Ensaymada Cheese Bread
INGREDIENTS
- Cooking Time: 20 mins
- Servings: 16
- Preparation Time: 45 mins
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup shortening - -softened to room temperature
- 1 envelope active dry yeast - (about 7-9 grams (1/4 oz) or 1 tablespoon) - proofed in 1/4 cup warm water ( See Note 1 for alternative)
- 3 1/2 cup flour
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/4 tablespoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter - - softened to room temperature- for brushing
-
- Topping
- 1/2 cup butter - - softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup Sharp cheddar or Edam cheese - or other grated cheese
DIRECTIONS
- In a mixing bowl, mix together milk, shortening, sugar and salt.
- Add half of the flour and the bloomed yeast and mix for 3-5 minutes at medium speed until a paste-like consistency is achieved.
- Add the egg yolks and the rest of flour and mix for another 3 minutes. Add more flour if the mixture is too liquid or too sticky but not too much. The dough is supposed to be sticky.
- Scrape the sides while folding the dough in the middle of the bowl and then cover with kitchen towel. Let it rest and rise in a warm place for 2-3 hours or until it doubled its size.
- Scrape the sides of the bowl while tipping the sticky dough over to the thinly floured working surface.
- Roll the dough into a log and cut into 2. Roll each log again and cut into 2. Repeat this process until you end up with 16 slices.
- Using a rolling pin, roll a slice into a rectangle (about 8x4 inch) and brush the surface with softened butter. Roll it from one end of the long side to the other end, creating a long, thin log then shape it into a coil (spiral) with the end tucked under.
- Place each coiled dough in a greased mold and let it rest in a warm place for about 30 minutes to 1 hour until it has risen to almost double its size.
- Bake them in a preheated oven at 300°F /150°C for 20-25 minutes. Once baked let them cool down for a few minutes before removing from molds.Then let them cool completely.
