Salara, a delightful Guyanese Coconut Roll, features a soft, pillowy dough filled with sweetened coconut, making it a perfect treat for any occasion.

Scale

1 teaspoon active dry yeast

such as Red Star

1 teaspoon granulated or brown sugar

1/4 cup warm water

2 cups all-purpose flour

plus more as needed to prevent sticking

4 tablespoons granulated sugar

Pinch salt

3/4 cup warm milk

2 tablespoons melted butter

3 cups sweetened shredded coconut

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Liquid red food coloring (I use McCormick brand)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

melted

In a small bowl, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Add the warm milk, melted butter, and the yeast mixture, and stir until a dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until smooth. Place it in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. In a saucepan, combine sweetened shredded coconut, water, melted butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and grated nutmeg. Cook on low heat until the mixture is moist but not runny. Add food coloring to reach your desired shade of red.
Once the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle. Spread the coconut filling evenly over the dough.
Roll the dough tightly like a jelly roll, pinching the seams to seal. Place it seam-side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let it rise again for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Brush the top of the roll with melted butter.
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let it cool slightly before slicing.

For a twist, you can experiment with different extracts in the filling or add chopped nuts for extra texture.

Keywords: Salara, Guyanese Coconut Roll, coconut dessert, baking recipe, Caribbean treat