Bright purple Ube Donuts are a delightful treat for breakfast, brunch, or a satisfying snack! Enjoy these decadent donuts plain or with a delicious glaze. They are surprisingly easy to make at home.
Donuts are a fun and delicious treat, and making them at home is easier than you might think!
We especially love making Baked Apple Cinnamon Donuts, especially during the fall season. And for those moments when you crave something sweet but are short on time, our Air Fryer Donuts are the perfect solution.
If you’re looking for a donut that not only tastes amazing but also boasts a stunning presentation, then this Ube Donuts recipe is just what you need!
Why This Recipe Works: The Magic of Ube Donuts
These Ube Donuts are poised to become your new favorite for a multitude of reasons:
- Baked, Not Fried: They are baked, offering a healthier alternative to traditional fried donuts.
- Quick Batter: The donut batter comes together quickly and easily.
- Glaze Optional: You have the flexibility to enjoy them with or without a glaze, catering to your personal preference.
- Irresistible Color: The vibrant purple hue is incredibly appealing and makes these donuts a visual treat.
- Make Ahead: This recipe yields approximately 24 donuts, making them perfect for sharing, enjoying over several days, or freezing for later enjoyment. Glaze a few for immediate consumption and freeze the rest for future cravings!
Essential Ingredient Notes for Perfect Ube Donuts
The ingredients showcased above are specifically for creating the delicious ube donut batter.
- Ube Jam and Extract: The distinct purple color and characteristic flavor of these donuts come from the combination of ube jam (halaya) and ube extract. While these ingredients were once challenging to source in some regions, they are now widely available in Asian markets and online retailers.
- Long Shelf Life: The extract typically has a long shelf life, making it a versatile ingredient for various recipes.
- Room Temperature Eggs: Using room temperature eggs in this recipe is crucial for achieving a smooth and well-incorporated batter. Room temperature eggs blend more seamlessly compared to cold eggs straight from the refrigerator.
The ingredients pictured above are needed to make the vibrant purple ube glaze. Keep in mind that the glaze is an optional addition, allowing you to customize your donuts according to your preferences.
Optional White Icing: For the white glaze drizzle seen in the photos, simply whisk together 3 cups of powdered sugar, 1/2 cup of milk, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice until smooth.
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Perfect Ube Donuts
Follow these simple instructions to create your own batch of delicious ube donuts.
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to ensure even distribution and set aside.
- In a separate bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the light brown sugar, eggs, ube jam, milk, vanilla extract, ube extract, and melted butter until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or gently folding until just combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can result in tough donuts.
- Continue mixing until the batter is smooth and uniform in color. Ensure that there are no streaks of flour remaining.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a large spoon. Lightly grease your donut pans and fill each cavity approximately ¾ full. This will allow the donuts to rise properly without overflowing.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the donuts are golden brown and spring back lightly when touched. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the Glaze:
- While the donuts are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a large bowl, whisk together the ube jam, heavy cream or milk, confectioner’s sugar, and ube extract until the glaze is smooth and free of lumps. The consistency should be thick enough to coat the donuts evenly.
- Pour the glaze into a shallow bowl that is wide enough to dunk the donuts easily.
- Once the donuts are completely cooled, dip the top of each donut into the ube glaze, ensuring that it is evenly coated. Allow any excess glaze to drip off before placing the glazed donuts on a wire rack to set.
- For added decoration, you can create a simple white glaze by whisking together confectioner’s sugar and a small amount of heavy cream or milk until it reaches a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the white glaze over the ube-glazed donuts in a decorative pattern.
Recipe FAQs: Your Ube Donut Questions Answered
- Where can I find ube?
- Ube halaya (ube jam) and ube extract are available at most Asian markets and grocery stores in the United States. You can also find them online.
- What is ube?
- Ube is a purple yam similar to a sweet potato that is native to the Philippines.
- What can I substitute for ube halaya or ube extract?
- There isn’t really a substitute for ube jam (halaya) or ube extract as they’re what makes these donuts bright purple with their distinct flavor.
- What’s the best way to store these homemade donuts?
- If unglazed: Allow the ube donuts to cool completely, then store in airtight containers at room temperature for up to four days.
If glazed: Allow the donuts to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Kitchen Tools and Equipment: Essential Ube Donut Gear
To make these baked ube donuts, you’ll need two non-stick donut pans.
Serving Ideas: Elevating Your Ube Donut Experience
These ube donuts are delicious for breakfast, brunch, or as a snack. Enjoy them with a cup of coffee for meryenda (mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack).
The vibrant purple color also makes these donuts perfect to include in a Brunch Board along with Tropical Sangria.
More Filipino Dessert Recipes: Explore the Flavors of the Philippines
Want to make more Filipino recipes? We have so many delicious Filipino food recipes on the blog! For more desserts, try one of these:
- Ube White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Filipino Biko
- Filipino Leche Flan
- Taisan: Filipino Chiffon Cake Recipe