Try this easy Filipino Ube Hopia recipe that is a sweet, delicious, and addicting treat! It's a thin flaky Filipino pastry that can be eaten for dessert or a snack and is perfect for any season!
Love Ube flavored desserts? Try my Ube Buchi, Ube Biko, Ube Beignets, Ube Champorado!
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What is Hopia?
Hopia is a popular Filipino bean-filled mooncake-like pastry that has Chinese origins. It was originally introduced by Fujianese immigrants in urban centers in the Philippines in the early 1900s.
In Hokkian, a dialect spoken in Southern Fujian and Taiwan, the word hopia means “good pastry”. It is also popular in Indonesia and is widely known as bakpia pathok, which is named after a suburb of Yogyakarta that specializes in pastry.
Traditionally, hopia is filled with mung bean paste (munggo), but nowadays, there are many variations when it comes to the filling, such as pineapple, cheese, chocolate, and custard. In this recipe, I used the sweet ube halaya or purple yam jam filling, which gives a unique, vivid violet color and sweet taste.
Ube hopia was first introduced in the 1980s by Gerry Chua of Eng Bee Tin, a Chinese Filipino deli chain in Manila, Philippines, which is known for its mixed Chinese and Filipino culinary traditions. It becomes a relatively inexpensive and delicious treat, gift, or souvenir for families, friends, and relatives all year round.
Hopia is commonly enjoyed during various holidays and special occasions in Filipino culture. One significant holiday where hopia is often consumed is Chinese New Year, which is celebrated by Filipino-Chinese communities in the Philippines and around the world. During Chinese New Year celebrations, hopia is among the traditional pastries and snacks exchanged and served as part of the festivities.
Additionally, hopia may also be enjoyed during other celebrations such as birthdays, family gatherings, and religious festivals. Its popularity transcends specific holidays, often being enjoyed as a treat throughout the year.
Top Tip
Use a frying pan if you don't have an oven. Just cook the hopia in a pan over low heat for 10 minutes on each side or until slightly purplish-brown in color.
Variations
- Feel free to use other fillings of your choice just as mung bean paste, pineapple, nutella and even durian.
- Make sure to apply egg wash whether you are using a pan or an oven. The egg wash acts as an adhesive to keep the pastry from cracking.
Substitutions
- Sweeteners: Depending on your dietary preferences, you can adjust the sweetness of your hopia by using alternative sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar instead of sugar.
- Pastry Dough: Instead of using traditional pastry dough, you could experiment with alternatives such as puff pastry, pie crust dough, or even homemade dough made from flour, butter, and water.
Storage
- Storage: It can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months. To thaw: do not reheat or defrost. Leave at room temperature until it is ready to be eaten.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
Filling
Dough #1
- bread flour
- brown sugar
- cold milk
- vegetable shortening
- salt
Dough #2
- all-purpose flour
- vegetable shortening
- egg
Instructions
Using a fork or spoon, mix the ingredients for dough #1. Knead just a couple of times until they stick and just combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it aside:
In another bowl, combine the ingredients for dough #2. Mix well until smooth dough forms. Dust the working surface with a little bit of flour:
Roll dough #1 into a rectangular shape with a half-inch thickness. Place dough #2 on the center top of dough # 1, covering two-thirds of dough #1:
Fold the third uncovered part like folding a letter. Roll the dough to form a log. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes:
Cut each dough into 12 equal pieces. Take a piece of a portioned dough and flatten it with a rolling pin:
Scoop out a teaspoonful of the ube halaya filling and place it in the middle of the flattened dough. Gather the sides and pinch them together to seal:
Use a cookie cutter to shape and form it in equal pieces. Place the hopia dough in a baking pan. Repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling:
Bake the hopia in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Take out the baked hopia and brush with egg wash. Return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them cool at room temperature:
You may serve this with your favorite milk drink or tea. Enjoy!
Hint: To save time, you may use the ready-made Ube (Purple Yam) Jam for the filling.
FAQ
You can make your own with its super easy steps or buy a ready-made ube jam in an Asian store. It is also available in online shops, just try to check whichever is accessible in your area.
It can be eaten either way. If you prefer to eat it warm, you may reheat the hopia in a griddle, microwave pan, or toaster in a few minutes.
Yes, it is somehow similar to mooncake. Hopia is an inexpensive version of moon cake which is a delicacy usually served during the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Best Hopia You'll Ever Make
Ingredients
Filling:
- 2 oz ube halaya
Dough 1
- 1 cup bread flour
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ cup cold milk
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Dough 2
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
Garnish
- 1 large egg for egg wash
Instructions
Dough 1
- In large bowl, add bread flour, brown sugar, milk, vegetable shortening, salt and mix.
- Knead just a couple of times until they stick and just combined and cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside.
Dough 2
- In a medium bowl, add all purpose flour, vegetable shortening and mix until smooth dough forms.
Assembly
- Roll dough #1 into a rectangular shape with a half-inch thickness.
- Place dough #2 on the center top of dough # 1, covering two-thirds of dough #1.
- Fold the third uncovered part like folding a letter and roll the dough to form a log
- Allow the dough to rest for 5 minutes then cut dough into 12 equal pieces
- Take a piece of a portioned dough and flatten it with a rolling pin
- Scoop out a teaspoonful of the ube halaya filling and place it in the middle of the flattened dough and gather the sides and pinch together to seal.
- Use a cookie cutter to shame and form into equal pieces then place the hopia dough in a baking pan.
- Repeat the process with the remaining dough and filling
- Bake the hopia in a preheated oven at 350 degress F for 15 minutes
- Take out the baked hopia and bursh with egg wash, then return to th oven and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature.
Watch The Recipe Video!
Jane says
Easy recipe to make and so good! My family loved it!
Lainey says
Yaay. It's good to know that your family loves this recipe. Thank you, Jane, for making this recipe. I appreciate it! 🙂