The Best Cheeses To Elevate Your Ensaymada Experience

Ensaymada is a Filipino pastry that is often eaten as a breakfast or a sweet afternoon snack. It is made with brioche dough that is rolled with butter and sugar to make a small bun. The bun is then topped with more butter, sugar, and cheese. The cheese used is typically a special type of Edam cheese called queso de bola, which tastes similar to mild cheddar cheese. However, other types of cheese such as cheddar cheese, gouda cheese, and quick-melt processed cheese can also be used.

Cheddar cheese

Ensaymada is made from a soft, sweet dough that is baked to become pillowy buns. The dough is quite sticky and requires patience to rise, but the end result is a delicious, fluffy pastry.

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups bread flour
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ cups + 2 tablespoons fresh milk
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
• ½ cup refined sugar
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus additional, if needed)
• Melted butter (for brushing)
• 1 - 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• ½ cup butter, softened to room temperature
• ½ cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

• Grease two to three dozen ensaymada molds (or muffin pans) with vegetable oil shortening or butter.
• Dissolve the yeast in milk, then add in the rest of the ingredients, stirring the mixture until it is blended thoroughly.
• Knead the dough for 15 to 20 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough to a bowl greased with vegetable oil shortening or butter. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap, then let rise for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer it to a flat surface and gently push or punch down the dough to deflate.
• Divide the dough into 50- to 80-gram pieces and form into small balls. Set aside and let them rest for 20 minutes.
• With a rolling pin, roll each portion into an oval. Brush with softened butter and sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.
• Roll each into a rope and shape like a snail, then place in the greased molds, making sure to tuck the ends.
• Let the shaped dough rise again (covered) for 1 to 2 hours or until they double in size.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden in color.
• Let the breads cool, then brush the top with buttercream (made from softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract) and sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.

Cream cheese

To make the buttercream, you will need:

• One package of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

First, ensure that your cream cheese and butter are softened to achieve a smooth and creamy consistency when mixed. Then, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together until they are well combined and fluffy. Next, gradually add the confectioners' sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is light and creamy. Finally, add the vanilla extract, if desired, and beat until incorporated.

You can adjust the sweetness of the frosting to your taste by adding more or less sugar. This buttercream can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. When you are ready to assemble your ensaymada, simply spread the buttercream on top of the baked and cooled pastry, and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Some recipes suggest adding a small amount of grated quezo de bola, a type of Edam cheese, to the buttercream for additional flavour. Quezo de bola is also a popular choice for the grated cheese topping on ensaymada, offering a salty contrast to the sweet buttercream.

Quezo de bola

When making ensaymada with quezo de bola, the cheese is grated and sprinkled on top of the pastry. It can also be used as a topping for a buttercream frosting, or mixed into a gooey dip for toasted ensaymada cubes.

Ensaymada is a popular treat during the Christmas period in the Philippines, and quezo de bola is a traditional topping for this festive occasion.

Mild parmesan

When using mild parmesan for ensaymada, you can grate it over the buttercream frosting or mix it into the dough itself. If you decide to grate it over the frosting, simply prepare your buttercream as usual and then sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese on top. This will give your ensaymada a savoury kick that complements the sweetness of the bread.

If you want to incorporate mild parmesan into the dough, you can replace some of the cheddar cheese in your recipe with parmesan. This will give your ensaymada a more complex flavour profile. You can also try mixing grated parmesan into your butter before brushing it onto the dough. This way, you'll get a more subtle parmesan flavour that won't be overwhelming.

When choosing mild parmesan for your ensaymada, look for a high-quality cheese with a granular texture. You can find mild parmesan in specialty cheese stores, Italian markets, or even some supermarkets. While genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy is ideal, you can also find domestic Parmesan cheeses that will work well. Just be sure to ask the cheesemonger if you're unsure about the type of Parmesan you're buying.

In terms of quantity, you'll likely need around 1/2 cup to 1 cup of grated mild parmesan for your ensaymada recipe. This will give you enough to either mix into the dough or sprinkle on top as a finishing touch.

Quick-melt processed cheese

When choosing quick-melt processed cheese for your ensaymada, look for a brand that melts easily and has a good, creamy texture. You want the cheese to blend well with the butter and sugar to create a smooth and rich topping. The colour of the cheese is also important—opt for a brighter orange variety to add a pop of colour to your pastry.

To prepare the cheese for your ensaymada, grate or slice it thinly and evenly. You want to make sure that it melts quickly and covers the pastry evenly. After removing the ensaymada from the oven, let it cool slightly, then spread the butter and sugar mixture on top. Finally, sprinkle on the cheese and watch as it melts into a gooey, delicious topping.

For an extra indulgent treat, you can also add more cheese to the dough itself. Simply mix grated quick-melt processed cheese into the dough before shaping and baking the ensaymada. This will give you an extra cheesy flavour in every bite!

Frequently asked questions