Homemade Ube Ice Cream: A Taste of the Philippines

Homemade Ube Ice Cream is a sweet and vibrant purple yam ice cream. It’s a creamy and refreshing dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make at home, whether you have a Ninja Creami or a standard ice cream machine.

If you’ve ever wandered through the frozen aisles of an Asian supermarket, you might have spotted Magnolia ube ice cream. Or perhaps you’ve been tempted by Trader Joe’s version of this unique treat. While these store-bought options are certainly convenient, nothing compares to the rich, authentic flavor of homemade ube ice cream! And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to create in your own kitchen.

This captivating purple ice cream boasts a luxuriously creamy texture, a remarkably smooth consistency, and a delicately sweet flavor profile. Its enchanting pastel purple hue adds to its allure, making it a feast for both the eyes and the palate. If you’re already an ube enthusiast, prepare to fall head over heels for this delightful ube ice cream recipe! It captures the essence of ube in every spoonful, delivering a truly unforgettable dessert experience.

What is Ube? Unveiling the Purple Yam

Ube, pronounced “oo-beh,” is a vibrant purple yam that hails from the Philippines. It’s a staple ingredient in Filipino cuisine, lending its unique flavor and color to a wide array of dishes. From delectable ube cookies and cakes to traditional Filipino breads and irresistible ube donuts, ube’s versatility knows no bounds.

Compared to purple sweet potatoes, ube possesses a sweeter taste and grows on a vine, while sweet potatoes grow underground. Although often used interchangeably, it’s crucial to distinguish between the two when preparing an ube recipe. To ensure authentic ube flavor, always opt for purple yam rather than purple sweet potato.

Why This Ube Ice Cream Recipe Works: Simplicity and Deliciousness

Creating homemade ice cream has never been easier, especially with the advent of convenient appliances like the Ninja Creami! However, if you don’t have a Creami, fret not! This recipe includes easy-to-follow instructions for crafting this delectable ice cream in a standard ice cream maker, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this delightful treat.

• Minimal Ingredients: This recipe calls for only five simple ingredients, making it a breeze to prepare.
• Effortless Preparation: With a Ninja Creami, making this ube ice cream is a cinch. But rest assured, it’s just as easy to make in a standard ice cream maker.
• Exquisite Flavor: Like many beloved Filipino desserts, this ube ice cream strikes the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess, without being overly sugary. Its subtle vanilla-like flavor adds a touch of elegance to every bite.

Ingredient Spotlight: Key Components for Ube Ice Cream Perfection

To embark on your ube ice cream adventure, you’ll need just five essential ingredients:

• Ube Jam (Ube Halaya): This is the heart and soul of the ice cream’s flavor. If you have access to fresh ube, you can whip up homemade ube halaya. However, if fresh ube is scarce, you can usually find jars of ube jam in the Asian section of your local supermarket or online.
• Ube Powder: Ube powder enhances the ice cream’s subtle flavor and contributes to its captivating pastel purple hue. For a deeper, more intense purple color, you can substitute a couple of teaspoons of ube extract. You can find these ube products at your local Asian grocery store.
• Heavy Cream: Whipping heavy cream into luscious whipped cream creates the ice cream’s signature rich, airy, and creamy texture.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: This ingredient adds sweetness and also helps to thicken the ice cream base, resulting in a perfectly smooth and scoopable treat.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract adds a delightful aroma and enhances the overall flavor of the ice cream. For a more pronounced ube flavor and a more vibrant purple color, you can substitute vanilla extract with ube extract.

Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Own Ube Ice Cream Masterpiece

For a comprehensive list of ingredients and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the end of this post. However, here’s a visual step-by-step guide to help you along the way:

These instructions are tailored for making ube ice cream in the Ninja Creami. For instructions on using a traditional ice cream maker, please see the FAQ section.

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form, transforming it into fluffy whipped cream.
2. Meanwhile, in a separate large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, ube jam, ube powder, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.

3. Gently fold the whipped cream into the ube mixture until evenly combined, ensuring the color is uniformly distributed throughout. This step is crucial for achieving a smooth and consistent texture.

4. Carefully pour the ice cream base mixture into the Ninja Creami pint cups, taking care not to exceed the “Max Fill” line. Once filled, secure the lids tightly.

5. Transfer the filled pint cups to the freezer and let the ice cream mixture freeze completely, preferably overnight or for at least 24 hours. This ensures a solid base for churning.

6. Once frozen, remove a pint cup from the freezer and secure it in the Ninja Creami according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Select the “Ice Cream” mode and allow the machine to process the mixture until it stops automatically, typically around 2 minutes.

7. After the Ninja Creami has finished processing, carefully remove the outer bowl from the machine. Then, detach the pint container from the bowl. Your homemade ube ice cream is now ready to be served and enjoyed! If you’re not planning to eat it immediately, you can cover the pint container and freeze the ube ice cream for later consumption.

Recipe FAQs: Addressing Common Questions

How do I make ube ice cream in a standard ice cream machine?

Before you begin, make sure to freeze your ice cream maker base overnight. Follow steps 1-3 of the recipe, then pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s directions. Once churned, transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to two months.

What does ube ice cream taste like?

Ube ice cream has a distinctive flavor, thanks to the ube itself. However, the ube flavor is subtle and not overpowering. Many describe it as similar to vanilla ice cream, with a hint of nutty sweetness.

Serving Suggestions: Elevating Your Ube Ice Cream Experience

Serve this luscious dessert after a satisfying meal. It pairs beautifully with Filipino dishes such as Instant Pot Chicken Adobo, Pancit Bihon, Beef Mechado, or Filipino Pork BBQ Skewers.

Here are some delightful ways to enjoy your ube ice cream:

• Top it with a generous dollop of whipped cream for added richness.
• Sprinkle coconut shavings, colorful sprinkles, or decadent white chocolate chips on top for a touch of texture and visual appeal.
• Create irresistible ice cream sandwiches by placing a scoop of ube ice cream between two Ube White Chocolate Chip Cookies. If you’re a true ube aficionado, this is the ultimate dessert experience!

Kitchen Essentials: Tools and Equipment for Ube Ice Cream Success

Ready to embark on your ube ice cream-making journey? Here’s a list of the kitchen tools and equipment you’ll need:

• Ninja Creami: The Ninja Creami simplifies the ice cream-making process. It also makes gelato, milkshakes, and smoothie bowls with the touch of a button.
• Ninja Creami Pints: Most Ninja Creami machines come with a couple of pint containers. You can also purchase Ninja Creami pint containers separately online.
• OR: Ice Cream Machine: If you don’t have a Ninja Creami, you can use a standard ice cream machine. Refer to the FAQ section for instructions.
• Mixer: A stand mixer with a whisk attachment or a large bowl with an electric hand mixer is essential for making the whipped cream.

More Filipino Dessert Recipes to Explore

If you’re a fan of Filipino cuisine, be sure to explore other family recipes. Or try one of these Filipino desserts:

• Ube Donuts
• Filipino Biko
• Easy Filipino Turon Recipe (Banana Lumpia)
• Ube White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Other Delicious Ice Cream Recipes to Try

Want to explore more ice cream flavors? Try one of these recipes:

• Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
• Easy Raspberry Sherbet
• Cherry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
• Dairy-Free Mixed Berry Ice Cream

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

Ube Ice Cream Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• ½ cup ube halaya (ube jam)
• 1 can (14-ounce) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 teaspoons ube powder

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form and it thickens up to whipped cream.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together the condensed milk, ube jam, ube powder, and vanilla until combined.
3. Gently fold the whipped cream into the ube mixture until evenly combined and the color is evenly distributed.
4. Pour the mixture into the Ninja Creami pint cups, taking care not to go past the Max Fill line, and cover.
5. Freeze overnight or 24 hours.
6. Remove pint from the freezer and secure in the Ninja Creami according to package directions. Select Ice Cream mode and let it process until it stops, usually just about 2 minutes or so.
7. One the Ninja Creami has stopped, remove the outer bowl from the machine, remove the pint container from the bowl, and serve. Or, cover and freeze the ube ice cream for later.

Notes

• Makes 2 pints (1 pint = 2 cups, which equals 4 servings)
• Ube jam: you can make your own, or buy ube jam at an Asian supermarket or online.
• Ube powder: you can buy ube powder online if you can’t find it at your local Asian supermarket. Powder creates a lighter purple color. If you want a dark, brighter, bolder purple color, substitute ube extract for the powder.