Ube Ensaymada

I have been wanting to share this yummy recipe called Ube Ensaymada or purple yam, it is one of my best and most special recipes. This Ensaymada is very soft, fluffy and it almost melts into your mouth. A very delightful sweet bread, you will enjoy this recipe, a perfect match to your hot chocolate, tea or coffee.

To make your own Ube jam filling link to my recipe Ube jam or Ube halaya If you don't have time to make the Ube jam, this can be purchased at your local Asian supermarket.

You can add any other variety of filling for your ensaymada can be sweet or savoury. Ham and cheese, nutella, sweet mung beans paste, shredded coconut, yema custard (made of condensed milk with egg yolk). Sometimes I just like to add lemon zest or orange for flavour.

Purple yam is one of my favourite ingredients in desserts you can add it to any dessert, in cakes, cookies, bread, filling and any sweets.

This bread is very popular in the Philippines available in every bakery and supermarket. This is best for pasalubong (something to bring home or give as a present to a friend or relatives).

How to make Ube Ensaymada

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all purpose flour (sifted)
• 1 sachet (7 gram) dry yeast
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 egg yolks
• ¾ cup fresh milk (lukewarm)
• ½ cup water (lukewarm)
• ½ cup butter (softened)
• 1 1/2 cups ube jam / ube halaya
• Extra flour for kneading

Toppings:

• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese - optional

Steps to make Ube Ensaymada

• Grease 10 ensaymada molder or brioche tin and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl add together flour, sugar, salt, yeast and mix well.
• Add in eggs, butter, milk and water use paddle attachment and mix at low speed until incorporated.
• Change the attachment to dough hook scrape sides and mix for another 10 minutes at slow speed until dough is smooth and elastic.
• Shape the dough into a round. Leave the dough in the mixing bowl cover with a towel and allow to rest in a warm place until doubled in size.
• Knock back on a lightly floured surface. Then divide the dough into 10 equal portions or depends on your ensaymada molder.
• Using a rolling pin flatten into a long rectangle add the ube filling, roll dough into a cylinder and twist around and tucked underneath to seal.
• Place twisted roll into greased ensaymada mold repeat with the remaining dough.
• Allow to raise for another 1 hour.
• Bake in the preheat oven for 20-25 minutes 160 C (fan-forced oven) or 325 F.
• Bake until the tops of the bread are lightly golden brown.

Toppings

• Cool the ensaymada at room temperature, brush with melted butter, deep in white sugar and add grated cheese on top.

Note: You can make ensaymada without stand mixer, just knead the dough until smooth and elastic.

If you like this recipe try my other Ensaymada recipe

• Special Ensaymada - this is a classic ensaymada similar to brioche
• Vegemite and Cheese Ensaymada - Australian style ensaymada similar to Vegemite and cheese scrolls

Ensaymada topping can be substitute with cream cheese frosting, butter cream frosting or just simply butter and sugar.