Pão de Deus

Translated as the bread of God, this traditional Portuguese dessert is a combination of a soft brioche and a topping made with desiccated coconut and eggs. The dough is usually flavored with lemon zest, rum, or vanilla, and the buns are baked until the topping turns golden and crispy. These sweet rolls are eaten throughout the year and are commonly enjoyed for breakfast, but they are also associated with All Saints Day and the old Portuguese custom known as pão-por-deus—in which children knock on doors reciting poetry and asking for sweets and candy.