Ensaymada: Filipino Brioche with Butter, Sugar, and Cheese
Dan
Filipino bakery | Sweet bread | Butter and cheese
Ensaymada is soft, rich, buttery, sweet, and finished with a snowy layer of sugar and grated cheese.
Why make it: This version uses a manageable enriched dough and muffin tins for home shaping.
Fresh From the Kitchen
These photos show the colors, textures, and serving style to look for when making Ensaymada.
What Is Ensaymada?
Ensaymada is a Filipino sweet bread adapted from ensaimada, commonly topped with butter, sugar, and cheese.
Why You Will Love It
- Practical for U.S. kitchens: the recipe uses ingredients and substitutions a home cook can realistically shop for.
- Built for the table: the serving notes match how the dish usually lands in Filipino-American homes, from weeknights to merienda to parties.
- Flexible without erasing the dish: swaps are named clearly so the original idea stays visible.
- Easy to cook through: the shopping list, timings, and storage notes make the recipe straightforward to test and adjust.
Ingredient Notes
For dough
Enriched dough needs kneading and patience because butter slows gluten development.
For topping
Soft butter, sugar, and salty cheese create the classic finish.
Ensaymada Recipe
This version uses a manageable enriched dough and muffin tins for home shaping.
Shopping List
- bread flour
- yeast
- milk
- eggs
- sugar
- butter
- cheese
Ingredients
Dough
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons softened butter
Topping
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup grated cheese
For Serving
- Coffee or hot chocolate
Instructions
- Mix dough ingredients except butter until combined.
- Knead in butter gradually until smooth.
- Rise until doubled.
- Divide and shape into coils or rolls.
- Proof in greased molds until puffy.
- Bake until golden and cooked through.
- Cool, then top with butter, sugar, and cheese.
Tips For The Best Ensaymada
- Add butter slowly: The dough absorbs it better.
- Proof enough: Enriched dough needs time.
- Top after cooling: Butter melts too much on hot bread.
- Use salty cheese: It balances the sweet bread.
How To Serve And Store
Serve the day it is made or reheat gently. Freeze unfrosted rolls.
Common Questions
Can I use all-purpose flour?
Yes, but bread flour gives more structure.
What cheese works?
Edam-style cheese, cheddar, or processed cheese can work.
Can I make it ahead?
Freeze baked rolls before topping.
Why is my dough sticky?
Enriched dough is tacky; knead before adding extra flour.
Do you like ensaymada with lots of cheese or just a little? Share your family version or testing notes in the comments.
Recipe inspiration and technique reference: Filipino dessert and bakery source research from Panlasang Pinoy, Kawaling Pinoy, The Dusky Kitchen, and Filipino-American dessert sources in the site roadmap.
