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Ube Cheese Pandesal Recipe (with Ube Halaya & Cream Cheese Filling)

Soft and fluffy ube cheese pandesal filled with ube halaya and creamy homemade cheese filling. A delicious Filipino bread with a perfect balance of sweet ube and rich, tangy creaminess in every bite.
Author Onyok Kokok

Ingredients

For the Dough

  • 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour or bread flour
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 1 small egg
  • 1 cup fresh milk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp powdered milk or coffee mate
  • 2 tbsp butter or vegetable shortening or combination
  • ½ tsp ube flavoring or coloring optional for deeper color

For the Yeast Mixture

  • 1 sachet yeast or 2 ½ tsp instant yeast
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ¼ cup warm water

For the Cheese Filling

  • 1 liter full cream milk
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese

Filling:

  • Ready-made ube halaya ube jam, as needed
  • Homemade cream cheese filling as needed

Instructions

Prepare the Yeast Mixture

  • In a small bowl, mix yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.

Make the Dough

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine milk, egg, salt, sugar, and powdered milk. Mix well.
  • Add flour gradually and mix until combined.
  • Add the yeast mixture and mix again.
  • Add butter, shortening, and ube flavoring or coloring. Mix until incorporated.
  • Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. The dough will be sticky - this is normal.
  • Lightly grease the dough with oil, cover, and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours or until doubled in size.

Make the Cheese Filling

  • In a pot, heat full cream milk until boiling.
  • Add half of the lemon juice and stir until it starts to curdle.
  • Add the remaining lemon juice and continue stirring until curds fully form.
  • Turn off heat and let it cool.
  • Drain excess liquid.
  • Blend or process until smooth.
  • Add sugar and grated cheddar cheese. Mix until creamy. Set aside.

Assemble the Pandesal

  • Divide dough into 24 equal pieces.
  • Flatten each piece into a disk.
  • Place a teaspoon of ready-made ube halaya and a teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center.
  • Seal tightly and form into a smooth ball.
  • Roll each ball in breadcrumbs.
  • Place on a lined baking tray.
  • Cover and let rest for 15-20 minutes.

Bake

  • Preheat oven to 160°C.
  • Bake for 16–18 minutes or until lightly golden.
  • Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.