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Sri Lankan Kimbula Banis (Crocodile Buns)
Iconic Sri Lankan sweet buns shaped like crocodiles, covered in a sticky sugar crust. Soft, buttery, and perfect for dunking in tea.
- Prep
- 90 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 110 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- sri lankan
Ingredients
Scaled for 6 servings
- bread flour
- yeast
- sugar
- butter
- milk
- salt
- egg
- extra sugar for coating
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking tray
Instructions
- 1
Make Dough
Knead a rich, sweet bread dough. Let it rise until doubled.
- 2
Shape
Divide dough into portions. Roll each into a long triangular shape (like a croissant). Roll it up tightly from the wide end to the pointed end.
- 3
Sugar Coat
Brush the tops generously with water or milk, then press heavily into granulated sugar.
- 4
Bake
Let rise for 30 mins, then bake at 180°C for 15-20 minutes until the sugar crystallizes and the bun is golden.
Cooking Tips
- Do not skimp on the sugar coating — it is the defining feature of a Kimbula Banis.
- The dough should be rolled very tight to get the distinct layers inside.
Variations
- Chocolate Kimbula: Add chocolate chips inside before rolling.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- 'Kimbula' means crocodile in Sinhala, named after the shape of the bun.
Nutrition Estimate
310 calories · 7g protein · 55g carbs · 8g fat · 2g fiber per serving
