more to make a bread since yours looks so good.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Some of my friend have baked this bread and I don't know why I haven't yet - your photos are killing me, sweetie! :)

Deborah said...

Don't you hate it when a recipe doesn't meet your expectations?!? It looks great, though!

kickpleat said...

i've made this bread before too! it's so yummy and i definitely should give it a try again soon. it's great toasted!!

Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen said...

The bread looks beautiful! I agree with you that it seems weird to put cinnamon in there.

Anonymous said...

I looks luscious to me. My huzbink less than loves coconut, though, so I'd have to eat the entire loaf myself. Probably dipped in chocolate. And with bananas. YUM. And I've not heard of Bill, but the links you included look great, so thanks!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Your bread looks fabulous and ever so smooth!

Cheers,

Rosa

eatme_delicious said...

veggiegirl: Thanks! Well hopefully spreading the batter out to the edges will help. Maybe overspreading the batter into the edges? Hm.

anh: It's a good recipe. :)

carla: Coconut anything sounds yummy to me! :)

cookie baker lynn: Thanks!

celine: I had to ask my boyfriend what this comment was referring to. :p

kj: I think with a bit of modifications I'd like it more.

hannah: Ohh coconut blondies sound delicious! I've been wanting to make blondies or white chocolate brownies for a while now.

patricia: Aw thanks. Hopefully you like it when you try it! :)

deborah: Ah yea but it's better than a complete inedible disaster! Thanks. :)

kickpleat: Mmm yes it is quite good toasted.

sarena: I think cinnamon is what makes the bread special to some people - something different and unexpected?

kellypea: Oh dipped in chocolate sounds good, or white chocolate! Yum.

rosa: Aw thanks. :)

Cakespy said...

I love breads like this. I love sweet-leaning breads with a savory-but-sweet soup, like pumpkin. I'll bet this bread would be perfect with a pumpkin puree soup I made recently...

Rachael Narins said...

Oh my word. In all my coconut loving days, I have never thought of coconut bread. This is next on my list for sure! Thanks for the spectacular idea!

eatme_delicious said...

cakespy: Oh I ate some of this bread with pumpkin soup actually. :)

eatme_delicious said...

rachael: Haha well I hope you enjoy it! :)

Jessica "Su Good Sweets" said...

I clipped this recipe too but haven't made it. Maybe I'll try something else instead. Thanks for the review.

eatme_delicious said...

jessica: Well there are lost of people out there that love this recipe, it just wasn't for me.