Last month (December) brought so many exciting moments, but one surprise I didn’t see coming? The viral rise of our beloved Samoan dessert, pani popo (Samoan coconut buns)! If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok, you’ve probably seen the buzz surrounding this sweet treat— soft bread rolls baked and soaked in a rich coconut sauce. It’s everywhere on my For You Page, and honestly, it’s so heartwarming to see others enjoy a dish that many of us grew up eating, a true taste of home! Pani popo has been stealing the spotlight lately, and people are loving it.
Check out @ronnys_og on TikTok, a Samoan cook based in London who has helped bring pani popo to the masses. Many TikTok users who’ve raved about the dessert and shared their reactions have been using his recipe!
Ronny created a video where he made this dish for his daughter’s school bake sale, and it’s been getting so much love. He even shared the recipe with the world, and now we’re passing it along to you!
Here’s the list of ingredients for Ronny’s Pani Popo recipe:
FOR DOUGH
- 500 ml warm milk
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 7 grams yeast (1 packet)
- 800 grams self-raising flour
- 100 grams melted butter
FOR SAUCE
- 400 ml coconut milk
- 400 ml coconut cream
- 400 ml condensed milk
Here‘s the recipe
- Combine 500 ml of warm milk, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 7 grams of yeast in a bowl. Stir and let it bloom for about 5 minutes.
- In another bowl, add 800 grams of self-raising flour and make a well in the center. Pour in 100 grams of melted butter and the milk-yeast mixture. Stir until combined.
- Dust your counter with flour and have your dough scraper ready. Transfer the dough onto the floured surface and knead for 3-5 minutes, shaping it into a ball. Cover and let it rise for 1-2 hours.
- Once the dough has risen, punch the air out, shape it into a log, and use the dough scraper to cut it into balls. Flatten each piece and fold it back in on itself, then roll it into a ball.
- Butter your tray and line it with parchment paper. Arrange the dough balls in the tray, leaving space between them as they will expand. Cover with a tea towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- For the coconut sauce, mix 400 ml of coconut milk, 400 ml of coconut cream, and 400 ml of condensed milk in a bowl. Pour half of the sauce over the dough balls and brush it over the tops for caramelization.
- Preheat your oven to 170-180°C (338-356°F) and bake the buns for 30 minutes. At the 20-minute mark, remove the tray from the oven and pour another quarter of the coconut sauce over the buns, then return to the oven for the remaining 10 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, pull the buns out of the oven and, if desired, pour the remaining coconut sauce on top.
@ronnys_og FULL RECIPE
♬ original sound – RONNY’S OG
