Ube Cheese Pandesal (Purple Bread Roll)
This ube pandesal recipe is the softest, fluffiest, and tastiest purple bread rolls with a purple-yam flavor and a creamy cheese filling. Perfect for bread-making beginners and experts alike! They’re perfect as everyday breakfast or an anytime snack.
Equipment
1 Oven
1 Stand Mixer
1 Baking tray
1 Silicon mat or parchment paper
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk lukewarm
- 2½ teaspoon dry active yeast
- ½ cup sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup shortening butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup ube halaya
- 2 teaspoons ube extract
- 1 block cream cheese or cheddar cheese
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Activate the yeast. Using lukewarm milk, we need to dissolve a tablespoon of granulated sugar and dry active yeast. Why did we add sugar? It feeds the yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to activate. Check the picture below. I do this whenever I use dry active yeast or instant dry yeast to check if its still active.
- Dough. While waiting for the yeast to create bubbles, let's make the dough. Start by combining dry ingredients: flour, sugar, and salt, mix well using a dough hook. Add the rest of the ingredients including yeast mixture.
- Knead - You can use a dough hook or use your hands with a little elbow grease to knead the dough. You need extra time if you are using your hands but it is so rewarding.
- Rub some oil on your hands while kneading manually and be patient as it will lessen while continue to knead. Knead the dough until it looks and feels smooth and elastic for about 15 minutes on hand kneading and 10-12 minutes using an electric mixer.
- Proof and Assemble - Grease the dough and the bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let it proof for about 1-2 hours or until doubled in size. This may vary due to your kitchen temperature. The dough rises faster in a warmer environment.
- Once it has doubled in size, punch the dough to release the air. Divide it into 2 equal parts. Form the dough into a log shape and divide it into 6-7 pieces in each dough. We should have 12-14 pieces total depending on size.
- Flatten each piece and insert a slice of cream cheese or any cheese of your choice. Tuck the ends and seal. Place in a baking tray with silicon or parchment paper on the bottom. Cover with a damp towel. Let it rise for another hour or until the sizes are doubled.
- Bake - Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 177 degrees Celcius. Now it's time to bake. Depending on the sizes of the purple bread rolls and oven temperature, the baking period will be about 20-23 minutes. Check your bread around the 20-minute mark.
- Allow the bread to cool into wire rack for a few minutes. Ready to serve.
Video
Notes
Recipe Notes
- One of the secrets to this ultra-soft bread is ube halaya. You can make your own using my recipe above or store-bought. You can simply boil and mash ¾ cup of ube root crop and you are good to go.
- You can use all-purpose flour for this recipe. It is easy to find and at a lower cost. However, bread flour will achieve more chewy and airy bread in my opinion. Don't worry because both flours will work.
- Make this ahead by refrigerating your dough. I prepare my dough at night and rest it in the refrigerator overnight. I'll bake it the next morning.
- If your dough is too sticky grease your hand with oil and continue kneading. If it's still too sticky, you may need to add some more flour.
Nutrition
Serving: 14servingsCalories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 211mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 61IUVitamin C: 0.001mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!