Filipino Pandesal Recipe (2024)

Published: / Updated: by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

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This Filipino Pandesal recipe is easy to follow and makes a classic light, fluffy, airy bread that is popular in the Philippines. This traditional Filipino bread is commonly eaten for breakfast or as a snack, but you can also enjoy it for lunch and dinner!

Filipino Pandesal Recipe (1)

Pandesal is the bread of my youth. I used to love it when my mom would come home with a package of pandesal from the little Asian corner market.

These light, fluffy, airy little rolls are the most popular and widely made bread in the Philippines. While my mom and Lola (great-grandmother) were amazing cooks, and cooked up fresh lumpia, pancit, and adobo regularly, I don't remember growing up with a whole lot of baking from scratch in my house.

Bread in my house was usually store-bought pandesal or King's Hawaiian Rolls, which are similar shape and sweetness as pandesal. So I was happy to learn in recent years just how easy it is to make pandesal from scratch at home!

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  • What is pandesal?
  • Ingredient notes
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serving ideas
  • Filipino Pandesal
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What is pandesal?

Filipino Pandesal Recipe (2)

Pandesal is a traditional bread popular in the Philippines. The term "pandesal" means "salt bread" in Spanish, and its beginnings are linked back to 16th century Spanish colonization.

Everybody eats pandesal in the Philippines. Young, old, rich, poor; it's a universally appreciated food that most Filipinos enjoy early in the morning. But you can also enjoy pandesal as part of your mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, or merienda.

I have strong food memories of my Lola creating little sandwiches with Spam and eggs in pandesal. SO. GOOD. And when I make this recipe at home now, it brings back all of those warm memories of my Lola.

Ingredient notes

Filipino Pandesal Recipe (3)

To make pandesal at home, you need less than 10 ingredients. And all of these ingredients are fairly common, so you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge!

Active Dry Yeast - you'll want to activate the yeast in ¼ cup of warm milk first since that takes a few minutes. If you're using Instant Yeast, you don't need to activate it in this way and can add it to the dry mixture on its own.

Milk - I use 1% milk, but you can use 1%, 2%, or Whole Milk. You'll need to microwave the milk for 30 seconds and then use ¼ cup to activate the yeast and then you'll use the remaining ¾ cup warm milk for the main dough.

Flour - I use all-purpose flour, but some people use a blend of all-purpose flour and bread flour. I prefer the fluffiness that you get with using just AP flour.

Salt - use kosher salt. If you are using any other type of salt, be sure to adjust your measurements accordingly.

Sugar - granulated sugar adds a nice touch of sweetness without being too overpowering.

Eggs - let your eggs sit out for about 20-30 minutes before incorporating them into the dough. Room temperature eggs tend to mix more thoroughly and smoothly than refrigerator-cold eggs. I use cage-free organic large brown eggs.

Butter - use unsalted butter, melted and then cooled slightly before mixing it in.

Breadcrumbs - you'll roll the dough in breadcrumbs just before putting them in the oven. This gives the rolls that classic pandesal outer texture. Plain breadcrumbs are preferred, but I've used Italian breadcrumbs in a pinch when I didn't have plain breadcrumbs on hand and they tasted just as delicious!

Step-by-step instructions

Place the milk in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside ¾ cup of the milk (you’ll use it soon) and pour the remaining ¼ cup into a separate bowl or cup and add the active dry yeast. Allow the yeast to sit in the warm milk for 10 minutes, then stir.

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Filipino Pandesal Recipe (5)
Filipino Pandesal Recipe (6)

While the yeast is activating, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.

With a wooden spoon or a heatproof silicone spatula, fold in the ¾ cup milk, egg, and melted butter in with the dry ingredients, stirring and folding the ingredients together gently just until well blended.

Filipino Pandesal Recipe (7)
Filipino Pandesal Recipe (8)
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At this point, if 10 minutes has passed, the yeast should be activated. Give it a stir and fold the yeast/milk mixture into the dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it just until the dough starts to feel well combined, about 3 to 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball.

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Lightly coat a large glass bowl with olive oil, then place the dough in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and either proof in your oven or place in a warm spot in your kitchen. Allow the dough to rise until it reaches about double in size, which can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour and a half.

While the dough is rising, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

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Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and divide into 2 equal parts. Roll each half into a log. Then slice each log into 6 even pieces, for a total of 12 pieces.

Roll each dough piece into a ball. Then immediately roll each ball in the breadcrumbs.

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Filipino Pandesal Recipe (17)

Place dough balls on the prepared baking sheet approximately 2 inches apart to allow the dough to double in size again for a second proof. Lightly cover the pan with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and allow for the dough to rise for the second proof, just about 15 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake for 15 minutes, just until the tops and sides of the pandesal reach a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Recipe FAQs

Filipino Pandesal Recipe (18)

How are pandesal supposed to look?

You might notice that the ones I made for this recipe photoshoot are rounder than traditional Filipino pandesal. I simply decided not to squish them together to give them ample even baking room. Traditional pandesal often is baked closer together to give them that squished together square roll look, similar to King's Hawaiian Rolls. Either way, the taste is the same: delicious!

How do you store pandesal?

Pandesal is best eaten hot from the oven. However, you can store pandesal in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 to 3 days. To reheat, simply microwave for 30 seconds.

Can I freeze pandesal?

Yes! After baking, allow the pandesal to cool to room temperature. Then store in an airtight, freezer-safe container or airtight freezer bags in the freezer for up to one month.

Serving ideas

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Pandesal is best enjoyed on its own, with a pat of unsalted butter or dipped into your morning coffee.

But it's also great as a sandwich vessel! Especially with traditional Spam and fried or scrambled eggs.

Of course, no one will scold you if you enjoy this Filipino bread as a side dish with lunch or dinner. Especially if you enjoy it with one of these Filipino main dishes.

  • Instant Pot Chicken Adobo
  • Filipino Macaroni Salad
  • Lumpia Shanghai
  • Pancit Bihon

For more, you can buy my Filipino cookbook: Modern Filipino Cooking, my 55-page e-Book with authentic Filipino recipes that I've adapted for today's modern kitchen!

Filipino Pandesal Recipe (23)

Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

Filipino Pandesal Recipe (24)

Filipino Pandesal

5 from 7 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Proofing Time: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Recipe by Marlynn Schotland

These Filipino rolls are soft and fluffy. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner!

Servings: 12 rolls

Calories: 173kcal

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Ingredients

Instructions

PREP INGREDIENTS

  • Place the milk in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside ¾ cup of the milk (you’ll use it soon) and pour the remaining ¼ cup into a separate bowl or cup and add the active dry yeast. Allow the yeast to sit in the warm milk for 10 minutes, then stir.

MAKE THE DOUGH

  • While the yeast is activating, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.

  • With a wooden spoon or a heatproof silicone spatula, fold in the ¾ cup milk, egg, and melted butter in with the dry ingredients, stirring and folding the ingredients together gently just until well blended.

  • At this point, if 10 minutes has passed, the yeast should be activated. Give it a stir and fold the yeast/milk mixture into the dough.

  • Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it just until the dough starts to feel well combined, about 3 to 5 minutes. Form the dough into a ball.

PROOF THE DOUGH

  • Lightly coat a large glass bowl with olive oil, then place the dough in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and either proof in your oven or place in a warm spot in your kitchen. Allow the dough to rise until it reaches about double in size, which can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour and a half.

  • While the dough is rising, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

SHAPE THE ROLLS + SECOND PROOF

  • Once the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and divide into 2 equal parts. Roll each half into a log. Then slice each log into 6 even pieces, for a total of 12 pieces.

  • Place breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl. Roll each dough piece into a ball. Then immediately roll each ball in the breadcrumbs.

  • Place dough balls on the prepared baking sheet approximately 2 inches apart to allow the dough to double in size again for a second proof. Lightly cover the pan with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and allow for the dough to rise for the second proof, just about 15 minutes.

BAKE

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake for 15 minutes, just until the tops and sides of the pandesal reach a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Notes

Serve at breakfast or for meryenda with coffee.

Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 111IU | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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Filipino Pandesal Recipe (25)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Toni says

    Filipino Pandesal Recipe (26)
    This was so good! It turned out really amazing!

    Reply

  2. Lima Ekram says

    Filipino Pandesal Recipe (27)
    Something new! Cant wait to try it!

    Reply

  3. Dannii says

    Filipino Pandesal Recipe (28)
    I haven't heard of this bread before, but it looks delicious. I can't wait to try.

    Reply

  4. Carrie Robinson says

    Filipino Pandesal Recipe (29)
    I have never heard of this bread before, but now I want to totally try this! Looks so good. :)

    Reply

  5. angela says

    Filipino Pandesal Recipe (30)
    I am still baking a lot of fresh bread even in year two of the pandemic. I am happy to try a new recipe and this was recommended by a coworker to try. Thank you so much for a great recipe and yes hot out of the oven is best.

    Reply

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Filipino Pandesal Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How is pandesal different from bread? ›

The name comes from the Spanish word meaning “salt bread" and it originated during the 16th century era of Spanish colonization in the Philippines. 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.

Why is my pandesal not fluffy? ›

Why is my pandesal dense and not fluffy? A dense and pandesal can be caused by using inaccurate proportions of ingredients, for example, not enough liquid or fat, or using too much flour. Another reason is under rising. If the dough did not have enough time to rise, then the bread might come out dense and hard.

What flour is pandesal made of? ›

Pan de sal which is Spanish for bread of salt is traditionally made with wheat flour, yeast, water, and a pinch of salt added to the dough. Over the years, ingredients such as eggs, milk, and butter were incorporated into the basic recipe resulting in a sweeter-than-salty flavor.

Why do you put breadcrumbs in pandesal? ›

Why It Works. Milk, oil, and eggs contribute flavor and color, and increase the tenderness of the crumb. A coating of plain breadcrumbs gives the pandesal its signature sandy exterior.

Is pandesal a healthy bread? ›

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 pandesal so popular in the Philippines? ›

Since wheat is not natively produced in the Philippines, bakers eventually switched to more affordable yet inferior flour, resulting in the softer, doughy texture of the pandesal. Pandesal flourished in the American colonial era in the early 1900s, when cheaper American wheat became readily available.

What ingredient makes bread more fluffy? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

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.

How do you make bread airy and not dense? ›

Dry Milk Powder

If you want a lighter fluffier bread loaf just add 2 Tbsp of dry milk to the flour per loaf of your bread.

What is alternative for bread crumbs in pandesal? ›

The Best 10 Breadcrumb Substitutes
  • Rolled oats. Rolled oats are the perfect gluten-free binding ingredient, replacing breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf and many more recipes when you need to bind meat and eggs. ...
  • Potato chips. ...
  • Cornflakes. ...
  • Almonds. ...
  • Croutons. ...
  • Crackers. ...
  • Seeds.
Oct 18, 2022

What is the English of pandesal? ›

bread (n.) food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked. foodstuff rich in natural starch (especially potatoes, rice, bread).

Is pandesal filipino or Spanish? ›

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.

Why wet bread before baking? ›

Wetting the dough causes the surface to steam. Covering it traps the moisture. This partnership stops the bread from drying out on the surface in the hot air of the oven and forming a premature crust. Your bread rises more and produces a richer colour, becoming glossy on the surface.

Why cut the top of bread before baking? ›

Scoring is the process of cutting a slash in the surface of bread dough before baking. Bread dough rapidly expands when it is first placed in the oven (an effect known as “oven spring”), and scoring controls this expansion. Bakers score their loaves to prevent them from cracking—and to give the dough a helpful boost.

When not to use breadcrumbs? ›

Breadcrumbs are not to be used everywhere, they should never replace the main navigation or on-page navigation of a website, such as that of a header or sidebar. Many basic sites will only need main navigation.

What kind of bread is a 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 differences of pandesal and baguette? ›

Answer: Pandesal is a popular yeast-raised bread in the Philippines. Individual loaves are shaped by rolling the dough into long logs (bastón, Spanish for "stick") which are rolled in fine bread crumbs. While the Baguette is a long loaf of bread closely connected to France.

What is a fun fact about pandesal? ›

Since wheat is not natively produced in the Philippines, bakers eventually switched to more affordable yet inferior flour, resulting in the softer, doughy texture of the pandesal. Pandesal flourished in the American colonial era in the early 1900s, when cheaper American wheat became readily available.

What is the traditional bread in the Philippines? ›

When asked what a typical Filipino bread is, I would have to say pan de sal. Sometimes spelled pandesal, these rolls are the star of a traditional breakfast in the Philippines. The dough for pan de sal is rolled in breadcrumbs before dividing into rolls.

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