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Cuban Medianoche Bread Recipe

Every great sandwich starts with great bread. When making a Cuban Medianoche sandwich, only Cuban Medianoche Bread will do. Medianoche Bread is a sweet, eggy bread that’s the perfect complement to the Cubano sandwich.

Rows of Golden brown Medianoche rolls sitting on a piece of parchment paper.

If you follow me on Facebook…o.k. if you aren’t, why not? (Shameless plug)  If you follow me on Facebook then you know John and I do a lot of bike riding. It’s great spending time together doing something we enjoy. Sometimes, there is another motivation. One of the trails we ride ends close to a restaurant that we like to stop at for one of the best Cuban Medianoche sandwiches we’ve ever eaten. If only they were served on this Cuban Medianoche Bread!

Since we enjoy this sandwich so much, I decided I was going to try and make it myself. The restaurant told me where they get their bread, but since I just love baking bread, I decided to find a recipe and bake it myself.

Top view of a row of golden brown Medianoche rolls sitting on a cooling rack over parchment paper.

I said that restaurant had one of the best. The very best Cubano Medianache sandwich that I’ve had was in Miami. When I was searching for a Medianoche Bread recipe I landed on a site by “Three Guys From Miami“. It’s very evident that they are passionate about their recipes and I learned a lot about the sandwich itself.

Top view of a golden brown Medianoche roll sitting on a cooling rack over parchment paper.

They stated that the only way to eat a Medianoche Cubano is to stay with the classic and to build it correctly. That’s what I wanted, and this bread turned out just as they described. “It’s a sweet eggy roll that is the perfect compliment to the salty tang of the ham and cheese.”

If you’re looking to make an authentic Cubano, only this Cuban bread will work.

Rows of Golden brown Medianoche rolls sitting on a piece of parchment paper.

Cuban Medianoche Bread Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini
Every great sandwich starts with great bread. When making a Cubano sandwich, only Cuban Medianoche Bread will do. Medianoche Bread is a sweet, eggy bread that’s the perfect compliment to the Cubano sandwich.
4.64 from 19 votes
Prep Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 55 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American, Cuban
Keyword: Medianoche
Servings: 8 rolls

Ingredients
  

Egg wash

  • 1 egg with 2 tablespoons water whisked together until foamy

Instructions
 

  • In a medium sized bowl combine the yeast, warm water, and three tablespoons of sugar. Set aside until the yeast begins to bubble. If it doesn’t bubble, the yeast isn’t good and you need to start over.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the eggs, remaining sugar, and salt to the yeast/water mixture. Slowly pour in the melted lard whisking continuously to the yeast/water mixture.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixture, fitted with the dough hook attachment, pour in yeast/water mixture. Gradually add flour one cup at a time until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. My recipe only took 5 cups of flour. It will depend on your air temperature and humidity on how many it takes for you.
  • Knead the mixture for an additional 5 minutes on a medium speed. The dough will be soft and pliable but not overly stiff or sticky.
  • Grease a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Add the dough turning once so both sides are greased. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 60 to 90 minutes, or until doubled.
  • Punch the dough down on a work surface. Divide the dough into 8 to 10 rolls. I actually weighed mine out so they were similar in size (approximately 5.7 oz each).
  • Roll to make cylinders about 5 inches long and 2-1/4 inches wide. Place on a greased or parchment paper lined baking sheet.
  • Cover with a clean damp towel. Let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Using a sharp knife or a lame, cut a shallow seam down the middle of the top of the bread, leaving an inch or two uncut on each end of the roll. Brush the tops of the rolls liberally with the egg wash.
  • Bake until golden brown, about 20 to 35 minutes. Remove the rolls from the oven and take them off of the baking sheet immediately. Cool on a wire rack. While still warm, brush the tops with melted butter.
  • Store at room temperature in a covered container.

Notes

Recipes courtesy of the Three Guys From Miami from their book: “Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban.” Copyright ©2004 All Rights Reserved. Check out their website at: https://icuban.com/food https://icuban.com/food

Nutrition

Calories: 443kcalCarbohydrates: 87gProtein: 14gFat: 3gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 616mgPotassium: 128mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 0.8mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1.2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Cuban Medianoche Bread is similar to the Hawaiian rolls in flavor and texture. They could have been made smaller, but John thought they were just the right size. Especially when he got half of mine! The Best Cuban Sandwich is amazing so get your baking stuff together!

If you love homemade rolls as much as we do, here are a couple more of our favorites!

Brioche Bun Recipe

A Broche Bun topped with poppy seeds sits on a blue napkin in front of a basket of Brioche rolls.

Super Easy Potato Roll Recipe

A potato roll sitting on an antique butter paddle that\'s been cut in half and slathered with melted butter. A cooling rack with rolls sits behind the roll.

Sweet Molasses Brown Bread Recipe

A roll sits next to a rolled pulled apart and buttered next to a jar of butter and in front of a basket of rolls.

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Top view of a row of golden brown Medianoche rolls sitting on a cooling rack over parchment paper.
Recipe Rating




Deb

Saturday 1st of July 2023

I consider myself to be an intermediate bread baker and this was a total fail for me. Followed the recipe exactly. Wasted 6 cups of expensive bread flour.

Julie Menghini

Monday 3rd of July 2023

I'm sorry it didn't work for you Deb. Did you use fresh yeast, and you didn't pour the yeast mixture into the melted lard did you? That heat would have killed your yeast. I've never had this recipe fail.

Julie Menghini

Monday 3rd of July 2023

I'm sorry it didn't work for you. Was your yeast active? I've never had it fail before.

John

Wednesday 26th of April 2023

Just like in South Florida!

Julie Menghini

Wednesday 26th of April 2023

Glad you enjoyed it!

En Lezzetli Küba Akşam Yemeği Fikirleri | airfreyerdio.com

Wednesday 15th of March 2023

[…] orta boy sandviç Gecenin bir yarısı veya erken saatlerde eve geldiğinizde elinizde ne varsa onunla oluşturacağınız türden bir sandviç olduğu için böyle adlandırılıyor. Bu Küba yemeği bazen sıcak bazen de soğuk olarak servis edilir ve jambon, rosto domuz eti, hafif İsviçre peyniri dilimleri ve huysuz ekmekte turşu içermelidir. […]

Rebel

Friday 30th of December 2022

Really good! Using the leftovers for Cuban sandwiches

Julie Menghini

Saturday 31st of December 2022

Oh, I'd love a good Cubano! This bread is so good and I'm glad that you gave it a try. Thank you!

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