The Philippines has a rich tradition of breadmaking that has evolved from homemade recipes to delightful offerings in bakeries across the country. Bread is a staple in Filipino cuisine and is enjoyed in various forms and flavors.

One of the most popular traditional breads in the Philippines is pandesal. Pandesal is a soft and fluffy bread roll, typically served for breakfast or as a snack. It is made from a simple combination of flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and water. The dough is shaped into small rolls, coated with bread crumbs, and baked to perfection. Pandesal's slight sweetness and soft texture make it a favorite among Filipinos.

Another beloved bread in the Philippines is ensaymada. This sweet and buttery pastry is a Filipino adaptation of the Spanish ensaimada. It is made from a rich dough, flavored with butter, sugar, and cheese. The dough is rolled into spiral shapes, topped with more butter and cheese, and baked until golden brown. Ensaymada is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Aside from these traditional breads, the Philippines also boasts a wide variety of regional specialties. In the province of Iloilo, for example, there is the famous biscocho. Biscocho is a crunchy bread toasted with butter and sprinkled with sugar. It is often paired with hot tsokolate or coffee.

In Cebu, a popular bread is rosquillos. Rosquillos are ring-shaped cookies that have a slightly crunchy texture. They are made from a dough flavored with anise extract and are often given as pasalubong or souvenirs.

When it comes to bakery delights, Pan de Coco is a must-try. It is a soft bun filled with sweetened shredded coconut. The bun is usually topped with sugar glaze or grated cheese, adding an extra layer of flavor.

References:

1. Philippine Bread House. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.philbreadhouse.com/
2. Pandesal. (n.d.). In Panlasang Pinoy. Retrieved from https://panlasangpinoy.com/pandesal-recipe-filipino-bread/
3. Ensaymada. (n.d.). In Kawaling Pinoy. Retrieved from https://www.kawalingpinoy.com/ensaymada/
4. Santos, M. (2019, March 21). 10 Must-Try Bread Specialties in the Philippines. In FilipiKnow. Retrieved from https://filipiknow.net/filipino-bread-specialties/