How to Bake Ensaymada – Fluffy, Creamy, Cheesy Filipino Bread

Talk about bread and Filipinos will think of round, soft, sugary, and rich ensaymada, a popular Filipino bread that is so well-loved in the Philippines it can both be bought at neighborhood bakeries for ordinary folks and served at high-end restaurants for well-heeled patrons.

Yes, ensaymada can go from ordinary to extraordinary.

Either way, it tastes yummy!

Ensaymada and Its Many Kinds

The classic ensaymada is usually made of swirled and baked sweetened dough, patted with butter or margarine, and sprinkled with sinful white sugar.

The out-of-the-ordinary ensaymada, on the other hand, is made of round and puffy baked dough, stuffed with ube or purple yam paste and/or macapuno or syrupy coconut sport, patted with butter cream, topped with ham and/or salted duck egg, and then gets a generous amount of queso de bola or Edam cheese shreds.

Heavenly!

Still, other kinds of ensaymada take one or two features of their high-end brothers.

Thus, we can find ube ensaymada, macapuno ensaymada, chocolate ensaymada, ham ensaymada, cheese ensaymada, sweet chorizo ensaymada… and the list goes on and keeps on going longer and longer.

Who Eats Ensaymada

Almost all Filipinos eat ensaymada because not only does ensaymada go across income ranges, it also cuts across ages.

Sweet-toothed Filipino kids adore eating sugared ensaymada.

Filipinos who are past their sweet craze phase prefer the more subdued taste of the cheesy and sweet-and-salty version of this Filipino bread.

When to Eat Ensaymada

Whatever flavor they choose, Filipinos love to chomp ensaymada for merienda or mid-afternoon snacks.

Since it is sweet and creamy, it is best paired with hot coffee or even plain water.

Some would really push their sweetness threshold by eating it with hot chocolate and even soda.

Not only is this bread great for afternoon snacks, it also makes for a well-thought-out pasalubong or homecoming gift.

Traditionally, Filipinos come back to their homes at nighttime or their hometowns during holidays toting a present, usually foods, that everybody can share.

Thus, ensaymada in the Philippines are often individually packed and placed together in big boxes that can be trimmed with a band – much like a gift!

In fact, ensaymada is a very popular gift especially during the Philippine Christmas season.

Origin of Philippine Ensaymada

Just like many other foods in the Philippine menu, ensaymada – although now made in a very Filipino way and suited to the Filipino palate – does come from the Spanish ensaimada.

Ensaimada originally comes from Majorca, Spain but has spread throughout the Philippines and many places in South America.

Recipe for a Ensaymada

Preparation Time for Making Ensaymada

• about 5 hours

Baking Time for Ensaymada

• about 20 minutes

Ingredients for Baking Ensaymada

• all-purpose flour – 1 ¼ cups; sifted
• butter – ½ cup; plain; melted
• butter – ½ cup; salted; softened
• cheddar cheese – ½ cup; grated
• egg yolks – 6 pieces
• honey – 1 tablespoon; plain
• milk (preferably full-cream) – 1 tablespoon; powdered
• salt – ½ teaspoon
• water – ¾ cup
• white sugar – ¾ cup
• yeast – 1 ½ tablespoons

Ingredients for Cheese Ensaymada Topping

• butter – ½ cup; unsalted
• cheese – ½ cup; Edam cheese or queso de bola; grated
• white sugar – ½ cup

Steps for Baking Ensaymada

Notes Before Starting:

• It is best to create the dough the night before. That way, it would have ample time to proof.
• Baking can take place the next morning.
• To make other versions of ensaymada, you can replace the cheese in the dough with ham, sweet chorizo, ube paste or macapuno filling.
• Some alternatives to butter for the topping are butter cream, salted duck eggs, or even chocolate spread.

1. In a large mixing bowl, pour in water.
2. Add in honey.
3. Place flour.
4. Sprinkle with salt.
5. Place cheese.
6. Mix everything thoroughly. It is best to use hands for this step.
7. With the exception of softened butter, add the rest of the ingredients.
8. Knead for about five minutes. For this step, it is best to use a mixer turned at low speed.
9. Transfer mixture into a bowl.
10. Cover the bowl with plastic.
11. Set aside for 1 ½ hours.
12. Punch down dough.
13. Divide into servings weighing 60 grams.
14. Roll each with a rolling pin.
15. Pat with softened butter.
16. Twirl each of the dough until round.
17. Place each on a tray.
18. Place in a refrigerator for eight hours or a warm room for four hours. If you have a proofer, then place dough there for 1 ½ hours.
19. Pre-heat oven.
20. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
21. Remove from oven.
22. Cool.
23. Pat with butter, sprinkle with sugar, and place grated cheese on top.
24. Serve.

You're done! Share and enjoy your homemade Philippine ensaymada with everyone!

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