Ube Ensaymada Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

This Ube Ensaymada with Cream Cheese Frosting is a perfect bread for breakfast or snacks. This is filled with Ube Halaya and is sweet, soft, and of course, cheesy.

 If you are looking to try something “different” bread-wise, this is one for you to try. Ube Ensaymada is a Filipino version of brioche. This is one of my favorites growing up. Before I left the country, they have been sold in the famous bakery- Goldilocks and smaller bakeries in the Philippines.

So when I arrived here, I made sure that I learn to make it, so that my kids can enjoy it and you can learn to make it too!  Simply follow this step by step instructions and you can enjoy Ube Ensaymada right in the comforts of your home

What is Ube Ensaymada?

Ube Ensaymada bread or roll is common and part of the everyday life of local Filipinos. This soft bread is delicious and popular as other snacks like Pandesal and Leche Flan. It can be filled with various filling and of course, nothing beats the Classic Ensaymada

It has several flavors, Ube filled or Mongo filled. This delicious bread is a combination of simple ingredients and is made extra by frosting it with cream cheese frosting and sprinkling it with cheese.

Why You’ll love this Bread 

• Yummy and Cheesy-If you are a cheese lover, this is for you! The frosting is made with cream cheese and topped with cheddar cheese.
• Moist– this bread is tried and tested. It yields soft and moist bread.
• Delightful-Take the first bite of Ube cheese Ensaymada and start eating non-stop because its unique combination is one of the most delicious.
• Easy to Find Ingredients– you can find the ingredients easily in your stores.

Equipment Needed

Baking needs a little more attention and accuracy. You must use some essential tools to get the best output. I am sure the kitchen tool will help you to prepare easier:

• Instant Pot Duo Crisp
• Conventional Oven
• Electric  Mixer
• Mixing bowl
• Dough Scraper
• Weighing scale (optional)

 

 Serve Ube Ensaymada With 

Let’s get some ideas about the way to serve Ube Ensaymada:

• Breakfast Pastry: it is perfect for your breakfast or brunch. Heat it for a minute in the microwave or warm it in the toaster and enjoy serving it with a delicious hot coffee or strong tea.
• Add Whipped Cream: You can use store-bought or make cream at home with my whipped cream recipe and add with little sugar. 
• Make A Unique Pair With Ice Cream
• Serve with fruit: do you want to make a refreshing treat? Serve these fruits with fruits like strawberries, and blueberries!

Ube Ensaymada Ingredients

• Active Yeast: Yeast is one of the primary ingredients that helps it to get fluffy Ensaymada. So, I always prefer active yeast, not instant yeast. 
• Water: water helps to bloom the active dry yeast.
• Flour
• Egg – is a leavening agent to the dough and adds a smooth texture to it.
• Butter– same with egg, butter acts as a leavening agent.
• Ube Halaya- I use this for filling. You can buy the bottled one in the Asian store, or you can make your own
• Cheese: use your favorite cheese

Step By Step Cooking Instructions

• Yeast Mixture

First, prepare the yeast mixture by warming the water in the microwave and adding the active dry yeast. Let it sit for a few minutes to bloom

Step 1: Warm the water in the microwave oven until it’s warm to the touch. Add in the active dry yeast and mix. Let it sit for five minutes until the yeast blooms. Use active dry yeast instead of quick-rise yeast. Using the wrong yeast created tough bread.

• Make Roux

Water roux makes the bread soft, moist, and fluffy. You can make this by mixing the flour and water and letting it simmer on low heat until you make a paste.

• Make Dough

You can make the dough by kneading it by hand or by using an electric stand mixer.

1. Step one: Attach the hook attachment to the electric mixer and attach the mixing bowl to it. Brush the mold with oil to prevent the dough from sticking.
2. Step two: Put the flour, salt, and the remaining sugar in the electric mixing bowl and mix using a wire whisk. Add the Ube flavor, egg, milk, and yeast mixture and mix until the dough comes together.
3. Slowly add in the butter and mix until the butter is completely incorporated. Continue mixing for seven minutes.

How to Handle this Dough

This dough is wet, so coat your hand with the flour when handling it, but don’t add too much flour to it.

• Make the Frosting

1. Place the cream cheese in the electric mixing bowl and mix until the cream cheese is smooth and there’s no lump present. Add the powdered sugar and add a small amount of water. Mix until smooth. Bake In The Instant Pot Duo
2. Follow all the instructions above and put the dough into the prepared mold. Put the mold in a round eight-inch pan on top of the trivet. 
3. Cover with the air fryer lid, push the bake button setting, set the temperature to 380 F, and set the timer to 8 minutes.

What Cheese to use For Ensaymada?

Shred your favorite cheese as toppings! My favorite was called Eden Cheese, but you can use Mild sharp cheddar cheese.

Two Ways to Shape the Ensaymada Dough

Transfer the dough to a floured flat surface and form it into a ball. Divide the dough into eight and for these pieces into smaller balls.

• Shape 1: Flatten the dough and fill it with Ube Halaya filling and seal completely. Put the dough into the prepared mold, and sealed down. Refer to the photo below.
• Shape 2: Form the dough into a 4×6 rectangle and fill one end with the Ube Halaya and roll the dough. Turn one in to form a disk. Put the dough into the prepared mold. Please refer to the photo above.

 How To Store?

I recommend it, enjoy it freshly on the same day. Once cooled, store them in an airtight jar at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also freeze them for later enjoyment. However, you can store it in an airtight jar or quality zip-lock bags in the fridge for seven days. Thaw them out completely before reheating.

Expert Tips

• Well Knead Dough: Proper elastic Kneading helps to develop gluten, which gives a good structure and easy chewiness. This is a wet dough, so never add more than necessary. Simply rub your hand with flour to be able to work with the wet dough, and sprinkle a small amount of flour on your work surface.
• Dough Rise: giving enough time to rise to attain a soft and fluffy texture is necessary. 
• Topping: I always recommend using cheese for topping right before serving. It will give a fresh look.
• Be patient: Yes, this is a sticky recipe. As you add the butter, knead until you are sure the butter has been incorporated. Be patient when the dough is sticky. Only add a little flour. Just coat your hand with oil.
• Use Active Dry Yeast that is not expired. You can check this by heating a fourth cup of water for thirty seconds and adding half a teaspoon of the yeast. If it does not bloom in five minutes, the yeast is expired.

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