This Ensaymada recipe yields a soft and fluffy bread with step by step video. If you’ve tried every Ensaymada recipe with no luck and are ready to give up, have faith! This unforgettable sweet and savory treat became easy to make thanks to this quick and easy No-Fail Ensaymada Recipe!
This recipe yields soft and fluffy bread. There is a step-by-step photo instruction and video for you to follow.
This Ensaymada recipe is no-fail and easy to follow. This is a copycat taste from the one we get from Red Ribbon or Goldilocks. It will yield 12 pieces of fluffy bread, and it is perfect for a Filipino party or occasion you may have. Double this Ensaymada recipe to make more and share with everybody. This could be your chance to make your own instead of going to Goldilocks or Red Ribbon.
Is Ensaymada Spanish or Filipino?
Table of Contents
Ensaymada originated from Mallorca, Spain, a traditional spiral-shaped pastry topped with sugar. Spain colonized the Philippines for 300 years, and this is just one of those delicious desserts which they influenced. Ensaymada is now a Filipino bread famous in the Philippines. The finished bread is topped with butter and sugar, and cheese is added to balance its sweetness. Paired with coffee, this is a perfect breakfast choice for most Filipinos.
Equipment
● Oven and Stove Top Burner – You will need a burner and pot to make the water roux in and an oven for baking the ensaymada.
● Cupcake Mold – A cupcake mold in the perfect shape for baking these rounded treats.
● Electric Mixer – Either a hand or stand mixer makes mixing up this dough much more accessible. You can mix by hand, but it will take some muscle power!
● Mixing Bowls and Mixing Utensils – A few mixing bowls and tools will help you measure and mix the ingredients for this recipe.
What is Ensaimada Made of?
For the Dough:
● All-Purpose Flour – All-purpose flour has the right protein content for these treats. Don’t try to substitute this ingredient because it might affect the texture of the finished ensaymada.
● Sugar – White granulated sugar is perfect for giving this pastry its lightly sweet flavor.
● Salt – A hint of salt makes everything taste better. Use your favorite fine-grain salt for this recipe.
● Active Dry Yeast – Active dry yeast helps these little bites rise and adds a beautiful yeasty flavor to ensaymada. In a jam, you can swap for instant yeast at a 1:1 ratio, don’t dissolve the instant yeast and mix it straight into the flour.
● Milk – Milk adds a rich, creamy flavor. Use a high-fat variety of milk, like whole milk, for a delightfully rich texture and flavor.
● Egg – The egg acts as a binder, leavening, and flavor enhancer in this recipe. Always choose the freshest eggs available for baking.
● Butter – Butter builds on the rich flavor in this recipe. Use unsalted European butter, if available.
For the Water Roux:
● All-Purpose Flour and Water – This Recipe uses a simple water roux to help stabilize the bread and give it a great body. Use all-purpose flour and filtered tap water for this recipe.
Yeast Mixture
- Water and Active Dry Yeast
For the Topping:
● Butter – What makes ensaymada so unforgettable is the buttery, cheesy topping, and be sure to soften the butter to make frosting easier.
● Sugar – White granulated sugar adds sweetness to the irresistible topping in this recipe.
● Sharp Cheddar or Mixed Mexican Cheese – Sharp white cheddar has the perfect bite and color for this recipe, but if you prefer, you can swap it with another sharp cheese, like blended Mexican cheese. Grab a block and grate it fresh or use a bag of pre-shredded cheese; both work wonderfully in this ensaymada recipe!
HOW DO YOU MAKE ENSAYMADA
Making Ensaymada is an easy process, and it is unnecessary to be intimidated by it. With the step-by-step video attached here and the clear-cut recipe below, there is no doubt that your first try will succeed.
- Make a roux, and mix flour and water in a small saucepan. Turn on the heat in low fire and mix until pasty. Let cool and set aside until use.
- Warm 1/2 cup milk and add the yeast. Set aside for 5- 10 minutes until bubbles form.
-
Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Add the proofed yeast and mix using a wooden spoon or spatula. You can use your hand, too; coat it with a small amount of oil.
-
Add the egg and mix until the dough is incorporated, then add the water roux and try to mix until the dough is combined.
-
Add the butter intermittently. Add a small amount of the butter, then mix the rest until you form a smooth workable dough. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover it with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for an hour until it doubles its size.
-
Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover it with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for an hour until it doubles its size.
-
When ready, punch the dough twice and work on a floured surface.
- Form a circle and divide it into 16 pieces (depending on the size of Ensaymada you want).
-
Form each piece into a log.
- And coil dough from one end to another.
Transfer the coiled dough and put it into a prepared pan. Let rise for another 30 minutes.
-
Bake in a pre-heated 350 F oven for 15-20 minutes.
-
Let cool and frost.
Make the Frosting:
- Soften the butter and spread a thick layer on the finished ensaymada. On top of the butter, sprinkle the cheese and then the sugar.
- Mix the butter and sugar first, and then use this mixture to frost the ensaymada. Then top it with cheese.
TIPS TO SUCCEED IN THIS ENSAYMADA RECIPE
- Use a non-expired yeast. You will not believe how often I used expired yeast and failed in baking. Check the passed date at the back of the packet, OR if your yeast doesn’t bloom – form a bubble within 10-15 minutes; it is expired. So toss that one and get a new one.
- Gather all ingredients and utensils so it will be less stressful for you.
- Make sure to flour your working surface so the dough doesn’t stick.
- Water roux – you need to do these steps. I tried making Ensaymada not doing this step, and the bread was hard so I will be doing this step from now on.
- Last but not least, follow the Ensaymada recipe here. Read it thrice or more so that you’ll know the next steps.
How do you Eat Ensaymada?
- We often serve this with coffee or tea and dip it in our milk.
Ensaymada Common Questions
- Where did I get these Ensaymada molds?
I got these molds in the pastry store in the Philippines; however, I saw some in Bed Bath Beyond.
- Is Ensaymada a Brioche?
This is indeed a Brioche. The texture and taste of the bread, but the butter frosting, sugar, and cheese added on top made the difference.
- What is Ensaymada?
Ensaymada is the Filipino version of Brioche. Originating from Spain, the Filipino version is butter rather than lard base.
- How do you store Ensaymada?
You can store the Ensaymada in the fridge in a sealed container. You can also freeze the bread unfrosted and frost it after thawing.
- How do you reheat Ensaymada?
If the Ensaymada is frozen, you can thaw it on the counter before heating it in the microwave. Heat it for thirty seconds.
What is the Flavor of Ensaymada?
This is sweet, buttery, and fluffy. The mixture of the sugar and butter frosting makes each bite creamy.
FOR MORE EASY & QUICK FILIPINO BREAD RECIPES:
- Pandesal Recipe
- How to Make Spanish Bread
- How to Make Pandesal Ube with Cheese Filling
- How to Make the Best Pandesal with Step-By-Step Video
- List of Filipino Desserts
- 8 Filipino Bread for Thanksgiving
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook
Soft and Fluffy Ensaymada Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
WATER ROUX:
Dough Mixture
FOR THE TOPPINGS:
Instructions
MAKING DOUGH:
FOR THE FROSTING:
Video
Notes
Jovy says
May I ask the size of your tin mold?
Shobelyn Dayrit says
I am so glad that you get to earn from this recipe. Somebody also used my Siopao recipe and selling it too. Good luck and I wish you the best.
Jane says
I make them regularly now and sell them to friends, they just love it, thanks for this simple but yummy recipe
Shobelyn Dayrit says
I am so glad it worked for you!!! Thank you for rating the recipe, and have a good day.
Aubrey says
Thanks for sharing your recipe. It tasted so delicious.
I made 12 pieces the other day and now I am
making it again
Shobelyn Dayrit says
Thank you forletting me know.Enjoy!!!!:)
Joanna says
Yum! I just made it! Its really really good! So soft, not dense at all! Thank you so much!
Shobelyn Dayrit says
Hi, Patsy.
This will be on the 3rd step. Check out the instruction on the blog. Good luck to you! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂 And, it is softened, room temperature.
Patsy says
Please ignore my first comment- lots of typo- sorry. what I wanted to know is when do you add the butter. I seem to not notice it on the video. Is the butter softened or melted? Thanks
Shobelyn Dayrit says
I am so glad it worked for you.Thank you.
Anonymous says
My first attempt turns out great! Just I think I overproof it since It didn’t rise much while baking. But it was yummy I can’t stop eating
Danielle says
I am discovering more and more of the Filipino cuisine, and it feels amazing. So many great flavors that I love and that I am yet to prepare – like in this recipe. Yum!
Paula Montenegro says
I didn’t know about these ensaymadas. They look amazing! I always heard about the Spanish ones, which are very laborious. I’m definitely giving these a try! Thanks for adding a video too! Very useful.
Jenni LeBaron says
These are super intriguing! I’ve never had an ensaymada before, but I would be more than willing to give them a try, especially with an interesting mix of sugar with cheese. I bet these would be tremendous with a bowl of chili
Aleta says
Yum, this looks very tasty! I like that it is a sweet bread, with cheddar cheese on top, a recipe I definitely need to try! They look like they would be a perfect appetizer for a party!
Tammy says
The sweet and salty combo is fabulous. I’ve seen cheese added in pie crusts so it’s definitely something that is unique to me and would love to try. These little bits sound so good! I’d love to try one 🙂
Leslie says
Well don’t these look cute and tasty! They look super easy to make as well!
Elaine Benoit says
I have never had ensaymada but now I need to. This looks so delicious and fun! Thanks for the step by step instructions, it takes the guesswork out of making these delicious ensaymadas!
Analida Braeger says
This is a very interesting baking technique with the water roux and yeast. When do you add the water roux to the dough mixture?
Amanda says
Wow I never realized how easy it is to make ensaymada. I can’t wait to impress my mother with these!