Have you got your mouth watering looking at these bad boys? I do! These sweet buns are just perfect… I was so happy when I found a vegan version and managed to adapt it a little bit myself. You can call it ‘bread of God’ or ‘Arrufada’ in Portugal. Try it, you will understand why these were indeed God’s creation 🙂 You can eat it warm (my favourite) or room temperature. After a couple of days, heat it a few seconds in the microwave, is like they’re fresh from the oven!
Time: 3.30h approx.
Type: cake
Difficulty: 3 pans
Makes: about 12 buns
What you need
For the dough:
600g all-purpose flour
150g caster sugar
100g vegetable spread (slightly melted)
1 sachet dry yeast (7g)
200ml lukewarm plant milk (soya or oat)
1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed to 2 tbsp water)
For the topping:
6 tbsp shredded coconut
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp cornflour
1/4 tsp turmeric
½ cup unsweetened plant milk (soya or oat)
Moisture resistant icing sugar
Utensils:
Measuring jug/ scales
A few bowls and spoons
Small pot
Baking brush
Baking trays
Directions:
For the dough:
Mix warm milk with yeast and 1 tbsp of sugar (save the rest for the dough) and let it sit for a few minutes until it forms foam on top (this means the yeast is activated);
Pour flour into a big mixing bowl and open a well in the middle and pour yeast mixture (once ready), sugar and flax egg- mix all well;
Add soft vegetable spread and mix all with your hands until all is incorporated in a firm dough, not sticking in your hands (if necessary, add more flour);
Leave the dough to rise for about 2h in a warm(ish) area with a fabric cloth on top (I put mine in the oven, switched off, off course!);
Once risen, cut the dough into 12 equal parts, and lay them into a floured baking tray (you’ll probably need 2). Cover with a cloth and let it sit for another 20min;
Meanwhile, to make the topping:
In a pot over a low heat, stir in the cornflour, turmeric and soya milk for a minute; Add 1 tbsp of sugar so the mixture gets a bit sticky- remove from heat and let it cool;
Add the coconut and rest of the sugar to the remaining yellow mixture and spread about a tbsp on each bun;
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200֯C for about 30/40min until golden;
Once baked, sprinkle with icing sugar.
Plant Based Portuguese 