Name: Ultimate Ube Cupcakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 19 min
Total time: 29 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups cake flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 ⅔ cups sugar; 5 ounces butter (room temperature); 3 large eggs; ⅔ cup whole milk; 4 teaspoons ube flavoring

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Let's make these easy ube cupcakes together! They're deliciously soft, fluffy, and packed with sweet ube flavor in every bite!

some ube cupcakes topped with ube frostings

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Substitutions & Variations
Storage Tip
FAQs
Ultimate Ube Cupcakes

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This ube cupcake recipe is fluffy and full of yummy ube flavor. We only need a few simple ingredients and easy steps to make this Filipino dessert. The wet ingredients mix easily with the dry ingredients, which makes it easy to bake. A little ube extract can also help deepen the color and flavor.

If you like ube-flavored desserts or are simply a fan of cupcakes, you'll definitely love this recipe!

The Story Behind Ube Cupcakes

Ube jam, or ube halaya, is an ingredient widely used in the Philippines. People use it in ice cream, bread, cakes, and other desserts. Coconut is also often paired with ube in Filipino desserts. The ube cupcake recipe now brings those creamy flavors to a classic dessert.

Where Ube Cupcakes Come From

This recipe was created because of Filipinos' fondness for using purple yam in desserts and sweets. Bakers began adding ube flavor to popular cakes and cupcakes.

When is this Dish Typically Enjoyed?

We can enjoy these little ube cupcakes during parties and potlucks all year long. The soft texture and bright purple color make them perfect for any occasion. Just frost cupcakes with buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or a light cream frosting for an extra special treat!

Ingredients

Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:

butter
cake flour
baking powder
sugar
salt
eggs
whole milk
ube flavoring

See the recipe card for quantities.

All ingredients for ube cupcakes in bowls

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Instructions

Prepare and Mix

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Next, add the cake flour, baking powder, and salt to a bowl. Whisk until evenly combined.

Then, in a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

After that, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Finish the Batter

Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.

Then, pour in half of the milk and mix gently. Repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and milk.

After that, add the ube flavoring and mix just until the batter is smooth and evenly colored.

Fill and Bake

Fill each cupcake liner with batter only halfway to help them rise evenly without overflowing.

Then, bake for 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool and Serve

After baking, remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely.

Finally, frost and decorate as desired before serving.

Substitutions & Variations

Ingredient Swap
Use unsweetened oat milk or any other milk you like instead of whole milk.
Variation
If you'd like to reduce dairy, use plant-based butter.
Mistake to Avoid
After adding the all-purpose flour, don't overmix the batter. Too much will make the cupcakes dense instead of fluffy and soft.

Storage Tip

Store the unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 4 days. Without frosting, put them in the freezer for about 2 months.

Ube cupcakes with frosting and sprinkles

FAQs

What does ube taste like?

Ube is earthy, a little nutty and mildly sweet. It's a popular ingredient in the Philippines.

Why are my cupcakes dense?

The batter might have been overmixed or the ingredients may have been too cold. Make sure to use room temperature ingredients. Also, mix the batter gently after adding the flour. Feel free to add a bit of vanilla for more flavor, too.

Can I make these cupcakes without the ube flavoring?

Of course, you can skip the ube extract. But it would not have the same purple color or strong ube flavor.

When should I frost the cupcakes?

Frost cupcakes only after they have cooled completely. Set them on a wire rack for as long as it takes.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Recipe

Ultimate Ube Cupcakes

Soft, fluffy, and full of flavor, these cupcakes have a beautiful purple color. They are an easy Filipino-inspired dessert that is perfect for birthdays, parties, potlucks, or everyday treats.

Prep Time10

Cook Time19

Total Time29

Course: Cupcakes, Desserts, Snack

Cuisine: Filipino

Servings: 20 cupcakes

Calories: 166kcal

Author: Lainey

Ingredients

Instructions

Prepare and Mix

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Next, add the cake flour, baking powder, and salt to a bowl. Whisk until evenly combined.
Then, in a separate bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
After that, add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Finish the Batter

Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
Then, pour in half of the milk and mix gently.
After that, repeat with the remaining dry ingredients and milk.
Lastly, add the ube flavoring and mix just until the batter is smooth and evenly colored.

Fill and Bake

Fill each cupcake liner about halfway with batter.
Then, bake for 19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool and Serve

After baking, remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely.
Finally, frost and decorate as desired before serving.

Notes

Use room-temperature butter and eggs for a smoother batter.
For a stronger ube flavor, use high-quality ube flavoring.

Serving: 1gCalories: 166kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 159mgPotassium: 34mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 226IUCalcium: 41mgIron: 0.3mg

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Recipes for Every Moment

Planning a delicious dessert to serve for parties? No worries! These ube cupcakes can be ready in just 19 minutes. Everyone will enjoy this yummy treat!