Super Soft & Fluffy Ube Cheese Pandesal – A Trending Filipino Recipe
The growing popularity of purple taro, taro purple, etc. sparked a flood of new food and food-related creations featuring this pretty purple root crop.
With fresh ube, there are many delicacies and ube recipes you can create such as halaya, ice cream, cakes, cheesecake, and others. One of my favorite treats made from ube is the ube cheese pandesal.
In this blog post, I will be sharing the ube cheese pandesal recipe. For those of you who already know how to make ube bread, this recipe has a hint of my own touch.
What Is Ube?
Originally from the Philippines, ube is a purple yam. It has a hint of nutty, vanilla taste and is commonly used in Filipino cuisine (desserts.) A common way to use it is to boil it and then mashed with condensed milk.
Ube’s nutritional profile is similar to that of the sweet potato, which means that it’s loaded with vitamins, carbs, and fiber. Recent studies have shown that purple cultivars are packed with antioxidants, which can promote good health.
What Is Ube Cheese Pandesal?
In a nutshell, ube cheese pandesal is a twist on a classic Filipino bread roll. The ube cheese pandesal is made with a rich, fluffy ube dough that is filled with melty cheese. It is rolled in bread crumbs for a crunchy exterior layer.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay any extra penny, but I’ll get a small commission that encourages me to deliver more helpful content for you.
Much like the pandesal cheese recipe, try out the pistachio macaron, the chocolate cherry cake from the leftover cake, and the Vanilla swiss roll recipes to serve the best of the baking world to your loved ones.
It’s Rewind Time: Ube Cheese Pandesal Origin
The ube bread origin story is quite interesting.
The ube bread roll first gained attention when a bakeshop named Kimmy Bakes Bakeshop in Cavite, Philippines posted a picture of a scrumptious and mouth-watering treat on their Facebook account a couple of years ago.
This treat was none other than ube cheese bread. Filipinos around the country were quickly enchanted by the sweet purple yam or ube flavoring in combination with melted cheese.
Gradually, this treat gained popularity and made it to bakeries in several parts of the world.
Why Try Out The Ube Cheese Pandesal Recipe? I Ask Why Not!
1) Easy to follow and prepare:
This ube cheese pandesal recipe is one of the simplest and most straightforward recipes you will ever attempt.
2) Has the health benefits and flavor of real ube halaya:
With this pandesal ube bread recipe, you not only enjoy the goodness of ube halaya but also experience the best and most authentic taste of ube.
3) A delicious treat:
Tasty and loved by people of all ages. This Filipino ube recipe is one of my favorite flavor combinations to enjoy and the taste is just unmatchable.
4) Easy-to-find ingredients:
To make the treat, you’ll require basic pantry staples like all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and milk. Other things are easily available online.
5) Global favorite ingredient cheese:
Complement it with virtually anything and its taste will be elevated. Add cheese and the flavor is enhanced.
Speaking of healthy ube recipes, how can one forget the Ube macarons and the Pan de ube.
The World of Ube Cheese Pandesal Ingredients
# Active dry yeast :
I always prefer active yeast over instant yeast. This ensures that the yeast is still active before adding it to the dough.
# Ube Jam Or Ube Halaya :
You can choose any from your favorite brand; the taste that you like the most. Ube halaya or ube jam is easily available online or you can find it in any Asian grocery store.
# Cheese :
I recommend using cheddar cheese. Use good quality cheddar cheese for the best flavor and texture. But quick melt cheese, cream cheese, and brie cheese all work well too.
Speaking of cheese, did you try out the ensaymada ube and mango cheesecake?
# Milk :
I have used room temperature 2% to 3% skim milk in this ube pandesal recipe with cheese.
# Vegetable Oil :
I always used vegetable oil because that’s usually available in my pantry. Any flavorless oil works too.
Tips To Get The Perfect Cheesy Ube Pandesal
1. You might need to adjust the flour if needed. The dough may need to be thickened with 1-2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, depending on its consistency.
2. To achieve just the right flavor, use 2 tsp ube ube liquid flavor or 1 cup ube powder in the given recipe.
3. Instead of all-purpose flour, you can use bread flour if you did not get it. Although bread flour is recommended.
4. Use room temperature milk at the time of yeast proofing.
5. Place the dough in a warm place so that it can rise well. If you’re trying out the recipe in the winter season, you can preheat the oven to 120 degrees for 10 minutes and turn it off. Then place the dough bowl in that oven to keep it warm.
6. Once the cheese stuffing has been done, let the unbaked ube cheese pandesal rest. Allow it to rise for another 45 minutes before baking.
7. For preparing the dough, cover with cling wrap and keep it in the fridge overnight.
8. To add extra flavor, you can add a cup of ube halaya or ube jam to the recipe.
9. All ingredients should be at room temperature. This is essential for making good cheese pandesal.
10. The perfect dough shouldn’t be too sticky or too dry. You should be able to mold it just like clay.
11. When using dry active yeast make sure that there are bubbles after adding water, if not discard and make a new one.
Nutrition Facts
1 servings per container
- Amount Per ServingCalories180
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
5g
8%
- Saturated Fat 3.8g 19%
- Cholesterol 22mg 8%
- Sodium 140mg 6%
- Potassium 54mg 2%
- Total Carbohydrate
24g
8%
- Dietary Fiber 1.2g 5%
- Sugars 9g
- Protein 5g 10%
- Vitamin A 5%
- Calcium 11%
- Iron 0.9%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Tools That Go A Long Way
Silicone baking mat:
Instead of restricting movement due to kneading in a bowl, I prefer a silicone baking mat. It makes kneading easier and better. It also helps in the easier cleanup.
Kitchen scale:
It weighs the dough and ensures that each size is in equal portions. This kitchen scale tool is tremendously useful for recipes that require precise proportions.
Rolling Pin:
A good rolling pin makes a difference. Since the rolling pin spins freely and requires little pressure, it makes the work effective and easier. It helps to evenly flatten the dough.
Scraper:
A scraper helps in dividing the dough. It is so much safer and better to use a scraper than a knife.
A good stand mixer can make all the difference in bread-baking. Find one for yourself from the best stand mixer for bread dough of 2022.
Storing Tips
Ube pandesal with cheese remains soft for days after baking. In an airtight container, leftovers can be stored for up to two days at room temperature or for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Reheating Tips
To reheat in the microwave, arrange the pandesal in the baking tray and microwave for 50 seconds or just until they turn warm and not piping hot or else they will turn tough and chewy.
Common Questions
1. How to eat ube bread?
They’re best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but again, you have to be careful as the melted cheese filling can be very hot.
2. What is the best time to serve ube cheese pandesal?
You can serve it as a breakfast or midday snack with tea, coffee, or any beverage of your choice. For kids, ube milk bread is a good combination.
3. Where to buy ube cheese pandesal?
Baby Pat, LaViestdale, Miss B. Infused Honey, etc are some of the good online options to buy.
4. What is ube cheese pandesal price?
The average price is Php 175-265 (3.43 to 4.95 USD) for a box of 12 ube cheese pandesal.
Purple Is The New Favorite
Ube has been a staple in Filipino cuisine-used in cakes, cheesecake, pudding, and more. Now, it has also made its way to the world. There are so many ways to inculcate it in your recipes like using ube powder, ube jam, etc. Ube is delicious, and this easy ube cheese pandesal recipe will make you fall in love with it.
Ube Cheese Pandesal
Equipment
- 1 Baking Mat
- 1 Kitchen Scale optional
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 Scraper
Ingredients
Making Of Ube Cheese Pandesal:
- 4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Cups Bread Flour
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar Or Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar For Yeast Mixture Preparation
- 4 tsp Instant Yeast
- 2 tsp Vanilla Essence
- 1 tsp Purple Food Color
- 2/1 tsp/Cup Purple Yam Flavor Or Ube Powder
- 2 Tbsp Ube Halaya Jam
- 2 tsp Salt
- 2 Cup Lukewarm Milk Or Lukewarm Water
- 1 Cup Soften Or Melted Butter Or Vegetable Oil
For Filling:
- 2 Blocks Cheddar Cheese
For Topping:
- 1 Cup Crushed Graham Or Bread Crumbs
Instructions
Ube Bread Recipe:
- In a mixing bowl, take lukewarm milk and sugar ina bowl. (Lukewarm milk is best for activating the yeast. Using hot milk/hot temperature can hinder the yeast growth.) Mix it well. Add yeast and leave itfor 10-15 mins until the mixture turns foamy.
Note- In case you’re using fresh yeast, crumble the yeast before adding. Ifyou are using instant yeast, it can be used directly.
- Next, in a separate bowl sieve the all-purpose flour and bread flour.
- Now, transfer the sieved all-purpose flour and bread flour to a large bowl. Combine salt and white sugar in this mixture.
- Mix everything well with the help of a spatula.Stir these ingredients until well combined.
- Now pour the milk+yeast mixture into the large bowl of the flour mixture. Add vegetable oil or melted unsalted butter, vanilla essence, and ube yam flavor or ube powder.
- Mix well with a spatula until it takes a rough form of a dough. Then, transfer the dough to a clean flat surface and knead using your hand for about least 8-10 minutes.
Note- If you have a stand mixer or dough mixer, you can prepare the dough using it. If you are using a stand mixer, start kneading itwith the lowest speed then gradually increase the speed after a few seconds.Knead the dough for 5-6 minutes.
- The dough may need to be thickened with 1-2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, depending on its consistency. If so, continue to knead for 3-4 minutes.
- To test if it is done successfully, use your fingers to touch the dough. Upon touching the dough, it should not stick to your fingers.
- Now apply some oil to your palm and give thedough the shape of a smooth round ball. Next, grease oil on the dough andtransfer the dough to an oil greased bowl. Cover the bowl with cling film andkeep it until it rises and doubles in size. Keep the dough in a warm place sothat it can rise. After 1 ½ hours, the dough will be increased.
Note- If you’re trying out the recipe in the winter season, you can preheatthe oven to 120 degrees for 10 minutes and turn it off. Then place the doughbowl in that oven to keep it warm.
- Once the dough has doubled, gently deflate it by giving it a punch. Then cut each half into smaller portions. Use a scraper tocut the dough to an even size. Roll the dough in a long section.
Note- You can even use a kitchen scale to get the even-size dough ball. Here 45g of each dough ball
- Now place the dough on a baking mat. Flatten the dough balls with a rolling pin and a long round shape out of them.
- Spread the cheddar cheese with the help of a spoon and seal. Then, gently using your palm, shape it into a ball.
Note – Tuck the ends under to seal. The cheese should not spread all the way to the edges.
- Repeat the same process for all the remaining dough balls. Transfer all the balls to the baking sheet leaving a space of ½inch between two balls.
- Lay out all the shaped unbaked ube cheese pandesal on the baking sheet and cover it with a clean cloth to let it rise.Let it rise another 30 to 45 minutes until the dough has increased in size.
Baking Process:
- Preheat your oven to 356° F or 180° C. When the shaped dough will be doubled in size, roll the shaped dough incrushed graham or bread crumbs and place them in the baking tray.
- Bake them for 20 minutes in the preheated oven.
Note- Every oven has a different heating capacity, so, the baking time mayvary from 10-18 minutes. So keep an eye on the oven from the outside after 10minutes of putting the tray inside the oven.
- Once the pandesal ube bread is appropriately baked and ready, remove it from the oven. Allow it to cool down.
For Topping And Serving:
- Finally, sprinkle some bread crumbs on top of the ube cheese pandesal before serving.
NOTES
The recipe is very simple. I tried it at my home. My mom loved it.
Thanks Arin.
Hi
How much time it will take if I am using the a mixer for kneading?
It depends on your mixer brand and functionality.8-10 minutes if you are using a mixer for kneading.