Daun Kenikir (Cosmos caudatus K.) memiliki kandungan senyawa fenolik dan aktivitas antioksidan yang tinggi. Senyawa fenolik telah diketahui sensitif terhadap cahaya, oksigen dan panas. Enkapsulasi dapat melindungi senyawa fenolik dalam ekstrak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari pengaruh rasio bahan inti:bahan penyalut (1:10 dan 1: 20) dan suhu inlet spray dryer (125, 150 dan 175oC) terhadap karakteristik mikrokapsul. Pada penelitian tahap pendahuluan, daun kenikir diekstraksi menggunakan pelarut etanol, kemudian ekstrak yang diperoleh dianalisis aktivitas antioksidan dan total fenolik. Pada tahap selanjutnya ekstrak dienkapsulasi dan mikrokapsul yang diperoleh dianalisis powder recovery, kandungan total fenolik, effisiensi enkapsulasi, aktivitas antioksidan dan ukuran partikel. Rasio bahan inti:bahan penyalutdansuhu inlet spray dryer mempengaruhi powder recovery, total fenolik, effisiensi enkapsulasi, aktivitas antioksidan dan ukuran partikel mikrokapsul. Perlakuan dengan rasio bahan inti:bahan penyalut1:20 dan suhu inlet spray dryer 125oC menghasilkan mikrokapsul dengan powder recovery 59,87%, total fenol 24,644 mgGAE/g sampel, efisiensi enkapsulasi 98,820%, aktivitas antioksidan (IC50) 1711,804 ppm dan ukuran partikel 1,55 µm.Microencapsulation Of Phenolic Compounds From Cosmos caudatus K. Leaves ExtractCosmos caudatus K. leaves are high in total phenolic content and have high antioxidant activity. Phenolic compounds are sensitive to light, oxygen, and heat. Encapsulation process can protect the phenolic compounds of extract. This research was aimed to study the effect of core to coating ratio (1:10 and 1:20) and spray drying inlet temperature (125, 150, and 175°C) towards the characteristics of microcapsules. In preliminary stage, Cosmos caudatus K. leaves were extracted with ethanol. The extract was analyzed for antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. In the main stage, the extract were encapsulated. The microcapsules were analyzed for powder recovery, total phenolic content, encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant activity, and particle size. Core to coating ratio and inlet temperature affected the powder recovery, total phenolic content, encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant activity, and particle size of microcapsules. Microcapsules with core to coating ratio 1:20 and inlet temperature 125°C gave the best result with powder recovery 59.87%, total phenolic content 24.644 mg GAE/g sample, encapsulation efficiency 98.820%, IC50 1711.804 ppm, and particle size 1.55 μm.                      •