Sweet Coconut Bread Twists: Soft, Golden Brazilian-Style Rolls Made With Sweetened Condensed Milk

The house smells like a bakery, and nobody wants to leave the kitchen.

On the counter sits a platter of golden twists, still warm, glossy on top and dusted with coconut. Someone has already put the coffee on.

A Little Taste of the Brazilian Afternoon Coffee

In Brazil, the late afternoon has a lovely ritual called café da tarde, afternoon coffee, when families gather for a cup and something sweet from the oven. One of the most beloved treats on that table is a soft, sweet bread made with sweetened condensed milk, often twisted or braided and sprinkled with coconut.

These twists are exactly that. The dough is enriched with condensed milk, eggs and a little oil, which makes the crumb incredibly soft, tender and lightly sweet, almost like a cross between a dinner roll and a brioche. Each piece is twisted into a pretty rope shape, brushed with a sweet milk glaze as soon as it comes out of the oven, and showered with shredded coconut that clings to the shiny tops.

Making sweet bread at home may sound like a project, but this dough is friendly and forgiving. Most of the time is simply waiting for it to rise while you go about your day. And the reward, warm bread with a cup of coffee, is worth every minute.

They are wonderful for breakfast, a weekend brunch, a church bake sale or a cozy afternoon with friends.

Let's see what goes into this soft, golden dough.