Pani Popo is a Samoan sweet roll baked in a delicious coconut sauce. One of my favorite Pacific-Island dishes from my bakery days in Hawaii.
Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Rolls)
Oh how I love Pani Popo. Even though it is a Samoan dish, I was first introduced to it when I lived in Hawaii. As I mentioned before, I worked at a bakery when I lived in Hawaii and was introduced to SO MANY amazing treats and recipes, this being one of my-all time favorites. I loved waking up early in the morning and making these delicious rolls. The smell is intoxicating!
What is Pani Popo?
Pani popo is such an easy dish to make and it is oh so tasty. If you have never had Pani popo before, it is basically a soft dinner roll baked with a sweet coconut sauce. It is soft and fluffy on the inside and the bottom is nice and gooey, like a gooey sweet roll should be (but gooier). I love that I am am able to make these at home for my family (and that they LOVE them as much as I do. Seriously, my kids go nuts over these)!
Versatile and Delicious
You can serve this with pretty much any dish. They’re delicious as a breakfast item, side dish or even dessert. With Thanksgiving coming up, this would be a great way to switch things up and try a new kind of dinner roll that the whole family will love!
If you want to go traditional and make your own, made from scratch rolls, you can use the recipe HERE. But if you want a quick and easy alternative, you can just use frozen rolls and thaw them (both taste great).
More Tropical Treats
- Hawaiian Wedding Cake: Hawaiian Wedding Cake starts with a simple cake mix. Add a splash of coconut and pineapple and it becomes a refreshing cake that tastes like a piña colada.
- Coconut Cream Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting: This Coconut Cream Cake is a coconut lovers dream! Coconut infused cake, with a rich and creamy coconut cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with even more toasted coconut, you will be in coconut heaven with every bite.
- Caribbean Coconut Fudge Bars: These Caribbean Coconut Fudge Bars can’t be beat! A soft oatmeal cookie crust with chocolate fudge and gooey coconut topping- an instant favorite!
- Orange Pineapple Cake: Orange Pineapple cake is a light, fruity cake with an island flair. You will love the delicious whipped creamy topping! Perfect for potlucks and parties!
How to make Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Rolls)
Ingredients
- 20 frozen dinner rolls depending on size (see note above for homemade rolls)
- 10 oz. coconut milk (1 can)
- 1 c. sugar
Instructions
- Coat a 9x13 glass baking dish with cooking spray and arrange rolls evenly to thaw (if doing homemade rolls, roll dough into golf-ball size balls and arrange the same way).
- Cover with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray (to keep dough from sticking to the plastic wrap).
- Allow to rise until doubled in size. This can take 4-5 hours. If you need the rolls to thaw quicker, follow the quick-rise instructions on the frozen roll packaging.
- Pre-heat oven to 350-degrees.
- In a bowl, combine coconut milk and sugar and whisk until sugar is dissolved.
- Pour about 2/3 of the coconut mixture over the rolls and bake for 20-30 minutes (or according to package/dough recipe instructions) or until golden brown and dough is baked through.
- Remove from oven and pour remaining coconut mixture evenly over the top of the rolls.
- The rolls should be sticky and gooey on the bottom (read notes above). Can be served upside down or right-side up.
Allyson Zea says
Whaaaaaat?!?! How have i never heard of these?!?! They look AMAZING!
Beth says
This looks so delicious and yummy! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Jen says
Working in a Hawaiian bakery sounds like a dream job with a lot of yummy perks! I can’t wait to try these.
Heidi says
Just tried this today and its so0o good! I’m so glad I found your page! Its quick easy and DELICIOUS!
Sam Phillips says
Has anyone tried Hawaiian Bread Rolls? Since they are sweet rolls & quite soft – I’m wondering if you could fry the outside little or bake in the oven a little, then poke with small sticks (like what is used for Shish-Kabob)? Then cool, and continue with the recipe. Gotta give 5 stars, even though I haven’t made them yet!!! But they SOUND SOO GOOD!
Chris OKelly says
I’ve tried 2 other brands than Rhodes, and they don’t get as big. It’s usually down in the frozen section by the Texas toast. Rhodes makes a Texas size roll too. But if you want to try a faster way, because you added the corn starch to thicken the sauce ( the coconut milk is important, don’t get the less expensive brand- look in the Asian Section of the store).. Head down to Golden Corral type Restaurant and buy 2 dozen of the rolls pre-baked.. Then follow the steps..( make sure you spray the GLASS cookware)… Utah-Chuck-o-Rama has the best! And I live in California!! I’ve even gone Rogue and put Pineapple rings on the bottom of the glassware and the dough in the holes..
Dave says
I had Pani Popo frequently while living in SoCal years ago because I had a lot of Samoan friends there. I made these today and they were perfect! I used Sister Schubert’s dinner yeast rolls because you don’t have to thaw them first, and it only takes 10 minutes in the oven.
Erica Walker says
So glad you these turned out so well for you! I bet they were even more delicious with homemade rolls!
Belle says
How long does it take for this to go bad after baking and does it need to be refrigerated?
Erica Walker says
If you decided to store them, I wouldn’t let them go for more than a day. They will get soggy and probably not taste so great. I would probably refrigerate them and then reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds. Hope this helps.
Kawika Atoe says
Do u remove the plastic wrap before baking?
Erica Walker says
YES. You definitely want to remove the plastic wrap before baking. Hope this helps!
Jessica says
These melt in your mouth!
Guy says
Delicious
Kahikolu says
This is a Samoan Dish. It comes from Samoa.
Liza says
The one thing you don’t mention is the time it will take to thaw/double in size.
Can’t wait to try these…I hope I give them enough time to rise. The turkey does not wait for rolls.
Favorite Family Recipes says
Thank you for pointing this out. I made some adjustments to the recipe. It does take 4-5 hours for the rolls to thaw and rise. Most frozen rolls packaging gives instructions for speed-rising that takes about 2 hours. I hope you enjoy the rolls!
Sherry says
Do you have a good recipe for peanut butter bars?
Erica says
You bet! https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/peanut-butter-bars/
Cam says
How do you store these and for how long?
Erica says
They don’t stay great for way long– I would say a day or two at most. They will get too soggy. Definitely the best fresh.
Judie Hensel says
recipe for homemade rolls for the Pani Popo rolls are on a broken link. where to find it??
Echo says
Thank you for letting us know the link is broken! It is now fixed. You can find the recipe here:
https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/moms-homemade-rolls/
Wenduy says
All your recipes you post look scrumptious. This one I could do looks pretty easy.
Echo says
Thank you so much! You will love the Pani Popo rolls. They are delicious!
Victoria says
I was SUPER excited to try this :I LOVE anything coconut . What I ended up with were rolls where the tops were beautiful golden brown and the bottoms were very slimy and beyond soggy. The texture was SO disgusting I cannot see how anyone would like this. I must have done something wrong as the recipe was SUPER simple. What did I do wrong??
Erica says
The texture is supposed to be very wet.. the bottoms are supposed to be drenched in the coconut milk. That is how they are in Hawaii. Sorry it didn’t turn out the way you had expected!
Ellen says
Just get past the texture and try it and you’ll be a fan! It’s a bit of a messy eating but worth it!
Bruna says
What brand of frozen dinner rolls you like to use?
Erica says
Typically we will use Rhoades rolls.
Ashli Garris says
What grocery store do you find Rhoades rolls in typically. ..I have looked around my area aND can’t find them? Thanks
Erica says
We have found them at almost any grocery store in the U.S. Did you look in the frozen section?
Lady Paia says
I have not found frozen buns in my Safeway or Foodland in Hi. I have to make my own sweet bread
Erica says
Homemade is definitely the best. I bet your pani popo is amazing! 🙂
Victoria says
Walmart sells the Rhodes frozen dinner rolls
Toni-Sue Lua says
use whatever brand you have. They are in the freezer section
pam says
My neighbor makes something like this only she leaves out the sugar and uses 2 T. Corn starch and 2 T. water to the coconut milk.
Toni-Sue Lua says
Sugar is relative. Some people use only 1/2 cup. Some use cornstarch and some do not. Corn starch makes the sauce a little thicker is all. Some even use half coconut milk and half water with the cornstarch.
Lynn says
Could this be adapted to use in a Dutch oven? I wanted to make them at a family reunion.
Erica Walker says
Possibly…? Dutch ovens (I’m assuming you mean cast iron) can be tricky especially when doing them over coals because it is so hard to regulate the temperature. If you are doing it in an oven, it might be easier. Keep a close eye on them and make sure they don’t heat up too quickly and burn. Hope this helps!
Jayleen says
I love it
kt says
My friend makes these. They are so good!
Maud says
Like belly stickers…sort of…