Quick & Delicious Trinidad Coconut Rock Buns: Perfect Every Time
If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and utterly delicious treat, look no further than Trinidad Coconut Rock Buns! This nostalgic snack is not only super simple to make but also packs a punch of flavour with its coconut-infused, raisin-studded goodness. It’s the perfect combination of a sweet, sugary crust and a soft, airy interior – a true Trinidadian classic!
The best part? You can whip up a batch of these coconut rock buns in no time. Whether you’re baking them for a cosy tea break or as a treat to share with friends, they’re always a hit.
And guess what? This recipe is just one of the many in my free ebook “7 Sweet Trini Treats”! Stick around to find out more – you won’t want to miss it!
Why Trinidad Coconut Rock Buns Are So Special
Coconut rock buns are a nostalgic treat for me. I vividly remember saving up my allowance as a child to buy them from the lady who sold baked goods out of the back of her station wagon every Wednesday afternoon at my prep school. Occasionally, I’d stray from my usual and pick up a sugar bun or currant roll, but I always came back to my faithful friend – the coconut rock bun.
I think the appeal lies in the contrast of the rough-hewn, homely exterior, which hides the soft, airy texture of the inside. Or maybe it’s the sweet, sugary crust, which perfectly complements the coconut-infused, raisin-studded flavour. Who knows? It may take a lifetime of consumption to find out! 😉
When I was making these buns, my mother kept asking what I was doing. When I told her I was making rock buns, she kept mumbling that she’d never heard of them. But once she tasted one, she immediately said, “Is toto!” Turns out, she knew this baked good as “toto” (pronounced TOE-TOE) from her childhood in Jamaica. But when I looked it up, I found that every Jamaican site I visited referred to toto as a cake, not a bun! I may never get to the bottom of the mystery, but I do love the story!
Recommended Tools
- Non-Stick Baking Tray – Essential for ensuring your coconut rock buns come off the tray easily.
- Mixing Bowl Set – A good set of mixing bowls makes preparing your dough a breeze.
- Digital Kitchen Scale – Accurate measurements lead to consistent results in every batch.
- Hand Mixer – Perfect for beating eggs and mixing ingredients quickly and efficiently.
- Silicone Spatula Set – Ideal for scraping down bowls and ensuring every bit of flavour is mixed in.
- Oven Thermometer – Helps you maintain the perfect oven temperature for even baking.
- Sifter/Flour Sieve – Ensure your flour is light and airy for the perfect dough texture.
- Baking Brush – For greasing your tray or adding an extra touch of melted butter before baking.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Trinidad Coconut Rock Buns
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Tray
Start by preheating your oven to 360°F (190°C). While that’s warming up, grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper to ensure your buns come off easily once they’re baked.
- Rub the Margarine into the Flour
Next, sift your all-purpose flour into a large mixing bowl. Use your fingertips to rub the margarine into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. This step ensures the dough has that delicate texture we all love in rock buns.
- Add the Sugar, Raisins, Baking Powder, and Coconut
Once your flour mixture is ready, stir in the brown sugar, raisins, baking powder, and shredded coconut. This is where the magic happens – those ingredients combine to give your buns a sweet, fragrant, and flavourful base.
- Beat the Eggs and Add the Wet Ingredients
Beat the eggs and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl. Then, pour the egg mixture into your flour mixture and combine. Slowly add the milk, a little at a time, to help bind everything together.
- Combine into Dough
Use your hands to bring the dough together. It should feel moist but not sticky. If it’s too dry, add a little more milk. Once combined, the dough will be thick, but it will hold its shape.
- Shape the Dough and Add the Sugar
Using a spoon and a fork, divide the dough into equal pieces and shape each one into a rocky cone shape. Place them on the greased baking tray. At this point, I like to sprinkle a generous amount of brown sugar on top of each bun for that extra sweet, crispy crust.
- Bake and Enjoy
Place your tray in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. The buns should have a slightly hard, sugar-coated outer shell and a soft, fluffy interior.
Trinidad Coconut Rock Buns
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour sifted
- ½ cup soft margarine
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 4 Tbsps. raisins
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 medium eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 tsps. milk
- ½ cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 360°F / 190°C. Grease baking sheet.
- Using the finger tips, rub fat into sifted flour until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add sugar, raisins, baking powder and coconut, mix in evenly.
- Beat eggs and vanilla. Pour into flour mixture and combine then add milk slowly.
- Combine mixture with the hands until a moist dough is formed.
- With a spoon and a fork, divide dough into equal pieces and shape each piece into a “rocky cone” on the greased baking tray.
- *(Although the recipe doesn’t call for it at this point I sprinkle the buns generously with brown sugar 😉 )*
- Bake for 15 minutes or until done.
Troubleshooting Tips for Perfect Coconut Rock Buns
- Buns too hard? You might have overbaked them. Keep a close eye on your oven time. Every oven is different, so it’s important to start checking at around 12 minutes.
- Buns too soft? The dough may have been too wet. Try adding a little more flour next time to ensure the right consistency.
- Uneven sugar crust? Make sure you sprinkle the sugar evenly over the dough before baking.
Storing and Serving Your Trinidad Coconut Rock Buns
Coconut rock buns are best enjoyed fresh, but if you need to store them, place them in an airtight container once they’ve cooled completely. They’ll stay fresh for about 2-3 days. I recommend enjoying them with a cup of tea or coffee – the perfect pairing for an afternoon treat. If you want to hold on to them even longer freeze them after they cool. They will thaw and reheat well for up to a month.
Conclusion
Trinidad Coconut Rock Buns are a perfect balance of simplicity and flavour. With just a handful of ingredients, you can create a delicious treat that evokes nostalgia and brings the comforting taste of the Caribbean to your kitchen. The step-by-step process ensures that even beginner bakers can achieve that perfect balance of a hard, sugary exterior and a soft, fluffy inside. Plus, it’s quick enough to fit into a busy day.
And if you loved this recipe, I know you’ll enjoy the others in my free ebook “7 Sweet Trini Treats”. In this downloadable guide, I’ve packed in more easy, delicious, and classic recipes from Trinidad that are perfect for any occasion.
Ready to Bake More Trini Treats?
Download my free ebook, “7 Sweet Trini Treats”, now and discover even more irresistible recipes to add to your baking repertoire. These recipes are a great way to explore the flavours of Trinidad and Tobago, impress your friends and family, and enjoy some nostalgic treats from your childhood.
Don’t miss out—get your copy today and start baking!