The smell of ube cake makes me think of home. It’s sweet, soft, and has that rich purple color that makes me smile. The first time I baked it, my family gathered around the table and couldn’t wait for a slice.
I love how the flavor is nutty and creamy at the same time. Each bite feels cozy, like a little hug. It’s the kind of cake that makes everyone ask for seconds.
If you’ve been wanting to try a dessert that’s both pretty and delicious, this is it. Let’s get into this Ube Cake recipe together—you’re going to love it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Stunning Appearance: The natural purple color makes this cake a showstopper at any gathering.
- Authentic Filipino Flavor: Real ube extract and jam deliver that distinctive sweet, nutty taste.
- Light and Fluffy: The chiffon cake technique creates an incredibly soft, airy texture.
- Perfect for Celebrations: Makes birthdays, holidays, and special occasions extra memorable.
- Not Too Sweet: Balanced sweetness that lets the ube flavor shine through.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Prep Time & Cook Time:
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: About 1 hour and 15 minutes
Servings: This recipe makes one 9-inch round cake—enough for 10-12 people. Need a larger cake? Double the recipe and use two pans.
Difficulty: Medium difficulty. The chiffon method requires some technique, but following the steps carefully will give you great results.
Required Kitchen Tools
- 9-inch round cake pan
- Electric mixer (hand or stand mixer)
- Large mixing bowls (at least 2)
- Wire whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Fine mesh sieve
Ingredients for Ube Cake
This beautiful Filipino cake uses simple ingredients that create complex, delicious flavors. The ube extract and jam are the stars, while the chiffon cake base keeps everything light and tender.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this stunning dessert:
For the Cake:
- Cake Flour: Creates a tender, fine crumb that’s perfect for chiffon cakes
- Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and stay fluffy
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors
- Ube Extract: Provides the authentic purple yam flavor and aroma
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake moist without making it heavy
- Milk: Adds richness and helps create a smooth batter
- Egg Yolks: Give richness and help bind the ingredients
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create structure
- Ube Jam: Adds extra flavor and beautiful purple color
- Purple Gel Food Color: Enhances the vibrant purple appearance
- Egg Whites: Create the light, airy texture when whipped
- Cream of Tartar: Helps stabilize the whipped egg whites
For the Frosting:
- Unsalted Butter: Forms the base of a rich buttercream
- Vanilla Extract: Adds warm flavor to complement the ube
Variations for Ube Cake
- Add Coconut: Mix in shredded coconut for extra Filipino flavor
- Try Different Shapes: Bake in a bundt pan or as cupcakes
- Make it Richer: Add cream cheese to the frosting
- Extra Purple: Use more food coloring for a deeper color
- Ube Frosting: Add ube extract to your buttercream for double the flavor
How to Make Ube Cake Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line your 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper but do not grease the sides (this helps chiffon cakes rise properly).
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. This ensures no lumps and creates a lighter texture.
3. Prepare the Wet Mixture
In another bowl, whisk together ube extract, vegetable oil, milk, egg yolks, half of the granulated sugar, ube jam, and purple food coloring until smooth.
4. Combine Wet and Dry
Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking until just combined. Don’t overmix.
5. Whip the Egg Whites
In a clean bowl, whip egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add the remaining sugar and beat until soft peaks form.
6. Fold Together
Gently fold one-third of the whipped egg whites into the ube batter to lighten it. Then carefully fold in the remaining whites in two additions, being gentle to keep the air bubbles.
7. Bake the Cake
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from pan.
Serving and Decoration
This beautiful purple cake looks stunning on its own, but you can dress it up with:
- Simple buttercream frosting
- Fresh berries for color contrast
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Purple sugar crystals
- A light dusting of powdered sugar
How to Serve Ube Cake
This versatile cake works perfectly for:
- Birthday Parties: The purple color makes it extra special
- Filipino Celebrations: Traditional dessert for holidays and gatherings
- Tea Time: Pairs wonderfully with coffee or tea
- Potluck Dinners: Always a conversation starter
- Weekend Treats: Perfect for family dessert time
Storing Ube Cake
- Unfrosted Cake: Wrap tightly and store at room temperature for 2-3 days
- Frosted Cake: Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
- Freezing: Wrap unfrosted cake layers and freeze for up to 3 months
Tips and Tricks for Success
- Use room temperature eggs for better mixing
- Don’t overbeat the egg whites – soft peaks are perfect
- Fold gently to keep the cake light and fluffy
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting
- Sift dry ingredients for the smoothest batter
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant color without thinning the batter
Nutrition
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per Slice (1/12 cake) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 285 |
| Protein | 5g |
| Carbohydrates | 42g |
| Fat | 11g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sugar | 28g |
| Sodium | 180mg |
Ube Cake Filipino Purple Yam Cake
- Yield: One 9-inch cake (10-12 servings)
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/4 cups (140g) cake flour, sifted
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ube extract
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons ube jam
- Purple gel food coloring (as needed)
- 4 large egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
- Mix Wet: Whisk ube extract, oil, milk, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, ube jam, and food coloring until smooth.
- Combine: Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, whisking until just combined.
- Whip Whites: Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating to soft peaks.
- Fold: Gently fold 1/3 of whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites in two additions.
- Bake: Pour into prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Cool completely before removing from pan and frosting if desired.
Ube Cake FAQs
Ube extract gives the authentic flavor, but you can increase the ube jam and add vanilla extract as a substitute.
Add more purple gel food coloring gradually until you reach your desired color.
For best results, stick with cake flour. If needed, substitute 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons.
A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, and the cake will spring back when lightly touched.
Conclusion
This Ube Cake brings the beautiful flavors of the Philippines right to your kitchen. The stunning purple color and sweet, nutty taste make it perfect for any special occasion or when you want to try something new and delicious.
