Soft Guyanese Coconut buns are filled with raisins, cherries and shredded coconut. Whip up this batch in 30 minutes with no chill time!
This is similar to a Coconut Bun Recipe (also called Guyanese rock buns) that my mom makes. Although, as the name suggests, her recipe makes buns that are biscuit-like. My recipe creates softer coconut buns.
For the past 20 years, my mom would make trays of these buns for family events, potlucks and picnics! This is a great recipe for large events because the recipe can be doubled, tripled and even quadrupled! Anytime we make these coconut buns, it gives me a nostalgic feeling as we make these during a time of year surrounded by family.
If you are looking for another traditional Guyanese recipe, check out my Dairy Free Sweet Rice.
Coconut Buns are a part of Guyanese Cuisine
Other Guyanese recipes are: Hot Cross Buns, Guyanese beef patties, Cheese Rolls, Salara and Pinetarts. But today we are talking about Coconut Buns. These Coconut Buns are:
✔️ Filled with raisins, red glace cherries and shredded/grated coconut
✔️ No chill cookie dough
✔️ Made without butter
✔️ Easy Guyanese coconut buns recipe
What are the Ingredients for Coconut Buns
All purpose flour: All purpose white flour is best for this recipe. I haven’t tested with other types of flours.
Baking powder: The leavening agent to help the buns rise while baking.
Salt: Add a 1/4 tsp salt to balance the sweetness.
Ground clove, cinnamon and nutmeg: In addition to cinnamon and nutmeg, we add ground cloves! But, if you do not like the taste of clove, you can omit it.
Here is a list of 40 recipes using ground cinnamon and nutmeg!
White granulated sugar: To add sweetness add 3/4 cup of sugar to this rock bun recipe.
Eggs: Use room temperature eggs to bind the ingredients and to add fat.
Vanilla extract: 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for flavour.
Raisins: Raisins add sweetness.
Grated or shredded sweetened coconut: I use pre-shredded sweetened coconut, but you can use fresh grated coconut as well.
Red glace cherries: Roughly chop the red glace cherries before adding to the rock buns. Find these cherries at a Bulk food store or grocery store.
How to Make Soft Guyanese Coconut Buns
Mise en place: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 2 cookie trays with parchment paper, set aside. Chop the red glace cherries and set aside.
Sift dry ingredients: After that, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and spices into a small bowl, set aside.
Prepare wet ingredients: In a large bowl, mix margarine and white sugar together for about 2 minutes, next, add eggs and vanilla extract, mix together until combined.
Mix dry into wet ingredients: Then, pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and fold together until fully combined to form a soft cookie dough ball.
Add the mix-ins: Fold the raisins, coconut and cherries until evenly mixed into the dough.
Form into cookie balls: By hand or using a cookie scoop, form balls and set aside on the prepared baking sheet. However, do not roll the cookie into a completely round ball and do not flatten. It is typical to have these buns in an odd shape.
This recipe will make about 18 – 20 soft coconut buns.
Garnish: This is an optional step, but for garnish, add a red glace cherry on top of each coconut bun and sprinkle with coconut flakes.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 14 minutes, rotating the pans halfway. The bottom of the buns should be a light to golden brown colour and remove from the cookie tray to a cooling rack right away.
Enjoy: After the cookies are cool, enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee! To sum up, we have made Soft Guyanese Coconut Buns with a few simple steps!
💡 Ashley’s Expert Tips and Substitutions
💡 Measure by weight: If possible, measure ingredients by weight (instead of volume). Measuring by weight is far more accurate than volume. If you must measure the flour by volume, use the “scoop and level” method.
💡 Do not over-mix: Do not over-mix any step! As a result of over-mixing, you may have a denser bun!
💡 Raisins: Can omit, add more coconut and cherries
💡 Shredded coconut: Can use either grated or shredded coconut (as long as it’s sweetened!). Or if you prefer, use grated fresh coconut.
💡 Red glace cherries: Can omit or substitute for green glace cherries
Frequently Asked Questions
What are other Guyanese Pastries and Snacks? There are a lot of Guyanese Pastries and Snacks like: Hot Cross Buns, Cassava Pone, Cheese Rolls, Salara, Pinetarts and more!
Do coconut buns need to be refrigerated? Leave the coconut buns in an airtight container for up to 1 week. You do not need to refrigerate unless keeping the buns for longer.
More Recipes
Dairy Free Sweet Rice
Moist Carrot Cake
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
How to Make Soft Coconut Buns {Dairy Free}
Ingredients
- 3 cups + 3tbsp (454g) All purpose flour
- 4 tsp Baking powder
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ⅛ tsp Ground clove
- ½ tsp Ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp Ground nutmeg
- 1 cup (198g) Vegan margarine*
- ¾ cup (160g) White granulated sugar
- 2 Eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 cup Raisins
- 1 cup Grated or shredded sweetened coconut
- ⅔ cup Red glace cherries, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare 2 cookie trays with parchment paper, set aside. Chop the red glace cherries and set aside.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and spices into a bowl, set aside. In another bowl, mix together margarine and sugar, about 2 minutes. Add in the lightly beaten eggs and vanilla extract, mix together until combined. Do not over-mix.
- Then, pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and fold together until fully combined to form a soft cookie dough. Fold the raisins, coconut and cherries until evenly mixed into the dough.
- By hand or using a cookie scoop, form balls and set aside on the prepared cookie tray. Do not roll the cookie into a completely round ball and do not flatten. It is typical to have these buns in an odd shape.
- Bake for 14 minutes, rotating the pans halfway. The bottom of the buns should be a light brown colour and remove from the cookie tray to a cooling rack right away.
Notes
- Measure by weight: If possible, measure ingredients by weight (instead of volume). Measuring by weight is far more accurate than volume. If you must measure the flour by volume, use the “scoop and level” method.
- Do not over-mix: Do not over-mix any step! As a result of over-mixing, you may have a denser coconut bun!
- Margarine: Use vegan margarine for a dairy free coconut bun, but can be replaced with regular margarine.
- Ground clove: Can omit clove, can add more cinnamon if desired.
- Raisins: Can omit, add more coconut and cherries.
- Shredded coconut: Can use either grated or shredded coconut (as long as it’s sweetened!).
- Red glace cherries: Can omit or substitute for green glace cherries.
Made these for my hubby and he loved them! I didn’t have the cherries so I just made them with out and they came out so good! He is excited to try them with some cherries next time I make them!
Thank you for trying these coconut buns out!
Oh my goodness, these coconut buns are amazing! So easy and delicious!
Thank you!
This recipe is amazing. Easy to o follow and they turn out amazing.
Yay! Glad you enjoyed the coconut buns 🙂
I was looking for a new cookie to try. So glad I found your recipe. Thank you
Let me know if you try out the recipe!
I love the mix of spices and coconut, these are a favourite for sure!
Yes! the spices go well with these coconut buns 🙂
wow these are super delicious. a little spicy and coconuty!
Thank you for trying! I love the spices as well.
Would love to try the recipe. Thanks for sharing ❤️
Let me know if you have tried out these coconut buns!
These buns are beautiful! Is there a way to sub out the eggs?
Hi! Thanks for your comment, you can try flax eggs 🙂
What an interesting recipe. I love the addition of all the spices. Delicious buns.
The spices really make these coconut buns stand out!
I love anything with coconut for additional sweetness, this is perfect for a healthy snack to make.
I agree, I always pack a couple for lunch for a snack.
These coconut Buns are absolutely stunning.
Thank you!
These coconut buns are so so delicious! Love the taste and texture.
Thank you for trying out!
Love the combination of coconut with the cherries! Great recipe and easy to follow.
Yes that’s a great combination! Thanks for trying
Such yummy buns and they look so cute too
Thank you 🙂
Rock cakes, as we call them. are a family favourite with us. But I’ve never added coconut to them before. Your version sounds fab. Will give it a try.
The coconut really adds great texture to these buns!
Thank you for the detailed instructions how to make Soft Coconut Buns. They are delicious
Thank you! I love this recipe too
Love the fruit in these cocobut buns! Simple, easy to make, and super delicious.
Thanks Anaiah! This is a great recipe for picnics since it’s so easy to make 🙂
these buns are delcious!!
Thanks for trying!
The texture is perfect and they came out beautifully!!
Thank you for trying! I’m happy to hear that they came out well!
Yummy! I really appreciated your extra tips – very helpful!
Thank you! I’m glad that the tips worked 🙂
Delicious! We ate the whole batch in one go…
lol, that happens in my household too! Happy to hear 🙂
super tasty recipe. so delicious and easy to follow
These soft guyanese coconut buns are such a delicious indulgent treat, thank you.