Ube Pandesal with Custard

This ube pandesal with custard unexpectedly settled cravings I didn't know I had. As soon as I bit into one of these warm, freshly baked buns, it gave me a level of comfort I didn't think I needed! The slightly earthy ube flavor within the fluffy pandesal mixed with a dose of creamy custard makes you want to cuddle up on the couch with a mug of hot coffee and not move for the rest of the day.

It isn't easy to find the real thing all the way here in Tbilisi, Georgia. So I had to ship some ube extract to myself from the United States. As much as I wanted to use ube halaya (jam), I was nervous about the jar busting open en route. This recipe ended up only using one ube ingredient, which is an extract. Even though I had to make do with what was available to me, the extract was a great choice in this streamlined recipe, and I believe I achieved my goal!

What is Ube?

I'm sure you have seen some of the intensely purple food variations floating around the internet since ube has taken the world by storm. I think it started with ube ice cream sold in mass at Trader Joe's that introduced people to the versatility of the purple yam that all Filipinos have grown up loving. Now, ube is a specialty flavor in cookies, tarts, pies, and pretty much anything sweet and delicious! Ube is a purple yam indigenous in Asia but cultivated as a major crop in the Philippines. They are narrow-shaped tubers with purplish brown skin and purple meat. In the Philippines, ube is used in various dishes, most often produced in the form of ube halaya, or ube jam made with butter, milk (evaporated/condensed), and sugar.

What is Pandesal?

Pandesal is the most common yeasted bread roll sold in bakeries alongside ensaymada, Spanish rolls, and Kababayan bread. Considered mainly a morning treat, Filipinos purchase pandesal for reheating over the next few days. It's typically devoured with slabs of margarine slathered between soft toasted slices. Another popular option is to add a thick slice of cheddar or Edam cheese to your pandesal!

Pandesal Plus Ube Plus Custard

Ube pandesal has been circulating in the mainstream food scene since ube became popular. There are many recipe versions providing instructions on how to make ube pandesal depending on what type of ube flavoring or ingredient you have available in your pantry. I also decided to add a luscious custard filling to the ube pandesal! This custard will not harden during baking and makes for a pleasant surprise at the center of your pandesal!

How to Make Ube Pandesal with Custard

Make the Custard Filling

Before making anything else, you have to make the custard filling because it takes a while to set. In a bowl, melt the butter in the milk by heating it in the microwave for no more than two minutes. In a separate bowl, mix together egg yolks, flour, sugar, salt, and cornstarch.

Add one-third of the milk/butter mixture to the other bowl of ingredients and whisk until lumps have disappeared. Repeat until all of the milk/butter mixture has incorporated into the other ingredients.

Take a saucepan and pour the custard mix through a sieve to eliminate large chunks of egg. 

Then place the saucepan on low heat and stir with a whisk as it heats up. You will start to see the custard thicken and when it starts forming soft peaks, remove it from the heat. Continue stirring until it forms stiff peaks since it continues cooking from residual heat.

Pour the custard into a clean bowl, cover it and let it set in the fridge for a few hours. Tip The custard will not harden. It is ready when it reaches the consistency of a thick pudding that maintains its shape when scooped. This is so we can achieve a soft custard, similar to a thicker cream puff filling. 

Make the Yeast Starter

As with all yeasted bread, begin with making the yeast starter by mixing the warm milk, two teaspoons of sugar, and active dry yeast in a bowl. Mix them until the yeast has melted. Set it aside to rise for ten minutes until you see a foam skimming the top of the milk. 

Add the egg yolk and melted butter, then whisk them until well incorporated. Here is where you will add the ube extract. I used one teaspoon of ube extract for my recipe, but I encourage you to add as many as three teaspoons (one tablespoon) for a stronger flavor. I wanted to highlight the taste of the custard for this recipe, so 1 teaspoon of ube provides a very mild flavor.

Make the Ube Pandesal Dough

In a separate large bowl, add salt, the rest of the sugar, and flour, then mix to incorporate. Pour the yeast starter into the dry ingredients. 

Using dough hooks, knead the dough until it has become elastic and soft. The dough is ready when you can easily make a smooth ball. Place it in a bowl and cover to proof for up to an hour or when it doubles in size. 

Assemble

De-gas the dough after it has proofed, making sure all air bubbles are released.

Shape the dough into a donut and split it into one section so you end up with a log of dough. Slice the dough log into 12 equal pieces, then shape them into balls. 

Take one piece and roll it out while keeping the center thick. Spoon some custard into the middle of the dough and then carefully pinch the edges together to seal the bun. Roll the sealed bun in a container filled with breadcrumbs making sure it's fully coated, then place it on a lined baking sheet.

Tip Before rolling the pandesal in breadcrumbs, you can brush the bread roll with milk. The milk coating will make a softer and chewier pandesal crust. 

When you are finished assembling the pandesal, proof it a second time for about another hour or until it doubles in size. When you have about fifteen minutes of proofing time left, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). 

Place the bread rolls in the oven and bake them for fifteen minutes. Once you remove them, you can cool the pandesal for about five to ten minutes. They are best enjoyed when they are still warm!

Options for Your Ube Pandesal

I used a minimal amount of ube extract for my pandesal because I wanted the custard to be the main attraction. If you intend on simply making ube pandesal without the filling, I recommend you use as much as a tablespoon and if you want it even stronger, add even another teaspoon. Play around with your preference, and you will find your sweet spot!