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    Home » Recipes » Ube Recipes

    Ube Waffles – Easy, Purple and Delicious!

    by Jolina | Published: September 7, 2018 | Last Updated: April 15, 2021 | 48 Comments
    This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Terms of Use for more information.

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    Ube Waffles Recipe
    Ube Waffles Recipe
    Delicious Ube Waffles Recipe
    Easy Ube Waffles Recipe
    The Best Ube Waffles

    Ube waffles – your favourite buttermilk waffles filled with the wonderful flavours of ube. Crunchy outside, soft inside, it’s a great start to the day.

    (Curious about ube? Try Ube Bread with Toasted Coconut for breakfast, Homemade Ube Ice Cream for dessert, or the crowd-favourite Ube Cake for special occasions!)

    Ube Waffles Recipe
    Jump To hide
    What is ube?
    What does ube taste like?
    How to make ube waffles
    How to make the perfect waffles
    How to freeze waffles
    More breakfast and brunch recipes
    Ube Waffles

    You might already have heard of ube (or Filipino purple yam). Filipinos grew up eating that delicious, earthy, purple root vegetable and we make all kinds of dishes (mostly desserts) from it.

    Here’s another one for you – ube waffles. Take your favourite buttermilk waffles then make it ube. How amazing is that?

    What is ube?

    How to Cook Fresh Ube

    So back to the question on most people’s mind: just what the heck is ube? Like I mentioned, it’s Filipino purple yam.

    It used to be difficult for me to find fresh ube here, only the frozen grated variety. Lately though, it’s popped up in our local Asian market and I couldn’t be happier!

    If you’re not familiar with how it looks,  it’s similar to a potato but darker brown and slightly hairy. When you cut it open though, it’s a wonderful, bright purple.

    A lot of people mistake it for taro, which is Okinawan sweet potato. Taro is not very purple inside at all (the purple you see on your bubble teas is most likely food colouring) and they taste different too.

    Related: Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash with Sausage, Bacon and Eggs

    What does ube taste like?

    Ube Waffles Recipe

    I’ve always had difficulty describing what ube tastes like. It’s more sweet than savoury. But it’s not overly sweet.

    I used to compare it to sweet potatoes but that’s just me doing an awful job of describing it. Bottomline: ube has a very unique flavour that you just have to experience!

    How about give my homemade ube halaya or jam a try? It’s delicious and way better than the ones you can find at the store. It might just make an ube fan out of you!

    How to make ube waffles

    So back to these delicious purple waffles. They’re so easy to make and even easier to eat!

    To make these ube waffles, whisk all your dry ingredients (like flour and cornmeal) in a bowl until combined.

    How to Make Ube Waffles
    How to Make Ube Waffles

    Whisk wet ingredients (buttermilk and eggs go here, plus ube extract and the ube halaya) in a separate bowl. I prefer using my blender here to ensure I incorporate the ube.

    How to Make Ube Waffles

    Then stir the two gently until combined. Cook according to your waffle maker insructions.

    How to Make Ube Waffles
    How to Make Ube Waffles
    How to Make Ube Waffles

    These waffles are already sweet because of the ube jam so I usually only add a little butter. Red likes drizzling maple syrup because, well, maple syrup!

    But between you and me, my favourite way to eat them is butter plus ube jam plus maple syrup. Delicious!

    However you want to eat these, they are delicious. And a great way to start the day.

    How to make the perfect waffles

    So. Waffles. Love making them. Love eating them.

    I like them thick, Belgian-style, crunchy outside but soft inside. And here are some tips I’ve learned along the way:

    • First up: follow your waffle maker’s instructions. Simple, right? Your machine dictates whether you need a coarse batter or a smooth batter, or the temperature you need to cook at and for how long.
    • Whatever texture you need, do not vigorously stir the batter. Gentle does it.
    • For crunch, I like adding a tablespoon or two of cornmeal. Doesn’t affect the taste but adds to the waffle’s crunchiness.
    • And while it’s best to serve the waffles fresh, if I can’t, I set them (one layer, not on top of one another) on my cooling rack so they don’t get sad and soggy.

    How to freeze waffles

    Ube Waffles Recipe

    I freeze leftovers too (like these Jalapeño Cheddar Waffles with Fried Egg) and it’s really simple – just place the completely cooled waffles in a large ziploc bag separated by pieces of parchment paper, put the bag in the freezer and you’re done.

    You don’t need to thaw them either. Just pop it in the microwave for few seconds and that’s it. They won’t be crunchy but they will still be delicious.

    Related: Classic Buttermilk Scones

    More breakfast and brunch recipes

    Love breakfast and brunch like I do? Here are more recipes you’d love:

    Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
    Light Fluffy Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
    Lemon Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
    Lemon Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Braid
    Easy Huevos Rancheros Recipe
    Easy Huevos Rancheros Recipe with Crispy Chorizo & Chipotle Sour Cream
    Pandesal Recipe (Filipino Bread Rolls)
    Pandesal Recipe

    Whip up a batch of these light fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes and start the day with sunshine on a plate! Bright lemon flavour, not too sweet, soft as a cloud.

    If lemon gets you up and running in the morning, this lemon cream cheese puff pastry braid is the perfect delicious, lemony, buttery treat for you. 

    Want something savoury? Start the day sunny side up! Follow this easy huevos rancheros recipe.

    And you can’t go wrong with pandesal, the quintessential Filipino bread roll. It’s crunchy outside, soft and fluffy inside, perfect with butter or dipped in your morning coffee.

    Ube Waffles Recipe

    Ube Waffles

    Author: Jolina
    Ube waffles – your favourite buttermilk waffles filled with the wonderful flavours of ube. Crunchy outside, soft inside, it’s a great start to the day.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Breakfast, Brunch
    Cuisine Filipino
    Servings 7 waffles
    Calories 389 kcal

    Equipment

    • Waffle Iron
    • Blender
    • Mixing Bowls

    Ingredients
     
     

    Dry Ingredients

    • 2 cups all purpose flour
    • 2 tbsp cornmeal
    • ¾ tsp baking soda
    • ¾ tsp salt

    Wet Ingredients

    • 2 cups buttermilk
    • 3 pcs large eggs
    • ⅔ cup canola oil or vegetable oil
    • 3.5 oz ube jam about ½ cup
    • 3 tsp ube extract

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl, whisk all dry ingredients until combined. Set aside.
      How to Make Ube Waffles
    • In another bowl or using your blender, whisk or pulse all wet ingredients until incorporated. Make sure to break apart big chunks of the ube jam, if any.
      How to Make Ube Waffles
    • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir until combined.
      How to Make Ube Waffles
    • Cook according to waffle maker instructions. Best served warm.
      How to Make Ube Waffles

    Video

    Notes

    1. Yield depends on how big or small you make your waffles.
    2. See post for waffle making tips.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 389kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 6gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 459mgPotassium: 256mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 133IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 2mg

    Nutritional information are estimates only.

    Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating today!Also tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I’d love to see your creations.

    Happy waffle-making!

    Did you make ube waffles? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below. If you prefer pancakes, try this equally delicious ube pancake recipe.

    More Ube Recipes

    • Ube Pound Cake
    • Ube Ensaymada (Easy Recipe, Tips and More)
    • The Best Ube Roll Cake Recipe
    • How to Make Ube Tarts (Easy No-Fail Recipe)
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura

      February 05, 2023 at 2:04 am

      Is it cornmeal or cornstarch?? I’ve seen cornstarch using before to add crunch but not corn meal.

      Reply
      • Jolina

        February 14, 2023 at 4:33 pm

        Hi Laura, this recipe uses cornmeal.

        Reply
    2. LM

      May 24, 2021 at 5:07 pm

      Sorry to split hairs but Okinawa sweet potato is not taro. It’s actually so similar to ube (in both appearance and taste) that it’s hard to tell the difference without their jackets (OSP has pale brown skin). On top of that there don’t seem to be any clear freely available sources of info on the botany of all these sweet potatoes. So confusing!

      Reply
      • Jolina

        May 25, 2021 at 9:49 am

        Hi LM, thanks for the clarification. Who knew the world of yams and potatoes and taro is this confusing LOL!

        Reply
    3. Anne

      April 29, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      Hello!! Can I omit the cornmeal? Or do you know what I could substitute it with?

      Reply
      • Jolina

        April 30, 2020 at 11:32 am

        Hi Anne! Yes, you can. I add it more for crunch than flavour.

        Reply
    4. Josie

      March 25, 2020 at 1:35 pm

      Aloha! I love Ube….pancakes, cupcakes, tarts, ice cream etc. I’ve always bought never made at home. I will try this recipe. I found Ube Halaya. Is it the same as Ube Jam? Btw you mentioned that taro is Okinawan sweet potato. They are 2 different roots from different families of plants. We make poi from taro (kalo in Hawaiian). Mahalo!

      Reply
      • Jolina

        April 01, 2020 at 1:22 pm

        Hi Josie! They’re not exactly the same but you can use halaya in this case. And thanks for the clarification on taro 🙂

        Reply
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