Discover vibrant ube waffles made with purple yams and sweet rice flour for a delightfully chewy interior and crisp exterior. These colorful waffles are perfect for brunch, special occasions, or game day when purple is on the menu.
Table of Contents
- What are ube waffles?
- Purple Ube Waffles Recipe
- Ingredients for KW
- Where to find ube
- How to make ube waffles
- How to serve ube waffles
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More breakfast recipes
- Latest Recipes
What are ube waffles?
Ube waffles are a playful variation of traditional waffles made using ube (purple yam) and sweet rice flour. The result is a vivid purple waffle with a slightly chewy bite from the mochiko (sweet rice flour) and a crisp, golden exterior.
Ube is a purple yam from the Philippines commonly used in desserts like cakes, ice cream and halayang ube (ube jam). Its striking color and naturally sweet, nutty flavor make it a popular choice for pastries and breakfast treats.
While ube is sometimes confused with purple sweet potato, they differ: ube tends to be sweeter, creamier and more intensely purple when cooked.
Purple Ube Waffles
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sweet rice flour (mochiko)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup lemon-lime soda
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup ube jam (halayang ube)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 2-3 drops purple food gel (optional)
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
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Preheat: Heat your waffle maker following the manufacturer’s directions.
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Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sweet rice flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt.
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Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the lemon-lime soda, milk, ube jam, vegetable oil and egg. Whisk until smooth.
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Combine: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until smooth and free of large lumps. Add a few drops of purple gel if you want a stronger color.
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Cook: Brush the waffle iron with melted butter or spray with nonstick spray. Add batter, close the iron and cook according to your waffle maker’s instructions until golden and crisp.
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Serve: Remove waffles and serve warm with butter and syrup or your preferred toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an estimate.
Additional Info
Ingredients for KW
- Flours: All-purpose flour plus sweet rice flour (mochiko) for chew and texture.
- Granulated Sugar: For sweetness.
- Baking Powder: Helps the waffles rise and become light.
- Lemon-Lime Soda: Adds lift and lightness to the batter.
- Milk: Whole milk gives the richest flavor but any milk will work.
- Ube Jam (Halayang Ube): Provides the signature ube flavor and color.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps waffles tender.
- Large Egg: Binds the batter.
- Purple Food Gel (optional): Intensifies the purple color if desired.
Substitutions: Ube extract can be used, but many prefer the depth and sweetness of ube jam. Sweet rice flour may be omitted for a softer texture by using only all-purpose flour.
See the recipe card above for full ingredient amounts and servings.
Where to find ube
Fresh ube yams can be hard to find in some regions, but you can source ube in several convenient forms at Asian markets and specialty stores:
- Ube powder: Dehydrated and ground ube—ensure the label specifies ube, not purple sweet potato.
- Frozen grated ube: Cooked and shredded, ready to use.
- Frozen whole ube: Raw or cooked yams packaged for freezing.
- Purple yam purée: Puréed and sweetened, typically frozen.
- Ube jam (halayang ube): Cooked ube with sugar and sometimes coconut milk—ideal for this recipe.
- Ube flavoring: Extracts and concentrated flavor with coloring for a quick option.
How to make ube waffles
- Preheat: Warm your waffle iron per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine all-purpose flour, sweet rice flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the lemon-lime soda, milk, ube jam, oil and egg until smooth.
- Combine: Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until smooth. Add purple gel if you want a more vivid hue.
✔️ PRO TIP
This batter works in mini waffle makers and large Belgian irons. For a 4-inch mini maker, use about 1/4 cup of batter and cook roughly 90 seconds, adjusting as needed.
- Grease Waffle Maker: Brush with melted butter or use nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Bake: Add batter, leaving room for expansion, and cook until the waffle is golden and releases easily.
✔️ PRO TIP
Start with less batter to avoid overflow; adjust the amount based on your waffle iron’s size.
- Cool: Transfer cooked waffles to a cooling rack or plate in a single layer. The exterior will crisp while the inside stays chewy. Brush the iron with butter between batches for best results.
✔️ PRO TIP
For extra-crisp waffles, cook slightly longer and let them cool uncovered on a rack.
How to serve ube waffles
Serve ube waffles with butter and maple syrup, or elevate them with whipped butter, coconut cream, or a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk colored with purple gel for a fun presentation.
Fresh fruit like bananas, berries or blueberries complement the ube flavor. For a fully purple-themed plate, top with whipped ube butter and fresh berries.
Storage
Store leftover waffles in an airtight container at room temperature for 1–2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For long-term storage, freeze in a single layer for up to 6 months and reheat in a toaster when ready to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ube tastes sweet with nutty and vanilla-like notes and a creamy texture when cooked, making it ideal for desserts and waffles.
No. Ube is a yam that tends to be sweeter, creamier and more vibrantly purple than purple sweet potatoes, which are starchier.
Some stores carry ube or mochi-style pancake mixes made with sweet rice flour and ube powder; availability varies by location.
Yes. You can use only all-purpose flour, though sweet rice flour adds the signature chewiness of mochi waffles.
Yes. Replace all-purpose flour with glutinous rice flour and ensure all other ingredients are gluten free.
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