This ube cheesecake is everything you ever wanted in an ube dessert. Luxurious ube cheesecake filling on a bed of crunchy coconut cookie crust then topped with creamy coconut whipped cream.

(Love ube? Try Ube Cake (Filipino Purple Yam Cake) – it’s one of the most popular recipes on TUB. You’ll also love these Ube Bread Rolls with Toasted Coconut. Craving for ice cream? I have Homemade Ube Ice Cream for you too!)

Can you tell I just love ube? I don’t make ube halaya or jam myself but when I get my hands on the real good ones like the Good Shepherd brand, I’m known to do 1 of 2 things.

I either eat it straight out of the jar and don’t stop, or just lovingly stare at it and ration it so it lasts for months because I’m afraid it would be years before I can get a jar again.

Other times, extra special times, when someone from home is nice to me and gifts me with more jars of ube jam than I can handle, I bake with it. And it’s really become one of my favourite ingredients to work with (a very close second to lemon).

And of all the ube recipes I’ve shared, this is by far my favourite. It’s just so dang good. Dangerously good. You won’t be able to stop eating it good.

And with that gorgeous purple colour, it has that wow factor too that’s sure to impress your family and friends.

Ube cheesecake

I know ube sounds foreign and unfamiliar to a lot of you. The simple explanation is it’s Filipino purple yam (my post on Ube Waffles has more information about it). Filipinos use it mostly for desserts, the most common of which is ube halaya or jam.

Filipino food hasn’t gone quite mainstream yet (unlike Chinese or Korean cuisine) which is a shame because it is so unique and delicious. Ube has been slowly making headway though and it’s popping up in more and more menus and restaurants worldwide.

And rightfully so. The lowly ube is delicious! Like this ube cheesecake.

It has the same basic ingredients as your classic New York cheesecake – cream cheese, eggs, sour cream – but the addition of ube jam and ube extract makes it that much more scrumptious.

Related: The Best No Bake Mini Cheesecakes

Tips for making the best cheesecake

Related: Japanese Cheesecake

What about the water bath (or bain marie)?

Traditionally, cheesecakes are baked in a water bath – you wrap your springform pan with aluminum foil and place it on a roasting pan halfway filled with water. The idea is to create a gentle and even heat around the cheesecake.

My problem with this method has always been seeping – water would always get into my cheesecake no matter how well I wrapped it. Happily, I discovered a new way to bake cheesecakes without all this mess and fuss.

I simply place a roasting pan with hot water on the lower rack of the oven with my cheesecake baking on the middle rack. No cracks, no seeping, just perfect creamy cheesecakes every time!

Of course you can continue baking cheesecakes using a water bath if you like but I hope you try this new method too. It’s a game changer.

Related: Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake with Pecan Crisp Topping

How to know when the cheesecake is done baking

Another question I get a lot is how to tell if the cheesecake is done baking. You can’t really test a cheesecake for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the centre because it would cause the cheesecake to crack for sure.

Not quite there yet? Continue baking but watch your cheesecake like a hawk.

Coconut cookie crust

Going back to this mouth-watering ube cheesecake. You might have noticed I used a coconut cookie crust again. This really is my favourite crust to make!

And for good reason. It’s so simple but so good.

It’s the same crust I used for this Dreamy Creamy Meyer Lemon Pie, these Creamy Lime Bars and The Best Lemon Cheesecake Ever – the most popular recipe on TUB!

How to make coconut whipped cream

The coconut whipped cream is to-die for too. I used it as topping for my No Bake Pineapple Coconut Cream Pie and it takes both desserts over the top.

It cannot get any easier to make:

Take a can of coconut cream (cream not milk) and chill it overnight. The next day, open the can and scoop out the solid parts (don’t throw away the liquid parts though, they’re great for smoothies).

Add sugar and vanilla extract and beat until stiff. It’s delicious.

Related: 32 Stunning Holiday Cakes

Stunning desserts for the holidays

Already planning for all the holiday parties coming our way? Add this ube cheesecake to your menu for a truly memorable end to a fabulous meal.

Here are other desserts you can try. Impressive, but secretly very easy to make (aren’t those the best?):

Related: How to Take Delicious Food Photos

Ube Cheesecake with Coconut Cookie Crust and Coconut Whipped Cream

This ube cheesecake is everything you ever wanted in an ube dessert. Luxurious ube cheesecake on a bed of crunchy coconut cookie crust topped with creamy coconut whipped cream.

5 from 14 votes

Print Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Filipino

Keyword: Christmas, Coconut Cookie Crust, Coconut Whipped Cream, Thanksgiving

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr

Chill Time: 8 hrs

Total Time: 9 hrs 15 mins

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 277kcal

Author: Jolina

Ingredients

Coconut Cookie Crust

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
• pinch salt

Ube Cheesecake Filling

• 2 8-oz block cream cheese room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar may need more (see note 1)
• 5 oz ube jam room temperature
• 3/4 cup sour cream room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tsp ube extract
• 3 pcs large eggs room temperature

Coconut Whipped Cream

• 1 14-oz can coconut cream chilled
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine all crust ingredients. Stir until evenly moist. Transfer to your prepared pan and use the back of a spoon or measuring cup to pack it tightly to the bottom. Set aside.
• Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on med/high speed until fluffy (2-3 mins). Add 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating for another 2 minutes.
• Add 5 oz ube jam and 3/4 cup sour cream. Beat until smooth and incorporated. Make sure to break apart any chunks of ube jam (some brands are chunkier than others).
• Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and 3 tsp ube extract and stir until combined. Taste your batter and decide if you're OK with the sweetness. Add sugar 1 tbsp at a time, if necessary.
• Add eggs one a time, beating each one just until combined. Remember to scrape the bottom and sides of your bowl to make sure you're getting to every last inch of batter.
• Pour the batter into your pan and tap gently on your counter. Place the pan on your oven's middle rack. Place a roasting pan filled with hot water on the bottom rack.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 325F then lower the oven temperature to 300F and bake for 30 minutes more or until set (see blog post for tips on how you can tell if your cheesecake is done). Turn the oven off, open the oven door slightly but keep the cheesecake inside for another hour so it can gradually cool.
• Take the cheesecake out of the oven, run a thin, sharp knife around the edges to separate the cake from the pan. Don't take the cake out of the pan though. You can place it straight into the fridge to chill 6-8 hours, preferably overnight.
• When you're ready to serve, prepare your coconut whipped cream by taking the chilled can out of the fridge and scooping out the solid parts into a small bowl (see note 2). Add 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and beat until stiff.
• To serve the cheesecake, top with a dollop of coconut whipped cream and sprinkle with shredded coconut.

Video

Notes

1. Every ube jam is different so depending on the kind/brand of jam you use, your cheesecake may need more sugar. Taste your batter before adding the eggs so you can adjust accordingly. 
2. For the coconut whipped cream, make sure to only use the solidified parts of the coconut cream otherwise, your cream will be too soupy. It won't come together. You can use the liquid parts for smoothies and other recipes.

Tried this recipe?Tag @iamtheunlikelybaker or use hashtag #iamtheunlikelybaker!

Happy baking!

Did you make ube cheesecake? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.

And let’s get social! Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Flipboard.

Or subscribe so you don’t miss a recipe. I promise I don’t spam (I hate spam too).

Do you want to improve your food photography, monetize your blog or start your very own food blog? Check out my Blogging Resources.