Brazilian Coconut Rolls ( Pao Doce Com Coco)

I have a good friend that is Brazilian but she doesn't cook.  I wanted to make something she ate as a child so she could share a taste of her childhood home with her own children.  I surprised her with these rolls.  If you like coconut, you will love these.  They are not overly sweet but have a wonderful coconut flavor.  For the dough, pour 1/2 C. milk in your mixer bowl, add 4-1/2 tsp. rapid rise yeast, 1/2 C. sugar, 8 tablespoons of softened butter, 1 large egg and 1-1/4 C. coconut milk.  Slowly mix in 5-3/4 C. flour.  Knead until you have a smooth ball of dough. Place in a buttered bowl, cover and let double in size, about 1 hour.

 For the filling, mix 1 C. shredded sweetened coconut with 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. 

 Mix this together and set it aside.

 For the topping, mix 1 C. coconut milk with 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 C. coconut.  Set aside.

 When the dough has doubled, roll it out into a large rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.  Brush it with some melted butter.

Drop spoonfuls of the filling over the dough.

 Spread the filling over the dough and then roll it up jelly roll style.  Slice it into twelve - 2 inch slices.  Place them in a parchment lined pan and grease the pan.  Cover and let them rise for about 30 minutes.

Bake them in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes.  Cover them with foil for the last 10 minutes to keep them from over browning. Drizzle them with the topping while they are warm.  I only used half of the topping.