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This Filipino sweet bread is soft, buttery, and topped with margarine & sugar—perfect for breakfast or merienda! Works with or without an oven (kawali/stovetop method).
Ingredients (Makes ~12 ensaymada)
Dough
- 4 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 tsp dough conditioner (optional, for softness)
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp instant yeast (or 1 packet active dry yeast)
- 1⅓ cups warm milk (whole or evaporated)
- 1 tbsp + ⅓ cup sugar (divided)
- 4 egg yolks (room temperature)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Toppings
- Star margarine (or butter)
- Granulated sugar
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Activate the Yeast
- In a small bowl, mix 1 tbsp sugar + warm milk + yeast. Let sit 5-10 mins until foamy.
2. Make the Sponge (Optional but Recommended)
- Stir ½ cup flour into the yeast mixture. Cover and rest 30 mins (boosts fluffiness).
3. Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk remaining flour, ⅓ cup sugar, and salt.
- Add yeast sponge, egg yolks, and softened butter.
- Knead 7-8 mins (by hand/mixer) until smooth and elastic.
4. First Rise
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 2 hours (or until doubled).
5. Shape the Ensaymada
- Roll dough into a 20×16-inch rectangle. Cut into 1-inch strips (or divide into 65g pieces).
- Roll each strip into a 16-inch rope, then coil tightly (tuck the end underneath).
- Place on a parchment-lined tray, cover, and rise 1 more hour.
6. Bake
- Oven Method:
- Preheat to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake 10-12 mins until lightly golden.
- Stovetop (Kawali) Method:
- Preheat a deep pan with lid on low heat for 10 mins.
- Bake ensaymada 30-35 mins, covered, checking occasionally.
7. Cool & Top
- Let cool completely.
- Spread 1 tbsp margarine/butter on each, then dunk in sugar.
Pro Tips
Extra Softness: Replace ½ cup milk with ½ cup condensed milk (adjust sugar).
Rich Flavor: Brush with egg wash (1 yolk + 1 tbsp milk) before baking.
Storage: Keep in an airtight container for 2 days or freeze unbaked dough for 1 month.
Serving Ideas
Breakfast: Pair with hot chocolate or coffee.
Party Treat: Top with grated cheese (Filipino-style!).
Dessert: Add ube halaya or nutella before rolling.
Why This Recipe Works
No Stand Mixer? Hand-kneading works fine!
Oven-Free Option: Great for baking in a pinch.
Authentic Taste: Just like bakery-style ensaymada.
Who’s making this soon? Tag your creations #EnsaymadaLove!
More Easy TikTok Recipes to Try:
- 4-Ingredient Heath Toffee Cookies – A sweet and crunchy treat that’s ready in no time!
- Fruity Pebbles Cookies – Fun, colorful, and perfect for dessert lovers.
- TikTok Baked Feta Pasta
- TikTok Potato Bake
CLASSIC ENSAYMADA
Ingredients
4 cups Bread Flour(you can also use all-purpose flour)
1 tsp Dough conditioner (optional)
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Instant Yeast ( you can also use dry yeast)
1-1/3 cup Warm Milk (I used whole milk but you can also use evaporated milk)
4 Egg Yolks
1/3 cup Sugar
4 tbsp Unsalted Butter (Softened)
✓For The Toppings
Star margarine
Granulated sugar
Instructions
1) Take 1 tbsp of sugar and sprinkle it to the warm milk then sprinkle in the yeast and whisk then set it aside until its foam up.
2) Once the yeast mixture is foam up and in 1/2 cup of flour and set it aside for 30 minutes.
3) Combine all drys ingredients such as, flour the remaining sugar and the salt.
4) In the bread machine bucket mixing bowl(if using) add in the milk and flour mixture, the flour, softened butter, and the egg yolks. You can also knead the dough using your hands.
5) And let the machine knead the dough( you can kead the dough with your hands) until smooth and elastic. if using hand knead it until smooth and elastic about 7-8 minutes.
6) Transfer the dough into a greased bowl and cover it. Let it rise for 2 hrs while the dough is rising prepare you baking pan lined it with parchment paper.
7) After 2 hrs. transfer the dough into your work surface. You can flatten the dough out with rolling pin into 20 inches long and 16 inches wide. Then using a dough cutter cut the dough 1 inch wide. or you can cut the dough into 65 oz each so that you can have equal sizes.
underneath.
9) After shaping all the dough cover it with kitchen towel or paper towel and let it rise again for another 1 hr.
10) Preheat your oven to 350F and bake it for 10 to 12 minutes or until the top get a little bit golden brown. let it cool down completely.
11) Once the ensaymada has cooled down take 1 tbsp of star magarine and spread it all over the top and then dunk it into the granulated sugar.
NOTE: You can also used an improvised oven KAWALI/PAN and bake it at low heat for 30-35 minutes
