Ube Ensaymada
A soft brioche rolled into a spiral, generously buttered, dusted with sugar and grated cheese: ensaymada is the brioche luxury of the Philippines.
In its ube version, its purple crumb makes the moment even more indulgent.
The brioche for special occasions
Ensaymada is a rich brioche, inherited from Spanish influences, reserved for celebrations and gourmet gifts.
Its signature: a stringy crumb rolled into a snail shape, a butter glaze, a shower of sugar and above all grated cheese, which plays on the sweet-savoury contrast. Ube adds colour and softness, for a version as festive as it is photogenic.
In the Philippines, ensaymada is a prized gift at Christmas, often given in pretty boxes, and enjoyed with a thick hot chocolate.
Ube Ensaymada, step by step.
The Filipino tradition with ube, step by step.
Ingredients
- 300 g flour
- 1 sachet of baker's yeast
- 50 g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 120 ml lukewarm milk
- 60 g softened butter
- 1 tbsp Kinampay ube powder (approx. 10 g)
- Topping: butter, sugar, grated cheese (mild cheddar style)
Equipment
- A mixing bowl
- Ensaymada moulds (or muffin tins)
- A rolling pin
Method
- Make a brioche dough by mixing flour, yeast, sugar, ube powder, eggs, lukewarm milk and butter. Knead to a supple dough.
- Let it prove for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Roll out the dough, butter it, then roll it up and coil each strip into a spiral in the moulds.
- Let it prove for 30 minutes, bake for 18 minutes at 180 °C, then brush with butter and sprinkle with sugar and grated cheese.
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Discover the recipe →The chef's touch
The secret of ensaymada is the spiral and the butter.
Roll out thinly, butter generously, then roll up tightly to get that flaky, snail-shell crumb. The cheese, added after baking, brings the savoury contrast that gives ensaymada all its identity. Don't skimp on the finishing butter.
A dab of ube halaya in the heart of the spiral turns the ensaymada into an exceptional dessert.
Mistakes to avoid
Three pitfalls for a stringy ensaymada.
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All you need is Kinampay ube powder.
Your questions about this recipe.
How do you make ube ensaymada?
Make an ube brioche dough, roll it out and butter it, roll it into a spiral, let it prove, bake for 18 minutes at 180 °C, then top with butter, sugar and cheese.
What is ensaymada?
A soft Filipino spiral brioche, buttered, sugared and topped with grated cheese, served at celebrations.
Does ube ensaymada contain caffeine?
No, ube is naturally caffeine-free.
Which cheese should you use?
Grated mild cheddar is traditional; it brings the characteristic sweet-savoury contrast.
Can you make it ahead?
Yes: it keeps for 2 to 3 days and freezes well; add the topping after reheating.