Pinoy Cheese Bread Recipe (Soft, Buttery & Cheesy Bakery-Style Bread)
This Pinoy Cheese Bread Recipe is a soft, fluffy, and bakery-style Filipino bread coated with a sweet buttery cheese topping. Perfect for merienda or breakfast, this homemade version uses simple ingredients like flour, sugar, evaporated milk, and cheese to create that classic panaderia taste.
Ingredients
Dough
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour you can also use bread flour or combination
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp shortening or butter
- 1 ½ cup evaporated milk
Yeast Mixture
- 2 ½ tsp instant dry yeast 1 small pack
- ¼ cup warm water
- 1 tbsp sugar take from dough ingredients
Cheese Toppings
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cup grated cheese cold
- ½ cup butter room temperature, NOT melted
Instructions
Dough Preparation
- In a small bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, shortening/butter, evaporated milk, and the activated yeast mixture.
- Mix and knead until smooth. Dough will be sticky at first - avoid adding too much flour.
- Perform the windowpane test to check gluten development.
- Cover and let rise for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
Shaping
- Divide dough into 16–20 equal pieces and shape into balls.
Coating
- Dip each dough ball lightly in water.
- Roll in cheese topping mixture until fully coated.
- Place on a baking tray and cover. Rest for 15 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat oven to 160°C.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes or until lightly golden.