Home ยทย Recipes ยทย Desserts & Baking ยทย Donuts, Pancakes, & Waffles Ube Pancakes Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Jul 6, 2021Updated: Sep 14, 2023 View Recipe18 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. Soft, fluffy, flavorful ube pancakes made with Filipino purple yam and coconut milk. Serve with maple syrup, ube halaya, and macapuno strings! Table of Contents Filipino Purple Yam PancakesIngredientsUbe HalayaHow to Mix Pancake BatterCooking TipsServing SuggestionsMore Pancake RecipesUbe PancakesView moreView less Filipino Purple Yam Pancakes Trader Joe’s is greatly responsible for the instant nationwide popularity of ube! Since the introduction of their ube ice cream summer of 2019, Trader Joe’s has been releasing all sorts of ube flavored treats. You may be familiar with Trader Joe’s Ube Mochi Pancake and Waffle Mix. I have yet to get my hands on box. Until then, here is my version of ube pancakes. This recipe is made with regular all-purpose flour. Ingredients This pancake recipe uses a combination of ube halaya, ube extract, and coconut milk for flavor. What is ube? Ube is a purple yam native to Southeast Asia. Ube is pronounced โooo-baeโ in Talalog (Filipino). Itโs a popular tuber widely used in Filipino desserts. Though often mistaken for taro root or Okinawan sweet potato, they are not the same. They are relatives, but not the same tuber. Note: Taro is called gabi in Tagalog. Ingredient IntelUbe HalayaUbe halaya is also known as ube jam or halayang ube. It is a cooked dish made from boiled mashed purple yam, milk (usually sweetened condensed milk and/or coconut milk), and sugar. Ube halaya is usually served as a dessert. It can be enjoyed as is or spread on bread or crackers. It is often used as filling or flavoring for other desserts. Make ube halaya using frozen ube or powdered ube (dehydrated ube powder). Or, simply purchase the jarred versions in store (like the ones in the image above). Ube Extract Ube extract is a potent ingredient that helps to enhance the ube flavors of any dessert. Use it for ube pound cake, ube pandesal, or ginataang bilo-bilo. Be careful! This liquid will stain! Can you omit the extract? No, please don’t. Ube extract provides that iconic “ube” flavoring while also adding color to the batter. Without this ingredient, the resulting ube pancakes will not be a violet in color nor will the pancakes have a rich ube flavor. NOTE: I stock up on ube extract whenever I visit the Philippines, where it costs about $1 per bottle. It is a bit more expensive to purchase in the United States. Ube extract is available online (Amazon affiliate link). Find it for a more reasonable price in Filipino supermarkets and well stocked Asian supermarkets in the the baking section. How to Mix Pancake Batter This recipe starts off similar to traditional pancake batter. Whisk dry ingredients together. Mix wet ingredient together. Then, combine the dry and wet. In large bowl, whisk together ube halaya and half of coconut milk until mixture is smooth. Add in ube extract, vanilla extract, melted butter, eggs, and remaining coconut milk. Whisk until eggs are thoroughly incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking power, and salt. Add dry mixture to large bowl with wet ingredients. Fold until there are no longer any streaks of flour. Do not overmix. The batter will be slightly chunky like the image above. Don’t Overmix Pancake Batter! Gently stir or fold batter just until there are no longer any flour streaks. The batter will be a bit lumpy. That’s OKAY! Overmixing the batter will result in dense, gummy pancakes. Err on the side of undermixed to achieve soft, fluffy pancakes. Cooking Tips Use a large nonstick skillet or griddle. Lightly brush skillet with butter or oil. Don’t add too much butter since butter quickly burns. Also, don’t pour in the oil. Either use a brush, or use a paper towel is absorb excess butter/oil. Warm skillet over medium heat. High heat will cause the pancakes to brown too fast. Flip the batter once you bubbles start to appear on the surface of pancake. Don’t flip that pancakes more than once. Use a 1/3 cup measuring cup or a similar sized cookie scoop (ice cream scooper) to produce even sized pancakes. Even size portions will cook at the same rate. Can ube pancakes be cooked ahead of time? Yes! These pancakes may be prepared ahead of time. To keep warm, place cooked pancakes in a low temperature oven (between 250-300 degrees F) for up to 30 minutes before serving. Or, cool cooked pancakes. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Gently reheat in the microwave at half water for 30 second intervals. Alternatively, reheat stovetop over medium heat until warmed throughout. How to Ensure Fluffy Pancakes Mix wet and dry ingredients separately. Then, mix together until JUST combined. It’s okay if the batter is a little lumpy. Use relatively fresh baking powder. To check whether your baking powder is still active, add 1 teaspoon baking powder to about 1/2 cup of boiling water. If the mixture reacts and bubbles, the powder is fine. If nothing happens, trash that baking powder and get a new container. Don’t overcook pancakes! Flip pancakes batter ONLY ONCE. Flip once bubbles appear on the surface. Cook on the second side for the half the time you cooked the first side. Serving Suggestions Serve ube pancakes warm fresh from the skillet. Garnish with a pat of butter, a scoop of ube halaya (ube jam), and maple syrup. Pancake may be enjoyed hot, warm, or room temperature! For an authentic Filipino dessert experience, add a couple spoonfuls of macapuno. Macapuno is a genetic mutation of coconut. This mutation causes the coconut to have thicker meat with a nuttier flavor. Macapuno string is also labeled as coconut sport or gelatinous coconut string. It is a common component of Filipino desserts such as halo-halo. Macapuno is popularly paired with ube. More Pancake Recipes Protein Pancakes Cinnamon Apple Pancakes Sweet Potato Pancakes Ube Pancakes 5 from 8 votes A sweet and bright way to start the day! Ube pancakes are made with Filipino purple yam and coconut milk. Top these fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, ube halaya, and macapuno string for the ultimate breakfast! Yield: fourteen 4ยฝ-inch pancakes Prep Time: 10 minutes minutesCook Time: 15 minutes minutesTotal Time: 25 minutes minutes Servings: 4 Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Ingredients▢ 160 grams ube halaya* (ยฝ cup)▢ 14 oz can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk well shaken▢ 2 large eggs▢ 2 teaspoons ube extract▢ ยฝ teaspoons pure vanilla extract▢ 43 grams melted unsalted butter (3 Tbsp)▢ 260 grams all-purpose flour (2 cups)▢ 2 teaspoon baking powder▢ ยพ teaspoon kosher saltToppings:▢ maple syrup▢ ube halaya▢ macapuno strings*▢ salted butter Instructions In a large bowl, whisk together ube halaya and half of coconut milk until mixture is smooth. Whisk in ube extract, vanilla extract, melted butter, eggs, and remaining coconut milk. Mix until eggs are thoroughly incorporated. Set aside.In a separate bow, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add dry mixture to large bowl with wet ingredients. Gently fold until there are no longer any streaks of flour. DO NOT OVERMIX. The batter will be a bit lumpy.Set nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly brush with butter or oil. Once skillet is warm, scoop โ cup of pancake batter onto skillet. Cook until bubbles begin to form on surface and edges of pancakes are set. Flip pancakes and cook the other side until set (about half the time it took to cook the initial side). Repeat with remaining batter. Adjust heat accordingly if pancakes are browning too fast.Immediately serve ube pancakes warm with maple syrup, salted butter, ube halaya, and macapuno strings, if desired. ยฝ NotesIngredient Notes: Ube halaya is also known as ube jam or halayang ube. Use store bought jar version or use homemade variety. Ube halaya is sweet on its own.ย Ube extract provides that iconic โubeโ flavoring while also adding color to the batter. Without this ingredient, the resulting ube pancakes will not be a violet in color nor will the pancakes have a rich ube flavor. Make sure baking powder is fresh! To check whether your baking powder is still active, add 1 teaspoon baking powder to about 1/2 cup of boiling water. If the mixture reacts and bubbles, the powder is fine. If nothing happens, trash that baking powder and get a new container. Use canned full-fat unsweetened coconut milk for best results.ย Fluffy Pancake Cooking Tips: Mix wet and dry ingredients separately. Then, mix together until JUST combined. Itโs okay if the batter is a little lumpy. Don’t overmix! Donโt overcook pancakes! Flip pancakes batter ONLY ONCE. Flip once bubbles appear on the surface. Cook on the second side for the half the time you cooked the first side. Storage and Leftovers: To keep warm, place cooked pancakes in a low temperature oven (between 250-300 degrees F) for up to 30 minutes before serving. Or, cool cooked pancakes. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Gently reheat in the microwave at half water for 30 second intervals. Alternatively, reheat stovetop over medium heat until warmed throughout. NutritionCalories: 653kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 699mg | Potassium: 329mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 7mg Author: Maryanne Cabrera Course: BreakfastCuisine: American, Filipino Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Gennie Lacanlale says: August 31, 2022 New family favorite that is now becoming a family staple. Kids request at-least twice/week.
Maryanne Cabrera says: September 2, 2022 Thank you for sharing your feedback! I’m so glad your family loves it! My son requests it often, too!
Vic says: August 5, 2023 indeed. I just tried this today and it was so good. no need for syrup or anything. you can practically eat it by itself. will definitely keep this recipe as my goto use pancake recipe.
Kat W says: March 12, 2022 Trying to save on calories. Can I replace the coconut milk with whole milk or half and half? Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: January 11, 2023 Coconut milk gives the pancakes the distinct ube flavor. You can use regular cow’s milk, however, the flavor won’t be the same.
Maryanne Cabrera says: July 30, 2022 Yes, it can be used for waffles. However, I suggest adding a little extra fat such as vegetable oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil to the batter for waffles, about 2 Tbsp.
Vic Maniquiz says: August 5, 2023 YES to this recipe. Definitely a 10 star recipe. thank you for posting this recipe. I just tried this today and everyone in the family love it. my daughter is so picky with food but she said – it’s GOOD DADA… Reply
Raya says: August 8, 2023 Can I use almond flour in place of all purpose flour? If so, would it be a 1:1 substitute? Reply
Maryanne Cabrera says: August 8, 2023 Unfortunately, almond flour does not work in this recipe. If you prefer not to use all-purpose flour, I suggest using a gluten-free all-purpose flour cup for cup alternative or using oat flour.
Minnie says: March 8, 2024 This recipe hits all the right notes on how the ube should taste like. A+ on the texture too. I followed the recipe to a T. Reply
Adriana says: July 4, 2024 I agree with your comment on the coconut milk! It really helps push the ube flavor forward. I didnโt not even need to use syrup on mine. Reply