Ube Cheese Pandesal

Soft, fluffy, and delicious - this easy Ube Cheese Pandesal recipe will become a favorite breakfast or snack recipe! It's the classic Filipino pandesal with a sweet ube flavor, melted cheese filling, and bread crumbs coating. Yum!

Love bread? Try my Red Velvet Pandesal with Cheese Filipino Spanish Bread, Mulunggay Whole Bread, or the Classic Pandesal!

Jump to:

• What is Ube Cheese Pandesal?
• Top Tips
• Variations
• Substitutions
• Storage
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Ube Cheese Pandesal

What is Ube Cheese Pandesal?

Pandesal is the most popular local bread and favorite breakfast bread recipe in the Philippines. It is a Spanish term that means "bread of salt", for the pinch of salt added to the dough. The Spaniards introduced this bread recipe to the Filipinos in the 16th century as an answer to the French baguette.

Its main ingredients are flour, yeast, sugar, salt, oil. Nowadays, there are many versions of this easy bread recipe. They can be bought at local bakeries or easily made at home.

Ube Cheese Pandesal History

It was first discovered when Kimmy Bakes Bakeshop in Cavite, Philippines posted this attractive and mouth-watering ube cheese bread on their Facebook account a few years ago. The delicious combination of sweet purple yam or ube flavoring and melted cheese immediately captured the hearts of many Filipinos nationwide.

This deliciously soft and pillowy ube cheese pandesal is easy to make and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or snacks!

Top Tips

• You may cut the cheese into squares instead of cubes so you get more cheesy areas inside the buns.
• Make sure that the dough is smooth and elastic. Do the windowpane test to check if the dough is well-kneaded. Just take a small portion of the dough, flatten it and stretch it out to form a square. If it breaks or tears easily, then it needs more kneading. If you stretch it into a thin membrane without breaking, then it's good!
• It is better to use instant yeast for this recipe. Using active dry yeast takes a long time for the dough to rise than using instant yeast.

Variations

• Feel free to use or add ube powder, purple yam jam (ube halaya), mashed fresh ube, or frozen grated ube in this recipe for a richer ube flavor.

• If you like, drizzle it with condensed milk for a sweeter taste.

Substitutions

• You may use white cheese or Eden cheese in this recipe.

Storage

• Place the leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up two days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.
  • To reheat: Arrange the rolls in a baking dish and bake them in an oven for 5 to 7 minutes until warm with 350 F temperature, or arrange the rolls on a microwavable plate and cover with a slightly damp kitchen towel. Then, microwave for a few seconds or just until warm.

Ingredients

Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:

• whole milk
• white sugar
• instant dry yeast 
• all-purpose flour 
• bread flour 
• salt 
• vegetable oil 
• vanilla extract 
• ube flavor extract 
• cheddar cheese
• bread crumbs

Instructions

Combine warmed milk, a tablespoon of white sugar, and instant dry yeast in a bowl and allow it to bloom for 10 minutes, then set aside:

In a mixing bowl, add all-purpose flour, bread flour, white sugar, salt and whisk until combined. Next add the yeast mixture, vegetable oil, vanilla essence, ube extract, and mix until the rough dough forms:

Place the dough hook attachment onto your stand mixer, then K=knead the dough for 10 minutes, or if you are doing it by hand, knead it for 13 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with cling film and allow it to stand for 1 ½ half hours until doubled:

Punch the dough and divide the dough into 20-22 equal portions. Then flatten the dough, add in the cheese cubes, seal, and shape into a ball. Line a baking sheet with parchment:

Then roll the dough into the breadcrumbs and place the prepared dough into the prepared baking sheet. Cover with a moist clean towel and let it rise for another 30 minutes. Bake in a preheated oven for 14 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow it to cool for a bit before serving:

This is best served when freshly baked. Pair this with your favorite drink and enjoy!

Hint: If dough is sticky and your kneading by hand, use oil and a little amount of flour to make kneading easier while keeping the bread texture soft.

Frequently Asked Questions