10 Ube Recipes to Try

ube-macapuno cake
Photo: Mr. FXL

Also known as purple sweet potatoes or purple yams, ube is a mildly sweet and starchy tuber native to Southeast Asia. It's a staple in the Philippines and Okinawa, but beloved throughout — and beyond — the region. Ube's flavor and texture lend themselves well to desserts, especially baked goods or anything involving cream, and it makes a beautiful filling or jam. Check out our favorite ube recipes, from cake and rolls to milkshakes and more.

01 of 10

Easy and Delicious Purple Yam (Ube) Cookies

easy and delicious ube (purple yam) cookies
Buckwheat Queen

These ube cookies are a vivid dessert that don't run the risk of being overly sweet. Rather, they have a distinct flavor. You only need one bowl to make these, and the recipe is flexible to adapt to your desired thickness. For brighter cookies, add three drops of red and blue food coloring.

02 of 10

Purple Yam Jam

purple yam jam
Purple Yam Jam. Buckwheat Queen

"This is a Filipino recipe. It's called halayang ube in the Philippines," says creator Jasmin Monteclar. "It's a sweet treat made from purple yam which is commonly found in the country. You can eat this with bread or by itself."

03 of 10

Hot Ube Pandesal (Filipino Purple Yam Bread Rolls)

Hot Ube Pandesal (Filipino Purple Yam Bread Rolls)
Cheryl Maceren

"What I'm sharing here is my version of the hot pandesal we ate for breakfast as kids and even for merienda (snack time), with hot chocolate or warm milk. I love food with ube flavor thus incorporating it with my favorite breakfast bread," says creator Ruby Hernandez. "Serve hot with or without spread/butter of your choice. For leftovers, warm in a toaster oven before serving for better taste."

04 of 10

Air-Fried Purple Yam Fries with Sour Cream Sriracha Sauce

Air-Fried Purple Yam Fries with Sour Cream Sriracha Sauce
Buckwheat Queen

If you're looking for a more savory ube recipe, these fries are a great place to start. The cool sour cream and sriracha sauce complements the yam's sweetness. Just be sure to follow the proper procedure for air frying yams rather than potatoes, as they differ.

05 of 10

Purple Sweet Potato Whole Wheat Bun

Purple Sweet Potato Whole Wheat Bun
pichakucha

Adding mashed purple sweet potatoes to whole-wheat buns does far more than change their hue. These buns are packed with nutrients as well as an irresistible flavor.

06 of 10

Ube-Macapuno Cake

ube-macapuno cake
Mr. FXL

This cake, based on a classic Filipino recipe, is loaded with mild sweetness and creaminess from the ube and macapuno, a fruit similar to coconut. If you don't have fresh ube on hand, you can also use ube powder, jarred ube, or frozen ube in this cake.

07 of 10

Ube Milkshake

ube milkshake
Allrecipes

Mix some cooked, cubed ube into a vanilla milkshake to turn the flavor up a notch and the color up a few more.

08 of 10

Purple Sweet Potato Cakes

Purple Sweet Potato Cakes
Buckwheat Queen

"These Chinese cakes are filled with purple sweet potato, making them both gorgeous looking and tasting," says recipe creator duolaimi. "Naturally sweet, glutinous rice flour is available in Asian markets and also many supermarkets. It makes a delicious pastry."

09 of 10

Ube Panna Cotta

ube panna cotta
Allrecipes

Panna cotta gets even more gorgeous when it takes on ube's distinct hue. Reviewer R Gaede says this dessert "tastes like it has vanilla in it even though it doesn't" and had a light texture despite its appearance. If you like, you can even reduce the sugar from 1/2 cup to 1/3 cup since the ube's natural sweetness shines here.

10 of 10

Haupia and Purple Sweet Potato Pie

Haupia and Purple Sweet Potato Pie
Finesse

Creator J. Simpson says this pie is "just like auntie used to make when we were visiting." The purple sweet potatoes correlate perfectly with the shortbread crust and coconut cream layer on top. The coconut cream layer is also loaded with shredded coconut, adding textural joy as well as taste. Serve this pie cold.

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