Coconut Heart Bread: A Soft, Pull-Apart Valentine’s Treat Made with Care

Watch the 45s recipe video here: https://youtube.com/shorts/fkS6xdsM3w8

Some desserts are impressive because of technique. Others are memorable because of intention. Coconut heart bread belongs to the latter.

Soft, fluffy, and gently sweet, this bread is filled with a rich coconut filling and shaped into a heart. When pulled apart, the strands of bread reveal a tender crumb and a fragrant coconut centre, making it a dessert that feels personal, thoughtful, and comforting.

Perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, or simply a moment when you want to show care through food, this recipe turns everyday ingredients into something quietly special.

Why Coconut and Soft Bread Are a Perfect Match

Coconut has a naturally warm, rounded flavour that pairs beautifully with enriched bread dough. When baked, the filling becomes fragrant and slightly creamy, contrasting with the bread's light, airy texture.

Using raw cane sugar adds gentle sweetness without overpowering the coconut, while milk and butter contribute to a soft crumb and pull-apart texture. Proper gluten development and fermentation are key, allowing the bread to rise evenly and produce that signature stretch when torn.

Coconut Heart Bread Recipe

Video tutorial: https://youtube.com/shorts/fkS6xdsM3w8

Ingredients

Bread Dough

• Bread flour

• Raw cane sugar

• Salt

• Instant yeast

• Milk powder

• Egg

• Milk

• Unsalted butter

• Desiccated coconut

Coconut Filling

• Desiccated coconut

• Raw cane sugar

• Butter

• Egg

(Exact quantities can be adjusted based on batch size.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Dough

Place all dough ingredients except the butter into a mixer. Knead until a rough dough forms. Add softened butter and continue kneading until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, capable of stretching into a thin membrane without tearing.

Step 2: First Fermentation

Cover the dough and allow it to ferment until doubled in size. When gently pressed, the indentation should remain without springing back immediately, indicating proper fermentation.

Step 3: Prepare the Coconut Filling

Mix all filling ingredients until smooth and slightly sticky. Divide the filling into six equal portions, then roll each into a small ball for easier wrapping later.

Step 4: Degas and Divide

Gently press the fermented dough to release excess air. Divide into six equal portions and shape into smooth balls. Let the dough rest briefly to relax the gluten.

Step 5: Fill and Rest

Flatten each dough portion, place a coconut filling ball in the centre, and seal tightly. Ensure the seam is secure to prevent leaking during baking. Rest for about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Shape into Hearts

Roll each dough portion into an oval. Fold into a triangle shape and make a single cut down the centre without cutting all the way through. Gently open the cut to form a heart shape.

Step 7: Second Fermentation and Baking

Place shaped dough onto a tray and allow it to rise until puffy. Brush with egg wash. Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C for about 20 minutes until golden.

Step 8: Cool Slightly and Serve

Cool briefly, then pull apart while warm for the best soft texture and coconut aroma.

Texture and Baking Tips

• Knead well to achieve the pull-apart “stretch”

• Seal the filling firmly to prevent leakage

• Resting the dough makes shaping cleaner and easier

• Avoid overbaking to keep the bread soft and moist

A Bread That Speaks Without Words

Freshly baked coconut heart bread fills the kitchen with gentle sweetness. The exterior is lightly golden, while the inside stays soft and tender. Each bite carries coconut fragrance without heaviness, making it easy to enjoy and easy to share.

This is not a dessert meant to impress with extravagance. It is meant to express care: handmade, thoughtful, and warm.

Watch the recipe video again here: https://youtube.com/shorts/fkS6xdsM3w8