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Home » Recipes » Breakfast

May 11, 2023

Ube Pancakes

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A pinterest pin for ube pancakes with an overhead shot of a plate of pancakes and an up-close shot of a forkful of pancakes. this Recipe
A stack of ube pancakes with bananas and chocolate chips and a bite taken out of them.
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With a vibrant purple hue and sweet, nutty vanilla notes, Ube Pancakes are a fantastic feature of any breakfast or brunch spread. Easily made gluten-free and dairy-free.


Table of contents

  • With a vibrant purple hue and sweet, nutty vanilla notes, Ube Pancakes are a fantastic feature of any breakfast or brunch spread. Easily made gluten-free and dairy-free.
  • Why You’ll Love This Ube Pancake Recipe
  • What is Ube?
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient substitutions
  • how to make ube pancakes
  • Recipe pro-tips:
  • Pancake Toppings
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage Directions
  • Recipe FAQs:
  • Tools needed to make this recipe:
  • More breakfast recipes
An overhead shot of a stack of ube pancakes on a creme colored plate.

Ube (pronounced “ooh-beh”) pancakes are fluffy and satisfying like the pancakes of your childhood but bring enticing flavor and color with the addition of ube.  Ube adds a delicious flavor that’s both sweet and nutty, and the rich color will have you wanting everyday to be a brunch day. 

Ube powder and ube extract are easy-to-source ingredients so you can experience these Filipino pancakes no matter where you live. Showcasing the purple yam with Asian roots, this recipe is surprisingly easy and brightens up breakfast or is perfect for any celebration.

This may be a new to you ingredient and will have you dreaming of your next ube or Philippino recipe. If you’re already an ube enthusiast after sampling some Trader Joe’s ube ice cream, you’ll love making your own ube-centric dish.

Why You’ll Love This Ube Pancake Recipe

  • Elevate a classic. You’ll love the comfort of a classic pancake with the flavor and color of ube.
  • Simple to make. If you’ve ever made pancakes before, this recipe will be a breeze.
  • Rich in natural color.  Who doesn’t love a vibrantly colored meal? Purple pancakes will bring delight to your plate and have your family asking for more colorful creations. Plus the color comes from the vibrant ube, not food dyes or food coloring.
  • Perfect for your next brunch or event. These eye-catching hotcakes look beautiful and have nearly endless topping possibilities making them perfect for any occasion or palette.
  • Pairs well with other breakfast staples.  Serve alone or pair these ube pancakes with any of your favorite breakfast items. They are the perfect entree to couple with eggs, easy baked home fries, fruit salad, or crunchy turmeric granola for a full breakfast spread.

What is Ube?

Ube is a purple yam that originates from the Philippines and often is used in baked goods.  Ube has grown in popularity in North America in the last several years.  Ube delivers a sweet vanilla flavor that is also nutty.

A purple donut or confection with a distinct lavender color showcased in a bakery window is likely relying on ube for the vivid coloring and may even have an ube sauce or ube filling.  It is also fantastic featured in purple boba or ube brownies!

You may only know ube from passing by the Trader Joe’s ube pancakes mix or seeing pictures of beautiful lavender stacks of YogurStory ube pancakes smothered in ube pancake syrup from the Honolulu restaurant. 

Ube is known for its bright purple color and delivers a sweeter taste than orange yams. The use of ube extract and powder in this recipe lets you experience some international flavor without having to boil and mash your own purple yams.  This recipe also uses pantry staples all-purpose and whole-wheat flour instead of the rice flour found in ube mochi pancakes.

Ube extract and ube power can be found at some grocery stores or Asian markets and are easily purchased from many online retailers, including Amazon.

All of the ingredients for ube pancakes on a white background.

Ingredients

  • Buttermilk or sour milk: the perfect moisture and tang.  Make your own dairy or non-dairy sour milk with the addition of vinegar (see my notes below)! 
  • Pure vanilla extract: the extract compliments the vanilla notes of ube. For the best flavor, use pure vanilla extract.
  • Eggs: add moisture and help bind ingredients together for fluffy hotcakes.
  • Coconut oil: this oil compliments the ube flavor and is used in the batter and to grease the skillet or griddle to give the pancakes the perfect crispy outer layer.
  • Ube extract: Measures just like vanilla extract and brings the taste of ube to your batter.
  • All-purpose flour: The pantry staple, all-purpose flour is the perfect base for letting the ube flavor shine
  • Whole wheat flour: A nuttier complement to all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour works well with the nutty notes of ube.
  • Baking powder: Provides the lift to give that fluffy texture you expect in pancakes. 
  • Baking soda: Works alongside the baking powder and buttermilk to leaven the pancakes.
  • Salt: Enhances all the flavors in this recipe. 
  • Granulated sugar: Just a touch of sugar makes these pancakes shine.
  • Ube powder: Up the ube flavor with this lavender-colored powder that easily stores and keeps in your panty until your next batch of pancakes.

Ingredient substitutions

  • Gluten-free flour: Swap 1-to-1 gluten-free flour for all-purpose and whole-wheat flour to make these purple pancakes gluten-free.
  • Plant-based milk: Make sour milk using your favorite plant-based milk to make these pancakes dairy-free,

how to make ube pancakes

These pancakes are as easy to make as they are beautiful. Here is how to make them:

For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk together the buttermilk or sour milk, vanilla extract, eggs, melted coconut oil, and ube extract until combined.

Cracking eggs into the milk and vanilla.
Pouring ube extract in with the wet ingredients.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, and ube powder until combined.

Adding purple ube powder to the dry ingredients.
A whisking bowl of the ube pancake mix.

Step 3: Add the wet ingredients into the large bowl of the dry ingredients and whisk until combined and no streaks of flour remain.

Pouring the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Whisking the bowl of ube pancake batter.

Step 4: Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil to the pan and heat until melted, stirring the oil around the pan.

Step 5: Add the pancake batter to the skillet by ⅓ cup fulls. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, or golden brown and cooked through. 

Cooking the ube pancakes on a griddle.
Turning the ube pancakes on a griddle.

Step 6: Remove the pancakes from the pan and repeat with the rest of the pancake batter. Enjoy the pancakes hot with your desired pancake toppings.

A forkful of ube pancakes on a cream colored plate.

Recipe pro-tips:

  • Make your own sour milk: add 4 teaspoons of vinegar to the bottom of a 2-cup measuring cup. Fill the cup to the 1 ⅔ line with dairy or plant milk. Stir a few times and let the sour milk set for 5 minutes.
  • Keep the pancakes warm by placing them on a heat-safe plate or pan and keeping in an oven preheated to 225 degrees until serving (or up to 30 minutes).
  • Make ube butter: use ube powder to make butter to top your pancakes or brown butter banana bread. Stir ¼ teaspoon of ube powder to 4 tablespoons of softened butter; add more ube powder to taste.
  • Make mini pancakes or silver dollar pancakes for kids or a crowd. 
An up-close overhead shot of a forkful of ube pancakes.

Pancake Toppings

  • Coconut oil or butter: top these Filipino hotcakes with your favorite coconut oil, butter or vegan butter.
  • Maple syrup: keep it classic with a maple syrup drizzle. 
  • Chopped medjool dates: dates give that extra pop of flavor and layer on the perfect texture to these pancakes. 
  • Bananas: sliced banana enriches the presentation with a beautiful color contrast. 
  • Fresh fruit or jam: Top with seasonal berries or strawberry jam. 
  • Chocolate chips: top your pancakes with milk or dark chocolate chips. Try mini chips on top of silver dollar pancakes.

Serving Suggestions

These ube pancakes are best served hot so plan to prepare them right before serving time or place in a preheated oven until serving. Serve them breakfast meat, eggs, or include on a brunch spread with fruit and nut topping options.

They are fun for everyday eats, brunch, or a breakfast-for-dinner night. Perfect for a baby or bridal shower or when a pop of color will stand out for a party or back your favorite sports team.

Storage Directions

  • Refrigeration: Leftovers keep in a covered container, separated by parchment paper, and stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 
  • Freezing: They can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2 months. Wrap individual pancakes in parchment for optimal freshness and to allow for easy reheating of one or all of the stored pancakes. 
  • Reheating: Warm the pancakes up in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes.  Place pancakes in a single layer and cover with foil.  If pancakes are frozen, add an additional 5 minutes of reheating time.  Or reheat pancakes in the microwave for 30 seconds (add 15 seconds at a time if frozen).
Whisking the ube pancake batter together.
Pouring milk into a glass mixing bowl.

Recipe FAQs:

What is ube made of?

Ube is a purple yam known for its color and flavor and is not the same as taro.  Ube has a similar appearance to an orange yam but is sweeter and more moist. 

In the US, you will most likely find Ube in an Asian grocery store or international market, but Ube extract and powder are easy to find online or in some grocery stores.

What flavor is ube?

Ube has a flavor that tastes like vanilla and is also sweet and nutty.

Where is ube from?

Ube originates from the Philippines and is grown in Asian countries. 

How to make fluffy ube pancakes?

Ube pancakes are made fluffy by using both baking soda and baking powder and not overmixing the batter.  Once the flour is incorporated, your batter is ready to cook into delicious cakes!

Tools needed to make this recipe:

  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring cups
  • Whisk
  • Silicone spatula

More breakfast recipes

  • Coconut Maple Chai Breakfast Risotto
  • Sweet Potato & Sausage Frittata
  • Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

More pancake recipes

  • Oat Milk Pancakes
  • Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
  • Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes
  • Oatmeal Blender Pancakes
  • Banana Double Chocolate Chip Pancakes

If you make and like this recipe, please review and rate it 5 Stars at the top of the recipe card. This helps other people to find the recipes and helps this reader-supported publication, too!

Thank you so much for your feedback and support of Mae's Menu!

A angled shot of a cream colored plate of a stack of ube pancakes with a bite taken out of them.

Ube Pancakes

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Chelsea | Mae's Menu 2023
With a vibrant purple hue and sweet, nutty vanilla notes, Ube Pancakes are a fantastic feature of any breakfast or brunch spread. Easily made gluten-free and dairy-free.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 10 -12 Pancakes
Calories 120 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ube Pancakes

  • 1 ⅔ cup buttermilk or sour milk see notes below
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
  • 2 teaspoons ube extract
  • ¾ cup 90g all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup 90g whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons ube powder
  • Additional coconut oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk together the buttermilk or sour milk, vanilla extract, eggs, melted coconut oil, and ube extract until combined. 
    Pouring ube extract in with the wet ingredients.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, and ube powder until combined. 
    A whisking bowl of the ube pancake mix.
  • Add the wet ingredients into the large bowl of the dry ingredients and whisk until combined and no streaks of flour remain. 
    Whisking the bowl of ube pancake batter.
  • Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil to the pan and heat until melted, stirring the oil around the pan. Add the pancake batter to the skillet by ⅓ cup fulls. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, or golden brown and cooked through. 
    Cooking the ube pancakes on a griddle.
  • Remove the pancakes from the pan and repeat with the rest of the pancake batter. 
    Turning the ube pancakes on a griddle.
  • Enjoy the pancakes hot with your desired pancake toppings.

Notes

  • How to make sour milk: add 4 teaspoons of vinegar to the bottom of a 2-cup measuring cup. Fill the cup to the 1 ⅔ lines with milk (dairy or plant milk works). Stir a few times and let the sour milk set for 5 minutes. 
  • To make this recipe dairy-free: make sour milk with plant-based milk (almond, coconut, oat, etc.) in place of the buttermilk or dairy-based sour milk.
  • Keep the pancakes warm by placing them on a heat-safe plate or pan and keeping in an oven preheated to 225 degrees until serving (or up to 30 minutes).
  • To make this recipe gluten-free: substitute the same amount of 1-to-1 gluten-free flour for the all-purpose and whole wheat flour.
  • Recommended brand of ube extract.
  • Recommended brand of ube powder.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pancakeCalories: 120kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 224mgSugar: 4g
Keyword Filipino hotcakes, Fillipino pancake, How to make ube pancakes, Purple pancakes, Trader joe's ube pancakes, Ube filling, Ube mochi pancake mix, Ube mochi pancake recipe, Ube mochi pancakes, Ube pancake mix, Ube pancake syrup, ube pancakes, Ube pancakes hawaii, Ube pancakes recipe, Ube Sauce, Yogurstory ube pancakes
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MEET CHELSEA MAE PLUMMER

Hi!  Join me in making quick and healthy recipes for active families!  Many of my recipes can be made gluten-free or lactose-free because life with food allergies doesn't have to lack flavor!
A bit about me: I'm a self-taught home cook of 20+ years, food lover, runner, and dog lover!

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A pinterest pin for ube pancakes with an overhead shot of a plate of pancakes and an up-close shot of a forkful of pancakes.