Ube Pancakes

These ube pancakes are soft, fluffy, buttery, and full of sweet ube flavor. The pancakes are made with ube extract, then topped with a creamy coconut condensed milk ube sauce and toasted coconut flakes for the perfect purple pancake stack.

Why You’ll Love This Ube Pancakes Recipe

I've made a lot of unique pancake recipes, like my sweet cream pancakes and cornmeal pancakes, so when I saw Trader Joe's ube mochi pancake and waffle mix, I was inspired to make homemade ube pancakes. With ube, I knew the biggest mistake would be making something that looked fun but didn’t really deliver on flavor. That’s why I kept working on this version until it tasted as good as it looked.

The ube extract gives the pancakes that signature purple color and sweet, mellow flavor, but the coconut milk sauce is what makes the whole recipe come together. The pancakes are soft and fluffy, and once you add that sauce, they instantly taste richer and more complete. It brings in sweetness, creaminess, and just a little saltiness, which helps balance everything out and keeps the flavor from falling flat. 

I felt like they needed a topping, and since the sauce is made with coconut milk, I went with toasted coconut to add texture and give the finished pancakes a little more in each bite. Between the soft pancakes, the creamy sauce, and the coconut on top, this recipe ends up tasting like something you’d actually order at brunch, not just a novelty breakfast for the color.

What is Ube?

Ube is a purple yam commonly used in Filipino desserts. It has a lightly sweet, nutty, vanilla-like flavor and is often used in cakes, ice cream, breads, pastries, and other sweet treats.

In this recipe, ube extract gives the pancakes their signature color and flavor. It’s one of the easiest ways to make ube pancakes at home because it mixes smoothly into the batter and sauce without changing the texture too much.

Ingredients

This recipe has three simple parts: the ube sauce, the ube pancake batter, and the toasted coconut topping. Check out what you'll need for each.

Ube Sauce:

• 1 cup coconut milk
• ½ cup condensed milk
• 1-2 teaspoons ube extract, depending on how strong you like the taste
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Ube Pancakes:

• 1 ½ cups flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons ube extract
• 3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Topping:

• Unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted

How To Make Ube Pancakes

Step 1: Make The Ube Sauce

In a small saucepan, combine the coconut milk, condensed milk, ube extract, and kosher salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly. Remove the sauce from the heat and set it aside. It will continue to thicken as it cools.

Step 2: Mix The Wet Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, ube extract, and melted unsalted butter until smooth. Make sure the butter is melted but not piping hot. If it’s too hot, it can start cooking the egg, or it can make the batter separate.

Step 3: Add The Dry Ingredients

Sift in the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Gently whisk until just combined. As with any homemade pancakes, a few small lumps are fine. Don’t overmix the batter, or the pancakes can turn dense instead of fluffy.

Step 4: Cook The Pancakes

Heat a lightly buttered griddle or pan over medium-high heat. Pour about ⅓ cup of batter onto the pan for each pancake. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set.

Step 5: Flip And Finish Cooking

Flip the pancakes and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more butter to the pan as needed.

Step 6: Add The Sauce And Coconut

Serve the pancakes warm with a generous drizzle or spoonful of ube sauce. Top with toasted unsweetened coconut flakes and enjoy right away.

My Tested Expert Tips For The Best Ube Pancakes

• Use ube extract for the best color and flavor. Ube extract gives these pancakes their bright purple color and signature ube flavor. Ube halaya can be used in some pancake recipes, but extract keeps this batter light and fluffy.
• Start with less ube extract in the sauce if you’re unsure. Ube extract can be strong depending on the brand. Start with 1 teaspoon in the sauce, taste it after simmering, and add more if you want a deeper flavor.
• Don’t overmix the pancake batter. This is one of the biggest keys to fluffy pancakes. Once the flour goes in, gently whisk until the batter just comes together. A few small lumps are better than overworked batter.
• Sift the dry ingredients. I've found sifting the flour, sugar, and baking powder makes a huge difference in the final texture. It prevents clumps and makes the batter smoother without needing to overmix.
• Use medium-high heat, then adjust as needed. The pan should be hot enough that the batter gently sizzles when it hits the surface, but not so hot that the pancakes brown before the center cooks. If they’re darkening too quickly, lower the heat slightly.
• Wait for bubbles before flipping. The pancakes are ready to flip when bubbles appear on the surface, and the edges look set. Flipping too early can cause the pancakes to spread or tear.
• Use melted butter in the batter. Butter adds flavor and helps make the pancakes tender. Let it cool slightly before whisking it with the milk and egg.
• Simmer the sauce until lightly thickened. The ube sauce should thicken enough to coat a spoon, but it doesn’t need to become too thick in the pan. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Stir the sauce while it simmers. Coconut milk and condensed milk can stick to the bottom if left alone. Stir occasionally to keep the sauce smooth and prevent scorching.
• Serve the pancakes warm. Ube pancakes taste best fresh off the griddle while they’re soft and fluffy. The warm pancakes with the creamy ube sauce and toasted coconut are what make this recipe so good.
• Make the sauce ahead if needed. The ube sauce can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Warm it slightly before serving so it’s easier to drizzle.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

For the Pancakes: Store leftover ube pancakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store the ube sauce separately in a jar or airtight container. To reheat the pancakes, warm them in the microwave in short intervals, or heat them in a toaster oven, oven, or skillet until warmed through. The toaster oven or skillet gives the best texture. You can also freeze the pancakes for up to 2 months. Let them cool completely, stack them with parchment paper between each pancake, and store them in a freezer-safe bag. Reheat from frozen in the toaster, oven, or microwave.

For the Sauce: Store the ube sauce in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. It will thicken as it chills, so warm it gently in the microwave or on the stove and stir before serving. If it gets too thick, add a splash of milk or coconut milk to loosen it. I don’t recommend freezing the ube sauce because coconut milk and condensed milk can separate after thawing.

Ube Pancakes FAQs

What are ube pancakes?

Ube pancakes are fluffy pancakes flavored with ube extract, which gives them a sweet, vanilla-like flavor and bright purple color. This version is served with a creamy ube coconut sauce and toasted coconut flakes.

What does ube taste like?

Ube has a sweet, nutty, slightly vanilla-like flavor. It’s mild, creamy, and dessert-like, which makes it perfect for pancakes, cakes, ice cream, and sweet breads.

Can I use ube halaya instead of ube extract?

You can add ube halaya for extra flavor, but ube extract is best for this specific pancake batter because it adds flavor and color without making the batter too heavy. If using ube halaya, add a small spoonful to the wet ingredients and reduce the milk slightly if the batter gets too loose.

Where can I buy ube extract?

Ube extract is usually sold at Asian grocery stores, Filipino markets, or online. It’s often found near baking ingredients, flavor extracts, or Filipino dessert ingredients.

Can I make ube pancakes without coconut milk?

Yes. The coconut milk is used in the sauce, not the pancake batter. If you don’t have coconut milk, you can make a simpler sauce with condensed milk and a splash of regular milk or cream, though the flavor will be less coconut-forward.

Can I make the ube sauce ahead of time?

Yes. You can make the ube sauce ahead and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Reheat gently before serving and stir in a splash of coconut milk or milk if it thickens too much.

Why are my pancakes dense?

The batter was probably overmixed, or the baking powder may not have been fresh. Mix just until the flour disappears, leave a few small lumps, and make sure your baking powder is active.

Why are my pancakes browning too fast?

The pan is too hot. Lower the heat slightly and let the pan adjust before cooking the next batch. Ube pancakes should cook long enough for the center to set without the outside getting too dark.

Can I use plant-based milk?

Yes. Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk can all work in the pancake batter. Coconut milk will add the strongest flavor, while oat milk gives a slightly richer texture.

Can I make these pancakes dairy-free?

You can make parts of the recipe dairy-free by using plant-based milk and dairy-free butter in the pancakes, but the condensed milk in the sauce would need to be replaced with sweetened condensed coconut milk.

Can I make these pancakes gluten-free?

Yes, you can try using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. The texture may be slightly different, but it should work as long as the blend is meant for baking.

How do I know when to flip pancakes?

Flip the pancakes when bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set. The underside should be golden, and the pancake should lift easily with a spatula.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, this recipe doubles well. Keep cooked pancakes warm on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you finish the rest of the batter.

What toppings go best with ube pancakes?

Toasted coconut, ube sauce, whipped cream, maple syrup, sliced banana, mango, strawberries, macapuno, white chocolate chips, and ube halaya all taste great with ube pancakes.

Fun Pancake Recipes To Make Next

• Cinnamon roll pancakes
• Crispy pancakes
• Banana pancakes with mix
• Small batch pancakes
• Cottage cheese pancakes