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!)
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?
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?
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.
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.
Then stir the two gently until combined. Cook according to your waffle maker insructions.
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
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:
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.
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.
Ube Waffles
Equipment
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.
- 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.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir until combined.
- Cook according to waffle maker instructions. Best served warm.
Video
Notes
- Yield depends on how big or small you make your waffles.
- See post for waffle making tips.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Teri
Hi! Would this also work with using powdered ube instead of the ube jam?
Thank you!
Jolina
Hi Teri, are you referring to those available in foil packets that you have to reconstitute? Possibly, though I’ve never tried. One thing to remember though is I don’t think reconstituted ube has sugar in it so you may need to adjust the sugar content in the recipe. Or not, there’s always maple syrup 🙂 Would love to hear about how it goes!
Maria
I haven’t tried ube waffles yet, but I am already loving the purple color of the ube jam! I want to make this at home, hopefully I can find the ingredients I need!
Arlene Mobley
What a smart way to get the kids to eat their veggies for breakfast.
Marisa Franca
What an interesting ingredient! I love the color!! Sometimes tastes are difficult to describe — I mean we say delicious or tasty, savory or sweet. But I would think that it would be something like a sweet potato – it would get sweeter with cooking. I’ll be keeping my eye out for ube. The waffles sound like just what I’d want for breakfast.
Jolina
It’s difficult isn’t it?? I try to expand my vocabulary but I just end up saying delicious most days loL!!
Denise
I have never heard of ube before but now that you menion it I did see it once at a health food coop. It’s so pretty I have to try it. I’ll come right to you for more ways to eat it. Looks yummy!
Jolina
Awesome! Hope you like it Denise!
Veena Azmanov
I love Ube but I have never cooked it myself. The color it lends is always so pretty. I love the idea of making waffles with it. I can’t wait to try this soon.
Jolina
Nice! What kinds of ube treats have you tried?
Annemarie LeBlanc
Purple yam! I was hesitant to try this at first but after that first spoonful, I was hooked. The flavor and texture is so distinct I really enjoyed it. Now I even look for purple yam ice cream!
Jolina
That’s so great AnneMarie! And you’re in luck, ube ice cream is super easy to make at home 🙂 Check this out: https://theunlikelybaker.com/homemade-ube-ice-cream/
Holly
These look super yummy! I love waffles. I definitely want to try this recipe out.
April Marquardt
This looks so good! I’ve never tried Ube before but I cannot wait to try these out.
Christa
I’ve never tried ube, but now I really want to! There are a few specialty grocery stores here. I’ll have to see if they carry it.
Jolina
Hope you find it!
Patricia Chamberlain
My toddler would love having some purple on her breakfast plate! This looks yummy and very easy to make!
Jolina
Hopefully she likes the taste too 🙂
Elizabeth Edgar
So purple! I’ve never heard of ube but I want to try it now! I loveee sweet potato. The waffle recipe looks yummy!
Angela Tolsma
I have never heard of ube and now I definitely want to try it. A purple yam would be a great thing to pull out for dinner one not (or breakfast!)
Andrea
We love ube! We tried your recipe but only with halaya not jam and it was still delicious.
Jolina
So happy to hear that Andrea! I’m guessing halaya just the mashed ube? It’s a great variation and you can always put maple syrup for added sweetness.
Ria Parikh
I had no clue what Ube was prior to this. The beautiful bright color of purple color is amazing! Love how it looks alongside waffles.