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Fijian Coconut Bread

Fijian coconut bread recipe — a soft, sweet loaf perfumed with coconut milk and baked to a deep golden brown, the island bread that makes breakfast special.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 BreakfastCategory
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Fijian Coconut Bread

Coconut bread, or madrai, is a beloved Fijian staple, baked in home kitchens and sold at bakeries across the islands. It grew from the practical use of the island’s most abundant ingredients — flour, coconut, and sugar — into a national comfort food.

What makes it great: the coconut milk makes the crumb exceptionally soft and tender while lending a subtle, nutty sweetness that needs no frosting or fuss. Toasted with butter, it is the perfect start to a Fijian morning.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Mix the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large bowl.
  2. Add the warm coconut milk, warm water, melted butter, and egg and mix to a soft dough.
  3. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, then cover and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
  4. Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf; place in a greased loaf pan and let rise for 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake the loaf for 30-35 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding when tapped.
  6. Cool on a rack before slicing; serve toasted with butter.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Warm the coconut milk gently — too hot will kill the yeast. This bread also makes wonderful French toast the next day.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryBreakfast
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →