Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe

Introduction

In case there is one pastry that can make my heart skip a beat, then it must be the Mary Grace Ensaymada, which is soft and buttery and fluffy, and crowned with a snowfall of grated cheese and sugar. By merely thinking of it, my kitchen reeked with nostalgic sweetness.

I have baked so many things in my life, croissants, cinnamon rolls, cheesecakes, and none of that is as comforting as the hugging of this pillowy Filipino pastry. And now, I am telling you how to make the Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe at home. There is no need to worry; you do not have to be a professional baker. A little bit of butter, patience, and love is all you need. Lots of butter.

What is Mary Grace Ensaymada?

The Mary Grace Ensaymada is not the bread and butter. It is the Filipino version of the traditional Spanish ensaimada- a brioche-like pastry, which is rich, sweet, and very tender. What makes it stand out, however, is the definite Filipino flavor.

It is a fine swirl of buttery bread, which melts in your mouth, and is sprinkled with sugar and sharp, salty cheese, typically Edam or Queso de Bola. Sweet and savory flavors are an absolute match. 

It is an affectionate combination of the textures – fluffy bread, soft butter, and that slight crunching bite of sugar, which makes each bite playfully crackle.

The original Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe is known throughout the Philippines as having that melt-in-your-mouth texture and that homemade comfort. Every composition has the impression of being baked with love and care. Assuming heaven had a smell, it would be like freshly baked ensaymada: sweet, yeasty, and buttery.

The account of my discovery of this Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe.

I can recall how it was the first time I tried the Mary Grace Ensaymada. The weather was a wet afternoon in Manila, you know the type when the streets shine and you feel like it is taking forever. I jumped into a tiny Mary Grace store, and got myself a cup of hot chocolate, and here it was, this golden and delicate pastry on a small white plate.

When I took a bite, I realized that it was not bread. It was coziness, a feeling of nostalgia, and love – all wrapped in butter and sugar. Since that time, I have been determined to replicate that magic in my home kitchen.

Equipment List

Now we are ready to begin baking, so before we begin baking, we shall assemble all the ingredients you will need for the recipe of the Mary Grace Ensaymada. No fancy stuff, just a few baking utensils and a little passion.

• Large mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Whisk
• Mixer with electricity (stand or handheld)
• Hook attachment of dough (when a stand mixer is utilized)
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Baking tray
• Muffin tins/ ensaymada molds.
• Pastry brush
• Kitchen scale (not mandatory, but useful)
• Clean kitchen towel
• Oven

Ingredients For Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe

Below is the list of ingredients required in the preparation of this Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe. These simple things are combined to make something extraordinary.

For the Dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 packet (7g) instant yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup warm milk (not hot, around 110°F)
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter.
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Brushing and Topping:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (brushing)
• 1/2 cup sugar (for dusting)
• 1 cup grated Edam cheese or cheddar cheese.
• Garnishes: a sprinkling of powdered sugar, or condensed milk drizzled onto indulge.

Instructions For Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe

Ready? Roll up your sleeves. The best Mary Grace Ensaymada ever.

1. Activate the Yeast

Warm water, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and the yeast should be combined in a little bowl. Allow it to rest between 5 and 10 minutes or until it is frothy and bubbly. That’s your yeast, bringing life!

2. Prepare the Dough

Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Create a small well at the center and pour in your yeast mixture, warm milk, egg yolk,s and vanilla extract.

Begin mixing with a wooden spoon or using your mixer on a low speed. Gradually add the softened butter. It may seem to be sticky at the beginning–there is nothing to fret about! That’s normal. Continue mixing until the dough is smooth and elastic, approximately 810 minutes or kneading.

When you are kneading with your hands, arm workout. Knead with love!

3. Let It Rise

Put the dough in an oiled bowl, and wrap it with a clean towel, then leave the dough to rest between 1 to 2 hours, or until doubled in size. It is the magic time when the yeast begins doing its work, sprinkling your kitchen with that sweet dough smell.

4. Shape the Ensaymada

After it has risen, punch down the dough to take out the air. Cut it into small pieces – the size of a tennis ball. Stamp flat, and roll like a rope, and curl up into a spiral.

Put each spiral in an oiled muffin tin or ensaymada mold.

5. Second Rise

Once more, cover with a towel and allow them to rise 30-45 more minutes. Patience is the most important thing to do– this second rise gives your ensaymada additional fluff.

6. Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake 15-18 minutes or until they turn golden on top. Your kitchen will be made smelling heavenly, buttery, sweet, and irresistible.

7. Butter and Toppings

Brush each ensaymada with butter, and do it liberally, when still hot. Don’t hold back! Sprinkle the top and a mountain of grated cheese.

That is it, your own homemade Mary Grace Ensaymada, buttery and soft with just the right amount of salt and sugar.

The Secret to the Perfect Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe

Since you have your bases covered, now I am going to tell you a couple of my personal secrets that come in tremendously handy.

• Use high-quality butter. Don’t skimp here. It is the creamy richness that is provided by the flavor of good butter.
• Patience with the dough. The more it increases in length (logically), the lighter the texture.
• Grate your cheese fresh. Ready-made grated cheese does not have the kind of kick and texture we desire.
• Don’t overbake. The secret is that it must be soft, not hard.

The Reason Everybody Loves Mary Grace Ensaymada.

The Mary Grace Ensaymada recipe is beloved as it tastes like home. It is the type of bread you have with morning coffee or at family parties. It is simple and yet beautiful, sweet and yet moderate, and each bite is also accompanied by some nostalgia.

To most Filipinos, it has been associated with memories of Christmas mornings, pasalubong (homecoming presents), and meriendas (afternoon snacks). Although you may not have been raised with it, once you get to taste it, you will know why it has gained such popularity.

Texture and Flavor Notes

To call it in a single word, I would say it is pillowy.

The bread itself is airy as clouds, buttery but not oily, with a sweetness that is very gentle and good. Then there is the cheese, which adds that savory bite, which balances it all. Each bite provides a fine, crunchy bite of the sugar topping.

All these layers form harmony together, as a symphony of flavor of taste, that has been practiced. The recipe, Mary Grace Ensaymada, is a balance between comforting and luxurious.

Making It Your Own

The easiest thing to do with baking is that it is possible to make a recipe your own. Mary Grace Ensaymada recipe is not an exception.

The following are some of the variants that can be played:

Ube Ensaymada: Add ube halaya (purple yam jam) to the dough, or as a filling.

Cream Cheese Ensaymada: A small amount of cream cheese should be spread prior to rolling the dough.

Salted Caramel Ensaymada: Drizzle the caramel made with your hands on the top to give it a new flavor.

Chocolate Ensaymada: Substitute the cheese with grated dark chocolate and a sprinkling of cocoa sugar.

Both versions retain the essence of the dish and provide it with a new identity.

Storing and Reheating

Ensaymada is best eaten just out of the oven, though in the event you have leftover homemade ensaymada, it keeps its fluff well by storing in a well-ventilated place.

Room Temp: Store in an airtight container up to 2 days.

Fridge: Stored in the fridge for no longer than 5 days.

Reheat: Warm in the microwave oven 10-15 seconds or in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes until you have that fluffy consistency.

You can even freeze the unbaked spirals of dough in case you are planning. They only need to be thawed overnight in the fridge, left to rise again, and baked when in need.

Pairing Suggestions

The Mary Grace Ensaymada Recipe is complementary to coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. My personal favorite? A cup of hot chocolate with tablea riche or freshly brewed barako coffee – each cuts right through the buttery sweetness.

In case you are having it in the morning, having a side of fruit will be perfect. To present merienda, it must be served warm but with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. (Trust me on this — it’s divine.)

Common Mistakes Troubleshooting.

Do not be upset that you did not get your first batch of bakery perfect. Every baker has been there. The following are some of the things to avoid:

• Dough not rising? Make sure that your yeast is not too old and your liquids are not too hot.
• Too dense? You are supposed to have put in excess flour. The dough must also be sticky but not dry.
• Hard after baking? You might have overbaked it. Monitor the color – light golden will be right.
• Butter separating? Ensure that your dough is well mixed and your butter is not melted.

Each try gets better. And in no very long time, you will have your own perfect recipe of Mary Grace Ensaymada that would be just right.

A Few Words, my Kitchen to yours.

Something really special happens when one bakes bread, particularly when it is a recipe that is as warm as the Mary Grace Ensaymada. It also links you to the generations of bakers who made it earlier, all of them putting the love in the dough. 

In my case, each batch I prepare is a little moment of self-care, a sort of slowness, sensuality, and personal satisfaction. It is the smell of awakening yeast, the feel of the dough in my hands, and the first bit of warm buttery bread, and everything is all right in the world. 

And when I see the light in the faces of my family as they make that first bite? That’s the real reward.

Final Thoughts

The Mary Grace Ensaymada is not merely a pastry, but rather a fairy tale with butter, flour, and love. It is all about tradition and comfort – a flavor that makes you feel at home wherever you have to go.

And in case you require something sweet but full of soul, something to take you down to earth and help you enjoy your life, prepare a batch of these golden, cheesy wonders.

Since on occasion, happiness is nothing more than a freshly baked ensaymada.

More Recipes:

• Golden Corral Sweet Corn Pudding Recipe
• Cheesecake Factory Steak Diane Recipe