This ube hand pie recipe is simple to make but so delicious. Ube halaya filling inside a buttery puff pastry crust. It’s very easy to customize too if you want to jazz it up and make ube macapuno pies or ube cheese pies.
(Looking for more ube recipes? I have a whole collection of them! Check out all the ube recipes here and find your new favorite.)
![Ube Pie Recipe](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Ube-Pie-Recipe-1.jpg)
As you can see, this pie is not the kind you would usually serve on thanksgiving, like sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie (this ube pie recipe is the one you want for that).
It’s closer to the ube pie available in Jollibee – ube pie pockets filled with ube halaya.
The good news is, they’re easier to make. No fussing with the dough for the pie crust. No need to cook the filling separately. Just simple, scrumptious ube hand pies.
When I lived in Manila, Jollibee didn’t sell ube pies, only peach mango pies.
So I had to make the 30-minute drive to the nearest Jollibee store and line up another half hour in the cold to see what the fuss was about.
To be honest, I was underwhelmed and hugely disappointed. But these ube pies, they are legit. Pure ube halaya deliciousness inside a buttery, flaky puff pastry crust. So good.
So on second thought, you can totally serve these pies on Thanksgiving or any special occasion. Make sure to bake several batches because they will be gone in a hurry.
Let’s get to it.
What is ube?
![How to Cook Fresh Ube](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/How-to-Cook-Fresh-Ube-2.jpg)
Ube is Filipino purple yam. No, it’s not the same as purple sweet potatoes or Okinawan purple yam. Neither is it taro.
There’s a whole world of yams and potatoes out there and ube is as distinct as the next.
When looking for it in the supermarket, make sure you’re buying legit Filipino purple yam because some places label them incorrectly (I suppose they might be confused too).
Its skin would be rough, sometimes hairy, and dark brown. Inside, it’s a vibrant purple.
A lot of TUB readers tell me it’s easier for them to find frozen ube or frozen grated ube. That’s fine too though I would choose to use fresh ube if I had the chance.
What does ube taste like?
![Ube Cake (Filipino Purple Yam Cake)](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Ube-Cake-Filipino-Purple-Yam-Cake-1.jpg)
![Ube Cheesecake with Coconut Cookie Crust and Coconut Whipped Cream (Video)](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ube-Cheesecake-Coconut-Cookie-Crust-Coconut-Whipped-Cream-2.jpg)
It feels like a million years ago when I shared my first ube recipe, a recipe for ube cake. I tried to explain then what ube tasted like but didn’t really do a great job.
Here I am, hundreds of recipes and many years later, and I still can’t properly describe ube flavour lol. It’s really something you need to experience to understand.
One thing’s for sure — it’s delicious!
My ube cheesecake recipe (on a bed of coconut cookie crust and topped with coconut cream) is a reader favourite and I get a lot of lovely messages about it so if you want to try ube, I’d suggest you start there.
Warning: you will be hooked.
How to make
Now back to this delicious ube pocket pies! It really is very simple to make.
You’ll need: ready-made frozen puff pastry, 1 egg mixed with milk, and ube jam (you can make your own like me, or buy a jar of your favourite brand from the store). That’s it!
1 BAKING PAN. Line a baking pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. You can also use a silicone baking mat, like the one I use in the photos.
2 EGG WASH. In a small bowl, prepare your egg wash by beating 1 large egg with milk. Set aside.
3 PUFF PASTRY. Gently roll out your thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface and cut into rectangles using a bench scraper or a sharp knife (you should end up with 12 rectangles, 6 from each puff pastry sheet). Try to cut them into roughly the same size.
![How to Make Ube Pie](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Make-Ube-Pie-1.jpg)
4 PLACE ON PAN. Take 6 rectangles and place them on your prepared pan. Space them out evenly. Brush the edges of each rectangle with egg wash.
![How to Make Ube Pie](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Make-Ube-Pie-2.jpg)
5 UBE HALAYA. Scoop about 4-5 tbsp of ube halaya into the middle. Top with another piece of rectangle and use a fork to crimp and seal the edges of the pie.
![How to Make Ube Pie](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Make-Ube-Pie-3-776x1024.jpg)
![How to Make Ube Pie](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Make-Ube-Pie-5-776x1024.jpg)
Want a different flavour? You can put a slice of cheese on top of the ube for ube cheese pies. Or macapuno for a batch of ube macapuno pies.
![How to Make Ube Pie](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Make-Ube-Pie-4.jpg)
6 CUT. Using a small, sharp knife, make 2-3 small cuts on top of the pies so that air can escape while baking. Brush the whole pie with the rest of your egg wash one more time.
![How to Make Ube Pie](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Make-Ube-Pie-6.jpg)
7 FREEZE. Freeze the pies while you’re pre-heating the oven to 375F. When ready, take the pies directly from the freezer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Rotate the pan midway during baking. Best served warm.
![How to Make Ube Pie](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Make-Ube-Pie-7.jpg)
Expert baking tips and recipe FAQs
Easy peasy, right? Here are more baking tips to make this ube pie recipe even easier.
What kind of ube halaya to use
The ube halaya is the star of this show. So use the best one you can find. If you won’t eat it on its own, don’t use it for baking.
My gold standard is the Good Shepherd ube jam but that’s hard to come by here so I learned to make my own. My recipe for ube halaya is simple, straightforward and delicious. Try it!
What kind of puff pastry to use
Like ube halaya, I would recommend buying good puff pastry. Stay away from the discount brands and opt for all-butter puff pastry. You can really taste the difference.
And for simple recipes like this that has very few ingredients, the quality of an ingredient can make or break the final result.
Puff pastry baking tips
Puff pastry is one of the things I always buy in-store. It’s very complicated to make from scratch (for me) and since I can get high quality frozen puff pastry at the store, that’s what I always do.
And it really is a wonderful ingredient to work with, when handled correctly.
- Thaw it properly. It usually says how on the package.
- Puff pastry should never be warm to the touch or even room temperature. It should be pliable but still cool.
- Don’t use puff pastry too soon, example: when it’s still frozen, or it will break.
- And remember that once you’ve thawed the sheets you can’t refreeze them so use those puff pastries up.
How to store ube pies
![Ube Pie Recipe](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Ube-Pie-Recipe-3.jpg)
The best way to store leftover pies is to freeze them. Just cool completely then place in a freezer safe container or Ziploc bag. They should last about a month.
To thaw, warm in the microwave for a few seconds then pop into your oven toaster to get back that crunch.
Hope you like these ube pies. Perfect with coffee, tea, in the morning, for snack time, merienda, special occasions. Enjoy!
![Ube Pie Recipe](https://theunlikelybaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Ube-Pie-Recipe-Feature1-250x250.jpg)
Jollibee Ube Pie (Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Line a baking pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper (or silicone baking mat) and set aside.
- In a small bowl, prepare your egg wash by beating 1 large egg with 2 tbsp milk. Set aside.
- Gently roll out your thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface and cut into rectangles using a bench scraper or a sharp knife (you should end up with 12 rectangles, 6 from each puff pastry sheet). Try to cut them into roughly the same size.
- Take 6 rectangles and place them on your prepared pan. Space them out evenly.
- Brush the edges of each rectangle with egg wash.
- Scoop about 4-5 tbsp of ube halaya into the middle.
- Top with another piece of rectangle and use a fork to crimp and seal the edges of the pie.
- Want different flavours? You can put a slice of cheese on top of the ube for ube cheese pies. Or macapuno for a batch of ube macapuno pies.
- Using a small, sharp knife, make 2-3 small cuts on top of the pies so that air can escape while baking. Brush the whole pie with the rest of your egg wash one more time.
- Place the pies in the freezer while you're pre-heating the oven to 375F.
- When ready, take the ube pies directly from the freezer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Rotate the pan midway during baking. Best served warm.
Video
Notes
- I always use all-butter puff pastry for the best flavor.
- Take the ube jam out of the fridge at least 30 minutes prior to using to make it easier to spread.
- Are your puff pastry rectangles different sizes? You can always trim the edges later so they match.
- See the post for the complete step-by-step photos and more baking tips.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy baking!
Did you make ube pies like the ones from Jollibee? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below. If you’re looking for all things ube, check out this delicious collection of the best must-try ube desserts.
Kim
Hi Jolina,
What if I wanted to do a UBE cheesecake filling? Do I make the cheesecake first and then use it to fill the pastries?
Thank you.
Jolina
Hi Kim, making a whole ube cheesecake just to make it into a filling might be a little too much work ๐ Check out my ube tart recipe. It’s made with cream cheese and might be closer to what you need. Enjoy!
Janet
Hi Jolina, I tried your ube halaya and the whole family loves it. We had extra so I made some of your ube pie recipe and they were very delicious! It was my 1st time working with puff pastry and I wasn’t sure but I followed your tips. And will definitely be making again. Thank you!
Jolina
Hi Janet! Glad you liked it! So easy to make right? ๐ I’m thinking of making some again lol. Have a good weekend!
Joy
Hi Julia! Is there a difference between ube jam and ube spread? Thanks!
Joy
Sorry.. my phone decided to change your name..
Ella
I’ve been hearing about ube for a while now. This looks like the perfect recipe to try! Can you recommend a good ube jam brand?
Jolina
Hi Ella, my favourite is Good Shepherd ube jam but it’s really hard to come by. So I just make my own ๐ Here’s the link to the recipe if you’d like to try – https://theunlikelybaker.com/ube-halaya-recipe-ube-jam/