Calvos mean “baldies” or “bald man” in Spanish. Some people call them Pelones which basically mean the same thing. I have actually never tried one before and I thought the name was pretty hilarious. So, I knew I had to try it. The Calvo is basically yeast bread with icing and coconut. The shiny icing resembles the bald head, while the coconut resembles the hair. It’s actually pretty funny and it gives a little insight to what kind of humor the Panaderos had.
I love anything with lemon flavors. Cookies, pies, cakes and breads; you name it. Both the bread and the icing have lemon in them. But, you can definitely keep it simple. Maybe even do a chocolate icing.
Calvos/Pelones (Baldies)
A soft, lemony sweet bread topped with lemon icing and sweetened coconut. This bread resembles a shiny bald head with coconut for hair.
Equipment
- 1 large baking sheet
- parchment paper
- 1 stand mixer optional
- 1 whisk
- 1 pastry brush
Ingredients
Dough
- 315 g All purpose flour 2 cups
- 60 g granulated sugar 1/4 cup
- 1 TBS yeast
- 2 pinches salt
- 4 TBS unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 TBS lemon extract
Icing
- 120 g Powdered sugar 1 cup
- 2-3 TBS milk
- 1 TBS lemon extract
Topping
- sweetened coconut
Instructions
Dough
- In a mixer bowl combine: flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Incorporate the dry ingredients by mixing with a whisk. Use dough hook attachment to combine wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.Gradually add milk, eggs, butter and vanilla. Knead the dough 8-10 minutes. The dough should be soft and stretchy. Form the dough into a ball, place into a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel. Let it proof in a warm area for 45 minutes-1 hour. Dough should double in size. Press air bubbles out of dough. Separate the dough into 12 equal pieces. Roll each dough piece into balls and set them on a parchment lined baking sheet and proof for 45 minutes. Top each piece with room temperature butter. Bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes. (Read notes for baking time suggestions). The bread should have a golden top.While the bread is cooling down, make the icing. Icing:Combine milk, powdered sugar and extract and whisk together. You should get a a thick, smooth icing. Add icing to the top of bread by dipping it in the icing or brushing it on with a pastry brush. Immediately add coconut around the sides of the bread. Let the bread sit for a few minutes so that the icing can settle and thicken.
Video
Notes
The recipe calls for 12, but you can definitely make less. But, keep in mind that it will alter the time in the oven.
You can use any extract you like. I’ve made the bread and icing with both vanilla and lemon extract.
Don’t make the icing too far ahead of time, it will start to settle and thicken. (Speaking from experience).
The icing shouldn’t be too thin. You should see a thick, flowy ribbon when you pull the icing with a whisk.
Make sure to add the coconut right after you add the icing. The coconut with stick better with the icing still wet.
I place them back on the parchment lined baking sheet so the icing can settle and become glossy.
