These Samoan coconut sweet rolls are fluffy with a crispy top and a gooey, sugary bottom. My Pani Popo recipe is super simple and indulgent.
Pani Popo – An Indulgent Treat
Have you ever heard of Pani Popo? It’s a roll made in Samoa. I heard about it from my friend. In fact, this is her recipe and she gave me permission to share it with you.
Here’s her story:
Years ago when I was away for college, one of my college friends would invite me to eat dinner with her family occasionally. They were from Samoa and made the most delicious Samoan foods for us. One of my favorite things was the coconut rolls called Pani Popo. They are soft rolls baked in sweet coconut milk. The result is a fluffy dinner roll with a sweet, sticky bottom. YUMMMM! They taught me how to make them using frozen dinner rolls, which made it really easy.
You will love this unique recipe that is a great addition to an Easter dinner, with a cup of coffee at breakfast, or just because they’re so good!
How to Make Pani Popo
When she shared this recipe with me, I was so glad that they are incredibly simple. I don’t have much time for complicated recipes.
Ingredients
- 12 frozen dinner roll dough balls (such as Rhodes “thaw, rise, and bake” rolls)
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 14.5 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Pani Popo Directions
Here are some step by step directions. I also made a video if you prefer to watch them get made too!
1.) Pull Out the Frozen Rolls
Place the frozen rolls in a prepared baking dish. Cover them and let them rise for about 2 hours.
2.) Mix the Sweet Coconut Mixture
Next, in a bowl mix the coconut milk with the sugar.
3.) Pour it over the rolls
After the rolls doubled in size, pour the sweet coconut milk mixture over them. Let this milky sauce fall into the crevices and on top of the rolls. This is what makes them so good!
4.) Bake Them
Then, just bake them in the oven until they are golden brown on top! Oh they will smell intoxicatingly delicious when they are ready!
What to Serve with Pani Popo
I prefer to eat these at the end of dinner as a dessert. They are so sweet that they kind of overpower a savory meal.
I’d serve these rolls at a brunch with coffee and fresh fruit.
Can you freeze Pani Popo?
Yes! I’d personally freeze them in the baking dish that you cooked them in. Then, cover them up completely and write the date on the lid.
They will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, just let them thaw and bake them again, for less time. They taste best completely warm from the oven.
Here’s the shortcut Pani Popo recipe card. Don’t forget to pin this post and share it with your friends. You are going to love it!
Pani Popo - Samoan Coconut Rolls
Pani Popo are soft rolls baked in sweet coconut milk. The result is a fluffy dinner roll with a sweet, sticky bottom.
Ingredients
- 12 frozen dinner roll dough balls (such as Rhodes “thaw, rise, and bake” rolls)
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 14.5 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 150F, then turn off.
- Grease a 9x12 inch glass baking dish very well with non-stick cooking spray.
- place the 12 frozen dinner roll dough balls into the pan in 4 rows of 3.
- Fill a small sauce pan half way with water, then bring to a boil on the stove over medium-high heat. Remove the pot of boiling water from the heat and place in the warm oven on one of the oven racks. This will create a warm, high moisture environment in the oven for the dough balls to thaw and rise.
- Place the baking dish of dough balls in the oven uncovered and allow to thaw and rise until the dough balls have more than doubled in size; approximately 2 hours.
- Remove the bread dough from the oven and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the coconut milk and sugar until well combined. There may still be some very small bits of the coconut cream that does not full incorporate. This is okay and they will melt as the rolls bake.
- Pour all of the sweet coconut milk mixture over top of the dinner roll dough. Be sure the tops of the dough are all evenly coated with the coconut milk.
- Bake the Pani Popo for 30 minutes at 350F. Check the rolls after 20 minutes of baking and if they are getting too brown, lay a piece of foil over the top of the rolls to prevent them from over browning during the final 10 minutes of baking.
- Remove the rolls from the oven and cool for at least 15 minutes in the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 rolls Serving Size: 1 rollAmount Per Serving: Calories: 623Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 1347mgCarbohydrates: 82gFiber: 5gSugar: 27gProtein: 28g
More Sweet Treats
Here are some more sweet treats you should make next.
Those sound so amazing! I’ve never had sweet rolls like this, and that is SO going to change – probably today. Om nom nom.
These rolls look so delicious. I am going to have to give them a try for sure. Thank you for sharing a new roll idea for me to whip up for my family.
These rolls sound amazing! I think they’ll be perfect for Easter with our ham dinner.
Yummy! These rolls look amazing! I have never tried coconut rolls but these look like a sweet treat!
Oh I’d absolutely love to try these. They sound so good and having a new roll to go along with meals will be nice!
Sweet rolls are a weakness of mine. I’ve never had coconut milk in any I’ve tried. Must have one now!
Those rolls sound amazing. My oldest daughter would really love these as well. We both love rolls a lot.
Oh my word! I want to try these. These look so good. I can’t wait to try it out.
How good and inviting these rolls look! I would like to try it!
Oh my! This looks amazing, I have to try this out!
These rolls look soooo good! Perfect perfect for Easter and to share around the table with our family!
This will quickly become a favorite in my house!
I am all about coconut flavored food right now. That looks so good! Soft bread is my all time favorite
I never heard of anything like these but boy do these sound and look delicious! I would love to try one out!
This looks so good and easy to make! I love breads with flavor or filling.
Wow, I’ve never made these Samoan rolls. So easy and so affordable. Thank you!