My cover’s blown, yeast and I just don’t get along. We have our differences and have agreed to disagree. Not that I don’t meddle in its affairs. If only I had more time, I’d beat it into shape. With a demanding day job, I never have enough time see the process through. Knead, cover, let it rise, wait and repeat. I just don’t have enough time. But I do love bread and in my head “real” bakers can claim the title only if they’re proficient at making bread.
This small series is the result of my sparring with yeast and for people like me (and I know that yeast is no easy friend to win over). Over the next 5 days, I will be sharing 5 delicious quick bread recipes. Not that this is anywhere close to baking with yeast but there is some comfort in baking these flavorful delights.
While I’m going to put together a series of yeast breads too, you can kick back and enjoy the show.
The first one I’m sharing today is a simple coconut bread. The recipe is from Bill’s Food by Bill Granger. The simplicity of this unassuming bread is striking. The recipe can be counted upon to yield nice, firm slices with small but moist, buttery and coconuty centre. You could also give it a variation by accenting this with a citrus flavor. A little spin with a zest of your choosing.
Most quick breads can be easily served with butter. And even though the bread is great as it is, I felt we could kick off the series with a little indulgence. The frosting I’ve chosen is a simple combination of cream cheese and sugar with toasted coconut to garnish it.
- 2 eggs
- 300 ml of milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
- 2½ cups of plain flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 1 cup of caster sugar
- 11/2 cups of shredded coconut
- 75g of unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 113 grams soft cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup shredded coconut, toasted
- Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a loaf pan.
- In a measuring jar, whisk the eggs, milk and vanilla together. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon and baking powder together. Add the sugar and coconut. Mix well until all ingredients are well combined. Make a well in the centre.
- Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and gently mix until just combined. Add the melted butter. Gently mix until the mixture is smooth, making sure you don’t overmix.
- Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Leave in the pan to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing and placing onto a wire rack to cool.
- Beat all the ingredients together until its smooth and of spreadable consistency.
- Spread the frosting on the bread and garnish with toasted coconut.
Come back tomorrow and you may be treated to another classic. Should you want me to feature a particular recipe you fancy, drop in a comment and I’ll try and bake that too.
Happy Baking!
I just want to eat the frosting of this cake!!!!
Wow – that looks absolutely amazing! I enjoy working with yeast – and I bet you’d be terrific….you just need to quit your day job!
Mmm…coconut with cream cheese frosting…awesome!
love the tropical flair of this sweet bread. I am sure the coconut lends such a moist texture and the frosting is a nice touch. This one is a keeper and looking forward to more of your posts-yum!
This looks incredible. I love banana bread and love the idea of adding coconut. I’ve saved this to my favourites.
Thanks Jules! Banana bread is on the list! Stay tuned :)
This looks so beautifully moist and delicious – I want a slice now! I think so many people are scared of yeast, or just don’t have the time for all that kneading and rising, so this series of quick breads is a fantastic idea. Looking forward to reading more! :-)
mhm coconutbread. how unusual and the frosting, I d love to try your bread! =)
ahhh, I dont like to work with yeast. In europe I dont mind, but here it never worked out well. Tried to make once something and then too had to make it in my mother in laws kitchen and it ended up a shamefull disaster. -_-
What a beautiful quick bread and a great way to start off this mini-series! Can’t wait to see the others =)
What a delicious quick bread. Love the coconut and the cream cheese frosting looks to die for. Beautiful work!
Looks wonderful!
I can absolutely relate, job during the week, chores on the weekend – it’s tough doing time intensive recipes! I’m looking very forward to this mini-series :)
Ummm this looks superyum,..:)
Yeast or no yeast, this bread looks great! I will look forward to seeing your other creations. :-)
Yeast and I have battled many times as well, and I’ve yet to claim a decent victory. However, I think I can handle a quick bread and this one is off the charts! Your pictures and this recipe are very good. Kudos to you!!!
This looks SOOO good and moisted! Yum!
I want this bread so much – right now..that my stomach is actually forlorn that it can’t have it. Kind of reminds me of these great coconut ensymadas we used to get at this wonderful Filipino bakery. Absolutely gorgeous too!
Gorgeous bread, An! Looking forward to your quick bread series :)
I make a batch of home-made bread once a week and I love the process, even more so since I got a Kitchen Aid stand mixer as it cuts down the kneading time. I also love the ease and convenience of quick breads, banana being one of my favourite. This coconut bread is lovely and to frost it with cream cheese frosting just takes it to that next level of deliciousness.
This is food porn at its finest… LOL. The way that cream cheese is dripping down the sides? Good grief! Looks absolutely delicious, An!
Can’t wait to read about the other breads you come up with!!
My heart just skipped a beat! I love the look of this bread! I’m dreaming of a still warm slice with a little butter and a hot cup of tea! Mmmmm
Oh dear, what a bread…I love the flavor and your photos are truly mouthwatering!!!!
Holy Moly this looks amazing! I have to agree with another reader and could just eat the frosting! I’m definitely adding this recipe to my index of things I NEED to make this Holiday season! Thanks for sharing!
Coconut bread, is simply divine … I’ve never tried it with icing on top but my goodness I MUST!! What a great recipe – – I bet your kitchen smelled like heaven :)
I’m not really a fan of coconut but I bet the flavor is wonderful in this bread. It looks so incredibly moist. YUM!!
OMG! Just send me the one that’s already packaged! The bread alone looks awesome then you had to go add the cream cheese topping! Be still my heart! :)
This looks divine! I can’t wait to try it! Two questions…did you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut? And is “vanilla essence” the same thing as vanilla extract? Yum yum, can’t wait to make this! Thanks for another awesome looking recipe!
Hey Maggie! I use unsweetened coconut. and vanilla essence and extract is the same. Happy Baking!
I agree with you, yeast breads and I don’t always get along either. But your quick breads always look great!
Whoa this looks so good!! I love coconut especially with the cream cheese frosting- sounds so good for an afternoon snack!
I fell in love with your coconut bread, just by looking at it. I know i won’t be disappointed when I take my first bite. Coconut will always have a special place in my palate. I always find the taste exotic. I just hope I can make this bread (with the help of your recipe) as good as what I see in this page. Thanks a lot!
This looks amazing! I love coconut, and I think the cream cheese frosting goes wonderfully with it! It looks gorgeous and I love the way you wrapped it :)
Alright. I HATE cream cheese…and this STILL looks delicious! You always get me with those photos. In theory, I could make that delicious-looking bread w/ a different frosting…
Haha! You hate cream cheese! Oh no! The bread is divine. Frosting or no frosting! You should definitely give this a go!
This looks heavenly! Oh, I think I might have dreams of that cream cheese frosting tonight…
Holy cow that looks awesome!!
That coconut bread looks outstanding! I love coconut anything. What a perfect frosting too!
This looks absolutely perfect!
Wow! Those of my favorites – coconut and cream cheese frosting! So drool-worthy :)
I love coconut so I’m totally admiring this bread. Great combination of flavors.
I love anything coconut but never had coconut “bread” before! The cream cheese frosting is extremely delicious. I like the sprinkle of coconut on it too. So irresistible for coconut lover like myself. I’ll be thinking about this all afternoon… hmm yum~~~!
Those photos look amazing and I am sure the bread tastes great. I seem to favor cream cheese icing over buttercream. It sweet and tangy and goes so well with almost all cakes and best of all takes color so well.
Just posted Coeur A La Creme, a French dessert made with cream cheese and cream.
That looks SOO amazing!! Mouthwatering, really…
Omg I have to try this. Coconut is one of my fave things in the world. Bookmarking so I can try this. Gorgeous bread with beautiful pictures.
Yum! I love coconut and despite it being a tropical fruit it looks so pretty for desserts in the winter. Thanks for sharing!!
O my! it looks gorgeous, love Coconut in all baking :), beautiful clicks
I am a coconut fan. This cake seems to be so tempting, I am surely making this soon!