Indulgent Filipino Ensaymada

If you’re looking for a sweet and indulgent Filipino pastry, look no further than the Ensaymada. This soft and buttery bread is topped with a generous amount of cheese and sugar, making it a favourite for special occasions and everyday snacks alike. In this recipe, we’ll show you how to make Ensaymada from scratch.

Why You Need Our Recipe

• Impress your friends and family with a delicious homemade pastry.
• Enjoy the rich and buttery flavour of Ensaymada without leaving your house.
• Customise the toppings to suit your tastes, whether that’s traditional sugar and butter or something a bit more experimental.

About Ensaymada

Ensaymada is a popular pastry that originated from the Philippines. It is a sweet bread that is typically served as a breakfast or snack food. The bread is typically rolled into a spiral shape before being baked. And the Filipinos top it with grated cheese before serving.

Ensaymada has a long and storied history in the Philippines. In fact, you can trace the bread’s origins back to the Spanish colonial period, when Spanish settlers introduced their own baked goods to the country. Over time, Filipino bakers put their own spin on these pastries, and Ensaymada emerged as a distinctly Filipino treat.

Today, this bread is a staple of Filipino cuisine and can be found in bakeries and cafes throughout the country. Furthermore, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with large Filipino populations.

Star Ingredient

Queso de Bola

The star ingredient in this recipe is the Queso de Bola cheese. While it is not actually baked into the bread, the cheese is a quintessential part of this dish as a topping. Indeed, Queso de Bola is as important as Ensaymada in Filipino culture.

READ MORE: Why Queso de Bola is the Philippine’s most important cheese →

Other Ingredients

• Plain Flour (also known as all-purpose flour)
• Sugar
• Dry Yeast
• Milk, warm
• Eggs
• Butter, unsalted and at room temperature
• Salt

Scroll to the bottom to find the full list of ingredients and detailed recipe.

Prepping Tips

• Make sure your butter is at room temperature before starting the recipe.
• If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can mix and knead the dough by hand.
• To make sure your dough rises properly, make sure the environment is warm and draft-free.

Complete Recipe Steps

1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and let sit for 5 minutes.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix to combine.

Scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe card

3. Add the warm milk, eggs, and yeast mixture to the bowl. Mix on low speed until the ingredients come together.

4. Increase the speed to medium and mix for 5-7 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

5. Add the room temperature butter to the bowl and mix until the butter is fully incorporated and the dough is smooth and shiny.

6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead briefly. Form into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size

7. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

8. Divide the dough into 12 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Roll each ball into a long rope and then coil the rope into a spiral shape, tucking the end under the bottom of the Ensaymada.

9. Place each bread into a greased muffin tin.

10. In a small bowl, mix together the butter and sugar until well combined.

11. Brush each Ensaymada with the butter-sugar mixture.

12. Bake the breads for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

13. Remove from the oven and let cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

14. Once the Ensaymadas are cool, sprinkle with a copious amount of grated Queso de Bola.

How to Serve Ensaymada

You can serve Ensaymada in various ways, depending on personal preferences and the occasion. One traditional way is to slice it into smaller pieces, sprinkle it with sugar or powdered sugar, and serve it with hot chocolate or coffee. Some people also like to warm up their Ensaymada before serving it, either by toasting it in the oven or heating it up in the microwave.

Another popular way to serve Ensaymada is to top it with various sweet toppings, such as ube (purple yam) jam or fruit preserves. To do this, simply spread the desired topping on top of the Ensaymada and serve it as is or lightly toasted.

Finally, you can enjoy this Filipino pastry as a dessert, either on its own or paired with ice cream or whipped cream. However you choose to serve it, this indulgent treat is sure to delight anyone with a sweet tooth and a love for delicious baked goods.

Recipe FAQs

There are some of the most frequently asked questions about this amazing dish.

Can I use a different type of flour in this recipe?

We recommend sticking with plain flour for the best results. Other types of flour may affect the texture and rise of the dough.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before continuing with the recipe.

Can I freeze the Ensaymadas?

Yes, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, let them thaw at room temperature and then warm in the oven or microwave.

Printable Recipe Card

Ensaymada is a beloved Filipino pastry that’s rich and indulgent. With this recipe, you can make your own from scratch, complete with a buttery topping and grated cheese.

Impress your friends and family with this delicious homemade treat, or enjoy it as a special indulgence for yourself.