I was floored to see that Willow Bird Baking is a finalist for SAVEUR Magazine’s Best Baking & Desserts Blog. Thank you so much for making this happen. If you’d like to vote for Willow Bird Baking, you can do so here. You all are truly wonderful.

Batik . . . Issei . . . Caballero . . . Kuchen . . . Coffle . . . Lariat . . . Trepak . . . Twoling . . .

The spelling bee pronouncer carefully enunciated one word after another, round after round. The dwindling pool of contestants seethed: a child was always approaching the microphone timorously, bouncing back to their seats triumphantly, or moping over to their consoling families. I sat in the audience rigid with excitement, scribbling each word on the back of an old envelope I’d found in my cavernous purse.

Watching my student compete in the 72nd annual Winston-Salem Journal Regional Spelling Bee was already an ideal afternoon for a logophile like myself, but making the event even more wonderful was the fact that Mike was at my side. Since the Bee took place about halfway between our two cities, he agreed to meet me for a nerdy date! As I frantically attempted to spell each word before the contestant had a chance, he did math in his composition book. (We’re quite the exciting pair.)

My student did a phenomenal job. She got out (with only 5 contestants left!) on the word ringent. If you’re being honest, you’ll probably admit that you didn’t really know how to spell ringent, either, so that’s not bad at all for a 12-year-old. She was disappointed, but I was thrilled with her performance. She still has two full years of eligibility, and since we were so close this year, I fully expect to travel to D.C. eventually to watch her in the National Bee.

After she left with her family, Mike and I set out to explore Winston-Salem. We scanned every restaurant on the main thoroughfare (to appease me; Mike would’ve been happy just to choose one) before finally settling in for pizza and more nerd talk. Mike taught me about hyperbolic conservation laws. We then ambled down the street looking for dessert (or in my case, two desserts, ’cause that’s how I roll.)


ha ha, get it?

One of our dessert stops was at a little coffee shop and bakery where Mike ordered a coconut roll. The flaky pastry was reminiscent of a cinnamon roll, but stuffed instead with toasted coconut. We both enjoyed it, but as soon as I tasted it I told him, “I can do better. I’m going to make you one of these and it’s gonna be insane.” I tucked the mission down into my heart while he promptly forgot about it.

The afternoon was also filled with other lovely things. After buying me a coffee-flavored frozen custard cone, we ambled until we found ourselves seated on a rickety bench outside of a beautiful Moravian church. About a dozen cherry trees heavy with blossoms surrounded us and swayed in the breeze. The sky was a pretty slate blue that belied the sunshine and hinted at an impending spring shower. I think we talked about Moravian chicken pies and guinea hens (one sauntered by us nonchalantly while we were talking — maybe that’s normal in Winston-Salem?), but more important than the conversation was my hand in his, my head on his shoulder.

It was a perfect date. I’m sure Mike drove away thinking about partial differential equations or something in that vein, but I drove away thinking of coconut rolls (oh, okay, and love and hearts and romance and stuff).

It took me a couple of weeks to get around to experimenting, but when I finally did, these lovely Coconut & Almond Morning Buns were the result. They were even more phenomenal than I’d imagined: buttery, gooey, and delicate, with a gorgeous balance of sweet coconut and subtle almond. I proudly presented them to Mike, who had forgotten all about the Winston-Salem coconut roll but wholeheartedly enjoyed my revamped version nonetheless.

By the way, if you’re wondering: yes, these buns whipped the coffee shop’s coconut rolls right out of the mixing bowl. Not that I’m competitive or anything.

Everyone remembers the word they got out on in their childhood spelling bee. What was yours? (I got out on “eclipse” in 5th grade and “monotonous” in 6th.)

Buttery Coconut & Almond Morning Buns


Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking
Yield: 24 buns

These morning buns could easily double as dessert. They are fluffy, gooey, buttery, and beyond delicious. There’s a lot of butter in this recipe, making it a special occasion treat, but I hope you’ll find a space for these rolls on your Easter brunch table. They definitely belong in the spotlight.

Roll Ingredients:
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (100-110 degrees F)
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 cups milk minus 2 tablespoons, room temperature
2/3 cup cold shortening (I use butter flavored Crisco)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
5 cups flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted, for after baking

Filling Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup (3 sticks) butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups sweetened coconut flakes
7 ounces almond paste, frozen until firm and then grated with hand grater

Glaze Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
2-3 tablespoons milk (to thin to drizzling consistency)

Directions:
Note: I don’t recommend halving yeast recipes; instead, if you don’t want 24 rolls at once, consider freezing some for later. To freeze some of the unbaked rolls, just wrap them well before the second rise and freeze them. Once frozen, pop them out of the pan all together and store in the freezer, wrapped in plastic wrap and in a zip top bag or wrapped in foil. When you want to bake them, stick them back in a greased pan, thaw them in the fridge overnight, proof for the instructed amount of time, and bake like usual.

Mix the warm water and yeast in a medium bowl and let the yeast foam for about 10 minutes. Put 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a measuring cup and then add milk up to the 2 cup line. Set this aside. In a separate large bowl (or the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook), whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and baking powder and cut the shortening into the mixture with two knives or a pastry cutter until the shortening looks like small peas. Stir yeast mixture and milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well, kneading just a few turns. Transfer the dough to a bowl lightly sprayed with cooking spray, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and store in refrigerator overnight.

The next morning, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lightly spray two 9 x 13-inch baking dishes with cooking spray. Turn the chilled dough out onto a floured surface and roll it into a large rectangle about 1/8-inch thick (I carefully cut the dough in half and worked with half at a time to make it more manageable; if you do this, just spread on half of the filling ingredients for each half you roll). Stir the coconut extract into the melted butter; then spread the melted butter all over the top of the dough. Sprinkle on the sugar, sweetened coconut, and almond paste flakes. Gently roll the dough up into a spiral and cut it into rolls, placing them close together in your prepared baking dishes (at this point, you could wrap and freeze the rolls for later if you wanted).

Cover the rolls with a clean dish cloth and let them rise in a warm spot until they’ve nearly doubled, about 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Bake them for about 15-20 minutes or until browned on top (if you take them out at just lightly golden brown, they may still be doughy in the center). Brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter and return to the oven for 1 more minute. Whisk together the glaze ingredients (adding milk to get it to drizzling consistency) and drizzle the glaze over the warm rolls. Serve immediately.

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by | 118 Comments

118 Comments on Buttery Coconut & Almond Morning Buns

  1. Nathan Miracle
    April 5, 2012 at 10:04 pm (13 years ago)

    Clipeboard. Or as it should have been spelled, clipboard.

    Reply
  2. Kelly
    April 5, 2012 at 10:32 pm (13 years ago)

    “Literature”
    I paused and should have restarted spelling the word but I ended up saying a letter twice.

    Reply
  3. Cristina
    April 5, 2012 at 10:59 pm (13 years ago)

    I was the last minute sub for the original spelling bee contestant and I was so nervous I missed the word “determination.” I was crushed.

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 6, 2012 at 1:29 am (13 years ago)

      Aw, Cristina! I especially hate it when the word that gets ya is ironic!

      This reminds me of the time my student asked for the etymology of the word etymology. Too funny. Sometimes the word just fits.

      Reply
  4. Karen
    April 5, 2012 at 11:04 pm (13 years ago)

    Centenarian. I missed an ‘n’ and spelled it centarian.

    I wish I liked coconut-these look amazing!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 6, 2012 at 1:29 am (13 years ago)

      That’s a perfectly respectable word to get out on for sure! 😉 I wish you liked coconut too, Karen, but I bet they’d be just as yummy as plain almond rolls. Mmm.

      Thanks!

      Reply
  5. Joanne
    April 6, 2012 at 2:05 am (13 years ago)

    I got out on souvenir in fifth grade and comedienne in sixth. Both were devastating! I could have SO used one of these buns to make up for it. Swoon!

    isn’t it so funny how girls and boys notice and remember such different things?

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 6, 2012 at 2:10 am (13 years ago)

      It really is! Mike always cracks me up. I actually JUST NOW turned to him and said, “Oh my goodness, do you KNOW who Kim Kardashian is dating?!” and then immediately realized how ridiculous a question that was to ask him. HA. In my defense, I usually wouldn’t know that either. It just happens to be totally strange (Kanye West, fyi). 😉

      We are very different, but good thing we’re both nerds at heart.

      Thanks, Joanne! Totally respectable words, by the way — way more understandable than flippin’ eclipse!

      Reply
  6. Nicole
    April 6, 2012 at 2:13 am (13 years ago)

    These looks soo good! Definitely giving this a try! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Anna
    April 6, 2012 at 5:20 am (13 years ago)

    I was in that exact same spelling bee in Winston Salem when I was 12! And I came in 4th place! I got out on the word “shekel”…I thought it had two K’s. Hooray for North Carolina!

    Reply
    • Anna
      April 6, 2012 at 5:21 am (13 years ago)

      (I”m 22 now, for reference.)

      Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 6, 2012 at 12:20 pm (13 years ago)

      Aww, that’s so sweet! And shekel is a doozy — a very respectable word to get out on, for sure!

      Reply
  9. Deea
    April 6, 2012 at 3:19 pm (13 years ago)

    4th grade…biscuit! How embarrassing!!! LOL! Your coconut rolls sound divine!

    Reply
  10. Foodiewife
    April 6, 2012 at 4:40 pm (13 years ago)

    Me, lose a spelling bee? I’m a stickler for spelling. I had to loose. No, lose. (drives me nuts when people get that wrong.) On to the rolls– I think it’s sweet that you were so inspired to make these even better. My man inspires me that way, too. The more I looked at your photos, the more my sweet tooth said “make these”. My BFF adores coconut. I HAVE to make these for her. So, um, think you can reproduce those Orange Morning Muffins from La Tartine Bakery? I fell in-love with those and am obsessed with trying to figure out how to make them for myself.

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 7, 2012 at 5:24 am (13 years ago)

      Ooh, they sound amazing! Sounds like I need to return to SF for those! Wonder if they’re in my Tartine cookbook… must check!

      Thanks, Debby — hope the BFF loves them!

      Reply
  11. Jen @ Tiny Urban Kitchen
    April 7, 2012 at 1:48 am (13 years ago)

    Congrats on being a finalist for Saveur!!! That’s incredible! 🙂

    It’s funny how we all remember the moment we lost a spelling bee. I guess it’s quite traumatic. I totally misspelled “Indestructible” and lost on the first round!!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 7, 2012 at 5:26 am (13 years ago)

      Thanks so much, Jen, and congrats to you as well! I voted for you just as fast as my little fingers could click. You deserve it 🙂

      I know — the spelling bee is just instantly seared into our memories, isn’t it? I think of that whenever I run my classroom bee — how each child is probably making memories as they’re eliminated. LOL.

      Reply
  12. Eric
    April 7, 2012 at 4:33 pm (13 years ago)

    Winston-Salem! Such a sweet little city. I went to college there – there’s not always a lot to do, but they definitely have quite a few tasty little hole-in-the-walls!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 8, 2012 at 1:59 am (13 years ago)

      We loved it, Eric! Did you go to Wake Forest? You’ll have to let us know where we should eat next!

      Reply
  13. Amy
    April 7, 2012 at 4:42 pm (13 years ago)

    Grammar in fourth grade…notice the “a-r”…get it right every time since!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 8, 2012 at 1:59 am (13 years ago)

      At least the spelling sticks with you for the rest of your life, right? That’s how I am now with monotonous.

      Reply
  14. Michele
    April 7, 2012 at 4:59 pm (13 years ago)

    ahah, i do remember the word i got out on the one spelling bee i participated in.
    it was camaflauge
    camoflauge?
    camuflage?
    camouflage? ah there we go.
    apparently i don’t learn.

    Reply
  15. Sara
    April 7, 2012 at 8:56 pm (13 years ago)

    I got so nervous I dropped a whole syllable out of “library” and that was it for me. Down to the last three contestants and I flubbed because of nerves! The kid after me got knocked out on “meteorology” so I kicked myself even more–I wouldn’t have missed *that* one!

    I’m going to have to try these rolls! I absolutely love coconut pastries and, well, butter. 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 8, 2012 at 1:58 am (13 years ago)

      Aw, the syllable-drop! It eliminates so many determined, bright kids! 😉

      Thanks, Sara!

      Reply
  16. Laura
    April 7, 2012 at 9:17 pm (13 years ago)

    Mine was “ostentatious”. I started with “au”!

    These sound fantastic. I just have to make them when I have company since my silly husband hates coconut.

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 8, 2012 at 1:58 am (13 years ago)

      I can totally see the au!! Darn those coconut-hating folks 😉 I used to be one of them, but now I’m making up for lost time!

      Reply
  17. Ellen
    April 10, 2012 at 12:04 am (13 years ago)

    I made these unbelieveable rolls for Easter. Oh.My. I am a coconut fiend and these rolls satisfy that coconut desire. They are now on the list of “musts” for every holiday. Hmmmm, next holiday? Flag Day???? 🙂 Thanks SO much for the recipe! I cannot WAIT to make them again!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 10, 2012 at 12:31 am (13 years ago)

      Hooray! I’m so glad you loved them, Ellen! They were totally superstars for me, too 😉 Thank you!

      Reply
  18. natalie@thesweetslife
    April 10, 2012 at 2:12 am (13 years ago)

    definitely spelled the wrong form of principal in the 5th grade. i will NEVER make that mistake again!

    congrats on the nomination, you deserve it 🙂

    Reply
  19. Megan
    April 10, 2012 at 12:44 pm (13 years ago)

    It was 8th grade, and I made it to the regional spelling bee. I got out on “epos”. I think I spelled it “eppis”. (I mean, that’s how it sounded when they pronounced it!) Of course, I had a difficult legend to live up to — one of my best friends had won the National, yes, NATIONAL, spelling bee the year before. She even helped me study, and it was amazing to see the process she and her family (her sisters also made it to the nationals a few times) had put together for studying. She is now a math teacher — so I guess she’d get along well with both you and Mike! (Her winning word was vivisepulture. I have never had a reason to use it, but that is one word I will always know how to spell now!)

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 18, 2012 at 1:20 am (13 years ago)

      Love it!! That’s amazing about your friend! You both sound like excellent spellers to me 😉

      Thanks, Megan!

      Reply
  20. Kim
    April 11, 2012 at 5:41 pm (13 years ago)

    In place of the vinegar-soured milk, can you substitute buttermilk? I assume you used whole milk?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Cheryl
    April 12, 2012 at 1:40 am (13 years ago)

    The year I lost it was on restaurant (restuarant 🙁 ). The next year I won, but I don’t remember what the word was. Isn’t that weird? These rolls look so delicious! I’m definitely trying them. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 14, 2012 at 4:12 pm (13 years ago)

      Thanks, Cheryl! That is funny! I guess losing is seared into our memory more than winning 😉

      Reply
  22. Mercedes
    April 14, 2012 at 3:30 pm (13 years ago)

    I voted for you over at Saveur and these rolls look amazing as does everything that you do! I love how you make seemingly difficult recipes seem so easy and manageable and that I get the results I am hoping for when I try a recipe on my own!

    Reply
  23. Kristin Bullman
    April 16, 2012 at 3:45 pm (13 years ago)

    SOOOO happy to have found you and this great site! Loving the stories and the awesome recipes as well! Making my morning! I got out on “adjective”…forgot the d…in the top two…me and my best friend Eunice Lee..fourth grade. WOW!! …some memories really stick! She was gracious and I got over it! 🙂 Can’t wait to try some of these treats! Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 18, 2012 at 1:18 am (13 years ago)

      Aw, thank you, Kristin! You made my day! 😀

      Adjective is a toughie for sure — that crazy d in there! Good for Eunice Lee for being sweet. I know me and my best friend were fierce rivals in middle school over grades and achievements, but our friendship weathered every competition 😉

      Reply
  24. Stacy
    April 17, 2012 at 9:30 pm (13 years ago)

    Fuselage, in 8th grade. I didn’t know what it meant, had never heard (or seen) it before, and I think I spelled it “fusilage”.

    I love anything with coconut and these look great.

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      April 18, 2012 at 1:17 am (13 years ago)

      Another respectable word! I would’ve missed that in 8th grade for sure! 😀 Thanks, Stacy!

      Reply
  25. Ellen Garrett
    April 20, 2012 at 5:12 am (13 years ago)

    These pictures are so lovely. Where do you find almond paste.

    Reply
  26. Nicole H.
    April 26, 2012 at 4:43 pm (13 years ago)

    Julie – I stumbled upon your website through Instagram and I seriously can’t stop drooling… every recipe I click on gets better and better and better. You are amazing, seriously, and you should win the Saveur contest hands down. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes with us all. I can’t wait to see what you have in store in the future!! 🙂 I am now a faithful follower, for sure!

    Reply
    • Nicole H.
      April 26, 2012 at 4:44 pm (13 years ago)

      I meant to say Pinterest!!! Sorry! But if you do Instagram – I would LOVE to follow!

      Reply
  27. Ashley
    April 28, 2012 at 5:55 pm (13 years ago)

    “Pittance.”
    And not going to lie, I had to look it up in a dictionary before leaving this comment because I still wasn’t sure…

    Reply
      • Parmar
        November 21, 2012 at 2:19 pm (12 years ago)

        Yeah, I’m the same way about breakfast. For a while I was good about maikng (healthy!) muffins on the weekends and freezing them for the week, but I’ve slacked off on that. But this soda bread may just inspire me to get back on the baking-and-freezing train. I’ve never seen soda bread baked in a round like this!

        Reply
  28. MariaK
    May 1, 2012 at 7:31 pm (13 years ago)

    Thank you so much for this recipe. I made them this weekend all almond style and they were a big hit. This one is a keeper. I have now been inspired to move on to the croissants.

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      May 1, 2012 at 10:35 pm (13 years ago)

      You go girl!! You can even wrap some almond paste up in each croissant for an almond version! I’m so glad you loved these. I just had another from the freezer over the weekend with a pile of vanilla bean ice cream and they’re definitely one of my favorites 🙂

      Reply
  29. Jennifer
    May 6, 2012 at 11:19 pm (13 years ago)

    In the 2nd grade spelling bee I was ousted on “too”
    I was devastated, but I’ll never again fail to differentiate to, too, and two

    Reply
  30. Tristan
    May 17, 2012 at 11:28 pm (13 years ago)

    “calamity” in the district spelling bee in 5th grade. In my defense, the guy reading off the words said “colamity” with a defined “o” sound… I won the school spelling bee with “dubious.” I can’t wait to try these coconut rolls. I’m so tickled that I found spelling bee’s and coconut recipes in the same page.

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      May 17, 2012 at 11:30 pm (13 years ago)

      Aw, I totally reinstated a kid after mispronouncing a word myself. You should’ve been put back in! 😉 Thanks, Tristan! I hope you love the coconut rolls.

      Reply
  31. Ruth
    May 19, 2012 at 11:06 pm (13 years ago)

    Honestly, the only spelling bee I remember was the one I won in 7th grade. My word was “transubstantiation.” I’d never heard it before – my family was non-practicing Jews! My prize was a copy of “A Tale of Two Cities.”

    This recipe is causing me to salivate. Unfortunately, most of my friends dislike coconut (FOOLS!), and the one who loves coconut is desperately allergic to nuts. Guess I’ll have to make this for my hubby and myself and we’ll just eat until we explode.

    Love your blog and I hope you win the “Saveur” contest. It’s my favorite cooking magazine.

    Reply
  32. Erin
    May 20, 2012 at 4:21 am (13 years ago)

    These looks delicious! I won the spelling bee for my 6th grade class and was going up against the other winners from the 5th and 6th grades when I lost on the word “anterior”. I spelled with an e-r instead of o-r. I was SO nervous…I totally knew that word and blanked when I got up in front of everybody. It’s stuck with me ever since!

    Reply
  33. Kathy
    June 5, 2012 at 4:39 am (13 years ago)

    Hi Julie…This is just the recipe for me, the coconut lover…My brother hates it, so I will try to make them the next time he visits!!! (“Oh, I forgot! Sorry, George.”)….Anyway, my word was “bachelor”, left out the “e”, in 8th grade……On purpose, never could stand the pressure of competition, so I sat down early and sighed a big sigh of relief! Became a teacher, eventually, and always had a soft spot in my heart for little shy kids. P.S. I am an excellent speller, really!

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      June 5, 2012 at 4:43 am (13 years ago)

      LOL! Poor George! 😉 Love the teachers with a soft spot in their heart for shy kids, btw! Thanks, Kathy 🙂

      Reply
  34. Claire
    June 5, 2012 at 11:03 pm (13 years ago)

    can’t wait to try these! I was one of the last two spellers standing in 6th grade. I lost to a girl who had just moved to the district in California from her home state of Florida. What word knocked me out? HURRICANE!!!! lol True story 🙂

    Reply
  35. carolyn
    June 5, 2012 at 11:40 pm (13 years ago)

    family is coming in this weekend….can’t wait to try the coconut and almond breadfast rolls!
    i have gone to a lot of sights…..were the strawberry cheesecakes yours….going to make those, too!

    Reply
  36. Deni
    June 8, 2012 at 3:27 pm (13 years ago)

    Mine was autumn and I knew how to spell it. I was just worried that I was going to miss ice skating with the girl scouts!! LOL!

    Reply
  37. Linda Roe
    August 31, 2012 at 3:51 pm (12 years ago)

    These would be great as a Cream Cheese Danish also 😀

    Reply
  38. Cornelia
    August 31, 2012 at 7:03 pm (12 years ago)

    Quick question – I live in a country where shortening doesn’t exist. I *can* get butter, margarine, lard and pure coconut oil (which is solid at room temperature). Which do you think will give the best results?

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      September 1, 2012 at 1:57 am (12 years ago)

      I’d vote for lard, Cornelia! I think it’ll be a pretty perfect substitution. Please let me know how it works!

      Reply
  39. Katie
    September 4, 2012 at 5:23 pm (12 years ago)

    These look amazing – I can’t wait to try…just wondering have you ever substituted coconut oil for shortening? I have been wanting to try and thought that these coconut rolls might be just the place to try

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      September 4, 2012 at 5:27 pm (12 years ago)

      I haven’t, but you could certainly try! If you do, let us know how it goes! I hope you love them 🙂

      Reply
  40. Karen
    September 16, 2012 at 3:19 pm (12 years ago)

    6th grade – rhododendron. The next school year my mother got me a book bag for school that had a picture of a rhododendron and the word on it, just to be sure I wouldn’t forget again!

    Reply
    • Julio Baking
      September 25, 2012 at 10:28 pm (12 years ago)

      Karen, I actually think that was kind of cruel of her. 🙁

      Reply
      • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
        September 26, 2012 at 12:25 am (12 years ago)

        I think it depends on how she presented it. It could have been a little passive aggressive, but it might have been a fun/sweet mother-daughter inside joke! I hope the latter!!

        Reply
  41. Julio Baking
    September 25, 2012 at 10:27 pm (12 years ago)

    I remember I won the 3rd grade spelling bee on Eucalyptus, which I was very excited about because it included grades 3-6. Victory!!!

    But I’m pretty sure I’m going to be yelling victory when I nail this recipe. Or maybe that’s what hubs will say…

    Reply
  42. Sprigs of Rosemary
    September 29, 2012 at 11:37 am (12 years ago)

    I can’t believe I missed “oppurtinity” in the 8th grade. You’re right; you never forget.

    Reply
  43. Jeanne
    September 29, 2012 at 12:58 pm (12 years ago)

    I have no memory of my childhood but I am told that I was a whiz at spelling bees. That aside, I don’t “do” coconut so I am looking for a substitute. I love your stories along with the cooking. Sweet!

    Reply
  44. Andria
    October 1, 2012 at 12:52 am (12 years ago)

    I was in 3rd grade and my word was CRAYON. I spelled it right, but I forgot to repeat the word after I spelled it.

    I love coconut and this recipe looks awesome! I’m going to make it for my birthday breakfast.

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      October 3, 2012 at 1:30 am (12 years ago)

      Aw, yay!! This will be a GREAT beginning to a birthday!! And goodness, your teacher was picky, wasn’t s/he!! I would’ve given it to you 🙂

      Reply
  45. Ileen Cuccaro
    October 6, 2012 at 7:30 pm (12 years ago)

    Quick question, I am making these now, what should the mixed dough look like, it is not a cohesive ball like bread dough, should there be more flour or as is

    Reply
    • Julie @ Willow Bird Baking
      October 6, 2012 at 7:53 pm (12 years ago)

      Hi Ileen! It’s kind of a stickier mass of dough, not a ball like bread dough, so I think yours is right! Just use plenty o’ flour when rolling it out and you’ll love the results.

      Reply
      • Ileen Cuccaro
        October 7, 2012 at 8:06 pm (12 years ago)

        Thanks Julie, I went with my gut and I guessed right as you just said, thanks times a million for something so delicious. Like sunday morning bakery buns but a thousand times better, yummy. I love baking with almond paste and what a great way to use it. I usually make the italian style pignolli cookies with it. such flavor is all I can say with that coconut too. I froze half as you suggested. I just lightly warmed another one up. So this was my diet today 3 of these suckers and nothing else, lol. Thanks again

        Reply
  46. Ileen Cuccaro
    October 7, 2012 at 8:02 pm (12 years ago)

    I started these yesterday and made them today, all I can say is insane…My goodness, light and flaky yet chewing and gooey, I am making noise just eating these, I already had 3. This is a keeper for sure. The dough was beautiful to work with as well

    Reply
  47. Ileen Cuccaro
    October 7, 2012 at 8:07 pm (12 years ago)

    PS, it rolled out fabulously, with some flour and rolled up great

    Reply
  48. Lisa S.
    December 27, 2012 at 1:48 am (12 years ago)

    Do these have to sit overnight? Or could I make them all in one day?

    Reply
  49. Tina Smith
    February 12, 2013 at 12:48 am (12 years ago)

    I was in 4th place in 5th grade. We exhausted the 5th grade list and moved on to the 6th grade list. So, we were spelling words we were unfamiliar with. I got eliminated with AUNT. I had no clue there was more than one way to spell ANT. 🙁

    Reply
  50. Rachel
    February 24, 2013 at 10:05 pm (12 years ago)

    Sweet.

    Can you even fathom that? I was so entirely nervous, I said the ‘w’ first, stuttered, blushed profusely, tried to correct myself, but ended up being the first one out anyway. But these buns would’ve cured any embarrassment in a heartbeat! I can’t wait to give them a shot :).

    Reply
  51. Joz
    February 26, 2013 at 4:21 pm (12 years ago)

    Aerosol, in 4th grade at the district level. My school didn’t put forth qualifying rounds when I was in the 5th grade and I just KNEW I was going to win District that year. That was 26 years ago. Geez.

    Reply
  52. Barbara Soucy
    April 28, 2013 at 9:28 pm (12 years ago)

    Hi! I’m wondering if the three sticks of butter is correct? It sounds like a lot so I wanted to be sure? Also, how big of a square of dough should it be? Thank you for your response as I’m dying to make these right away!

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      April 28, 2013 at 10:09 pm (12 years ago)

      Barbara, the butter amount is correct. The square will be different whether you roll out half the dough or the whole ball at once, but if you roll it to about 1/4-1/8 inch thick, it’ll be right.

      Reply
      • Barbara Soucy
        April 29, 2013 at 3:30 pm (12 years ago)

        Thank you for your time and I think these re going to be my new favorite snack!

        Reply
  53. Always Wright
    December 12, 2013 at 10:23 pm (11 years ago)

    Foreign. I remember it well!!! I’ll be trying these for Easter. Thanks so much for all of your great recipes!

    Reply
  54. Jan
    January 21, 2014 at 5:23 pm (11 years ago)

    Just made dough, do I really have to wait until morning or is there hours involved? Pleasssssssssssssse tell me hours only

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      January 21, 2014 at 5:57 pm (11 years ago)

      Hey Jan! You can let it rise at room temp for 2 hr or until about doubled in size. I recommend putting it in a warm area (like over a preheating oven’s heat vent).

      Reply
  55. Jill
    October 8, 2014 at 10:46 pm (10 years ago)

    These sound fabulous! Do you make your own almond paste?

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      October 8, 2014 at 10:53 pm (10 years ago)

      I just pick mine up at the store, Jill, but you definitely can make your own!

      Reply
  56. Perfectionist Confectionist
    September 4, 2017 at 10:46 am (7 years ago)

    These are divine!! While I absolutely love coconut, there are a lot of people who don’t (weirdos!) I’m already thinking of ways to make different varieties: chocolate-almond, chocolate-coconut, chocolate-cocount-almond. I think you can see where I’m going. 😉 I think there is one part of the recipe that could be written differently. When taking the rolls out of the fridge in the morning, you say to hear the over to 400, then assemble the rolls and leave them to rise. Do we really need the oven on for 2 hours? 😉 Thanks for your website. Just so many delicious recipes!

    Reply
  57. jennifer weashington
    May 9, 2019 at 4:39 pm (6 years ago)

    my coconut almond morning buns are not rising, need a better thermometer to ck yeast temp. Hope the dough is forgiving. I’ve made some of the other buns and enjoyed them. thanks

    Reply

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