Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (2024)

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4.99 from 357 votes

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Pandesal is a classic Filipino bread roll that is particularly eaten for breakfast. It is soft and airy and slightly sweet. Normally eaten as a sandwich with one's favorite filling.

Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (1)

Pandesal is probably the most popular bread in the Philippines. It is a favorite breakfast that can be eaten on its own, dunked in coffee or with filling like coconut jam, peanut butter, cheese, cheese spread, corned beef, egg, hotdogs or practically anything you can think of or whatever leftovers you have laying in your fridge.

One of my faves is mushed spicy sardines...yup! But I remembered a time when we were just small kids, my Kuya Norman's and I would haveketchup withsugar as filling...eeewww, right? But that tasted so good to us at that time! Haha! Yeah, I have to admit I tried a lot of weird stuff just because my big brother thinks it is good or cool. Hehe!

  • What is Pandesal?
  • What are the Ingredients for Pandesal?
  • A note about flour...
  • Other Filipino Bread Recipe to Try:
  • How to Make Pandesal
  • Printable Recipe
  • Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery

What is Pandesal?

A traditional Filipino breakfast roll, that used to be sold only in early hours at bakeries or on the streets by vendors on bicycles with loud airhorns. They would put the Pandesalsin a big insulated box to keep them warm. But, nowadays, some bakeries make them available for the entireday.

It is called Pandesalor Pan de Sal (Spanish) that translates to salted bread although it is actually sweeter than salty. It is soft and fluffy and covered with breadcrumbs.

Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (2)

What are the Ingredients for Pandesal?

Basically, you can already make pandesal with just 5 ingredients: flour, yeast, oil or lard, sugar, and salt. Six if you have to include water.

This recipe replaces the water with milk and adds eggs. Both of them giving these pandesalsa softer texture, both inside and to the crust, and gives a richer flavor. The eggs also help the dough rise higher.

I also use butter or sometimes margarine that adds that delicious buttery goodness.

Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (3)

A note about flour...

The original recipe I posted here in 2015 was made when we were still living in Germany. When I used the same recipe here in the Philippines, the outcome is different. They taste great but were a little denser and dryer.

This is because of the flour used. The flour that I used in Germany is finer or "softer" which tends to absorb lesser liquid. The recipe (way) below is the original recipe I used for that. The flour I usually use in the Philippines is similar to the ones in the US, Gold Medal APF. This one requires more liquid so I adjusted the recipe here.

Remember—different types of flour has different flour-to-water ratio. The higher the protein/gluten content, the more water it needs. Also important to note, not all-purpose flour acts the same. Different brands have different ways of processing their flour and different contents.

If the dough feels too dry then simply add more water, or if too sticky then add flour. The dough should feel pliable or easy to knead and not too sticky.

You can also use bread flour if you are looking for a chewier pandesal. Mix them in equal parts to get a moderately chewy but softer ones. But remember that bread flour absorbs more liquids so you may need to adjust.

Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (4)

Other Filipino Bread Recipe to Try:

  • Spanish Bread - Similar to Pandesal but with a sweet buttery filling
  • Cheese Bread - Sweet dough bread covered in milky streusel
  • Ensaymada - pillowy bread topped with buttercream and grated cheese
Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (5)

How to Make Pandesal

Printable Recipe

Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (6)

Print Review

Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery

4.99 from 357 votes

Make your own homemade Pandesal with this easy and simple Pandesal Recipe. Soft and fluffy, covered with breadcrumbs best serve while hot!

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Rising Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Course :Breakfast

Servings =12

Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour - see NOTE 1 about bread flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk - lukewarm
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoon butter - melted (or margarine)
  • 1 ½ teaspoon instant dry yeast - see Note 2
  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • In a big bowl, mix together flour, sugar, salt.

  • Pour in milk, beaten egg and melted butter. Mix several times until well blended. Make sure that the milk is only mildly warm and not hot.

  • Add the instant dry yeast and fold until a sticky dough forms.

  • Tip the dough on a floured surface and knead until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 5-10 minutes.

  • Form the dough into a ball and lightly coat with oil. Place it in a bowl and cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and place it in a warm area and let it rise until it doubled in size. Depending how warm it is, could take 30 minutes to an hour.

  • Punch down the dough and divide into 2 equal parts using a knife or dough slicer. Roll each into a log.Cut each log into 6 smaller pieces.

  • Shape each piece into a ball and roll it in breadcrumbs, completely covering all sides.

  • Arrange the pieces on a baking sheet leaving some gaps in between (at least an inch). Leave them to rise second time until double in size.

  • While waiting, preheat oven 370° F /185°C. Bake the Pandesal for 15 minutes or until the sides are a bit browned.

  • Remove from oven and serve while hot!

Notes

Note 1 - You can also use bread flourif you want it on the chewy side or 50/50 APF and bread flour for soft but slightly chewy bite.

Note 2 - Using Instant Dry Yeast eliminates the need to proof it with warm liquid before adding to the rest of the ingredients. Just make sure that your yeast is still active. It also lessens the rising time.

Note 2- You may also use Active Dry Yeast. It needs to be proof and might take longer to rise. Take ½ cup of the lukewarm milk from the recipe and 1 stp sugar. Add the yeast to it and let it bloom for 5 minutes before adding to the flour.

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 272mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 170IUCalcium: 33mgIron: 1.8mg

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

This post was originally published in September 2015. Updated to include new images and some improvements on the recipe.

For those who still want to use the old recipe, here it is. The main difference is the shaping of the individual rolls. The old version is the traditional pandesal shape that is slightly elongated with pointy ends.

3 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoon instant dry yeast
¼ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
¾ cup milk
3 tablespoon margarine - or butter (melted)
1 egg
½ cup breadcrumbs

In a big bowl, mix together flour and yeast. In a smaller bowl, combine sugar, salt, milk and margarine or butter. Warm liquids in the microwave until warm. Remove from microwave and add the egg and beat several times until well blended. Make sure that the liquids are only mildly warm and not hot.
Pour the liquid mixture over the flour mixture and fold until dough forms. Knead the dough on a clean surface dusted with flour until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 5-10 minutes.
Form the dough into a ball and place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and place it in a warm area and let it rise until it doubled in size. Depending on how warm it is, could take 30 minutes to an hour.
Punch down the dough and divide it into 2 equal parts using a knife or dough slicer. Roll each into a log. Cover each log with breadcrumbs. Cut the log sideways into smaller pieces. (about 6 pieces each log). Roll each piece with breadcrumbs again.
Arrange the pieces on a baking sheet living some gaps in between (at least an inch). Leave them to rise for another 10-15 minutes.
While waiting, preheat oven 370° F /185°C. Bake the Pandesal for 15 minutes or until the sides are a bit browned.
Remove from oven and serve while hot!

Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (7)
Pandesal Recipe - Soft and Buttery - Foxy Folksy (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pandesal not soft? ›

If your pandesal is hard out of the oven (and not burnt), it might not have proofed enough and the gluten did not develop properly. Try to test your yeast to make sure it's not expired by blooming it in warm milk before adding into your flour.

Can you let pandesal dough rise overnight? ›

(Alternatively, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight until puffy and soft, between 10 and 12 hours). Thirty minutes before baking, adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Bake pandesal until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes.

What is the texture of pandesal? ›

Pandesal is known for its pillowy texture and signature breadcrumbs on top. The bread is subtly sweet and the crust has light golden brown color with a slight crunch.

Which makes the bread soft and fluffy? ›

The yeast releases carbon dioxide, which fills the dough and increases its volume. Due to the heat, more gas bubbles emerge when this dough is baked. The bread rises and becomes soft and fluffy as the gas leaves.

How do bakeries make bread so soft? ›

There's something magical about the bread you get at your local bakeries - they're always sooo soft and fluffy. Many of these breads, especially packaged ones, are made with a ton of chemical additives such as calcium propionate, amylase, and chlorine dioxide which help keep them soft, light, and fluffy for days.

What makes bread soft and moist? ›

For example, fats like butter or oil can help keep moisture in, while sugars will help to caramelize on the outside and create a golden crust. These ingredients can also play an essential role in keeping your bread moist when added in smaller quantities.

Why is my pandesal so hard? ›

Why is the crust on my pandesal so hard? Your bread should be fluffy on the inside and slightly crusty on the outside, but the crust should not be rock hard. If your crust is too hard, it could be the result of under kneading your bread. Make sure your dough is completely smooth after kneading.

Where is the best place to let dough rise overnight? ›

The best place for your dough to rise is your oven – when it is switched off! Experts advise that you preheat your oven then have it cool down a little before explaining the dough in it to rise. The key to achieving this is ensuring that your oven is going to stay warm enough to facilitate rising, but be careful.

What happens if you let bread rise too long before baking? ›

If you leave your bread dough to rise for too long outside at room temperature, there is a risk of overproofing the dough. It might look alright in appearance, but when you bake the bread, it will not rise much in the oven. The end result will be a dense loaf of bread.

Can I leave dough to rise all day? ›

- Uncovered container with dough you need to limit to max 4 hours in room temperature. It is possible to leave bread dough to rise overnight. This needs to be done in the refrigerator to prevent over-fermentation and doughs with an overnight rise will often have a stronger more yeasty flavour which some people prefer.

What is a fun fact about pandesal? ›

Pandesal is the most popular local bread in the Philippines. It is the Spanish term for “salt bread,” since the name originated during the 16th century Spanish colonial era. Most bakeries all over the country, from small backyard establishments to industrial bakeries, produce and sell this bread.

What is the characteristics of a good pandesal? ›

Pandesal is the most popular bread in the Philippines for a good reason! With a golden, crumb-coated exterior, slightly sweet taste, and soft, fluffy texture, this Filipino-style bread roll is delicious on its own or with your choice of filling.

Is eating pandesal healthy? ›

Is Pandesal healthy? HEALTH BENEFITS OF PAN DE SAL: Pan de sal has 4 grams of protein, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, and 3 grams of fat. Pandesal also has iron, which is necessary for developing hemoglobin, for carrying oxygen in the blood. This is helpful for people with anemia and pregnant women.

Why is my Pandesal so dense? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

Why is my bread not soft and fluffy? ›

Overworking the dough can cause the gluten strands to break down, resulting in a tough and dense bread. To ensure a light and fluffy texture, knead the dough just until it becomes smooth and elastic. This usually takes about 7-10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes in a stand mixer.

Why does my homemade bread feel hard? ›

The flour could have too low a protein content, there could be too much salt in the bread recipe, you did not knead it or leave it to proof long enough, or you could have killed the yeast by leaving the dough to rise in a place that was too hot.

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