If you’ve scrolled through Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen a swirl of gorgeous purple treats and wondered, “What is that?!” Meet ube, the stunning purple yam that’s become the hottest new star in the dessert world. Learning how to use ube in baking is easier than you might think, and it’s the secret ingredient you didn’t know you needed for unforgettable cakes, cookies, brownies, and more!
What Is Ube?
First things first: ube (pronounced “ooh-beh”) is a sweet, starchy purple yam originally from the Philippines. It has a slightly nutty, vanilla-like flavor and brings a natural pop of color to every dessert. Unlike purple sweet potato, ube is creamier and a little less sweet, which makes it a perfect blank canvas for baking.
How to Use Ube in Baking
Ready to bake with ube? Here’s everything you need to know to get those gorgeous, purple-hued results:
1. Start With the Right Ube
The most common forms of ube for baking are:
- Ube halaya (ube jam): This is sweetened and cooked, making it perfect for folding into batter or using as a swirl.
- Ube powder: Rehydrate this with a little water or milk for baking.
- Frozen grated ube: Defrost and mash before using in recipes.
- Ube extract: A few drops add extra flavor and that signature purple color!
You can find these at Asian grocery stores or online. For most American-style baked goods, ube halaya or extract is easiest to use.
2. Swap Ube Into Your Favorite Recipes
Once you know how to use ube in baking, you can add it to so many recipes! Here’s how:
- Cakes: Swap half the mashed banana or pumpkin in your favorite loaf cake for mashed ube or ube halaya. It gives you a moist, subtly sweet cake with a gorgeous purple color.
- Brownies: Try making Ube Mochi Brownies or Ube Brownies for a chewy, fudgy twist.
- Cookies: Add ube extract or a few tablespoons of ube halaya to your cookie dough for a fun color and a mild, nutty flavor.
- Bars: Ube makes a killer filling for Ube Bars, combine with coconut for an extra-tropical vibe.
3. Adjust for Moisture
When figuring out how to use ube in baking, remember it adds moisture to your recipes. If you’re using ube halaya or mashed ube, you may need to slightly reduce the other liquids. For best results, start by swapping out equal amounts of mashed fruit or puree, and adjust as needed.
4. Don’t Forget the Flavor Boost
Ube is delicious on its own, but a splash of vanilla, coconut milk, or even a bit of condensed coconut milk takes it over the top. And if you want that classic Filipino bakery flavor, always add ube extract!
Pro Tips for Baking With Ube
- Pair with coconut: Coconut milk or shredded coconut is the perfect flavor partner for ube.
- Try cream cheese: Ube and cream cheese are a match made in dessert heaven, think ube cheesecake bars or frosted cupcakes.
- Show off that color: Bake your ube treats in glass dishes or swirl them on top for maximum wow-factor!
Recipes to Try
Ready to get started? Check out these crowd-pleasers:
You’ll be amazed at how easy (and impressive) these are once you know how to use ube in baking.
Final Thoughts
Baking with ube isn’t just a trend, it’s a super fun way to add color, flavor, and a little wow-factor to your homemade treats. Now that you know how to use ube in baking, go ahead and surprise your friends with the prettiest desserts around. Once you start baking with ube, there’s no going back, purple treats forever!
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