Get ready for a fun and colorful dessert made with purple yams, also known as Ube! This Ube Ice Cream Recipe is easy to make and has a unique flavor everyone will love.
If you have ever seen a vibrant purple dessert or bread, it was most likely made with ube. This Ube Ice Cream Recipe is following that trend and couldn't be more fun to make. The purple color is so pretty and the flavor is unique as well.
This ice cream has a nutty and vanilla-like flavor that pairs really well with coconut. My first experience with ube was with coconut so I decided to add some toasted coconut to the top of mine. There are a lot of recipes out there, this one was adapted from the recipe on The Spruce Eats.
What is Ube?
Ube is a purple yam originally from the Philippines. It's a bright purple sweet potato that's even sweeter than a regular sweet potato and has a nutty and subtle vanilla flavor. It's a common ingredient in the Philippians often used in desserts and bread and has recently become more popular thanks to Instagram.
Is Ube the Same as Taro?
Ube is not the same thing as taro, although that confusion seems to happen a lot. Taro is a white root vegetable. The misunderstanding might come from the fact that taro can turn slightly purple when cooked.
Ingredients Needed to Make Purple Yam Ice Cream
Ube is a unique ingredient but I was able to find the ube powder and ube extract online and at my local Asian grocery store. The rest of the ingredients are pretty basic. Make sure you use whole milk to ensure you get a creamy consistency to go along with the heavy cream. You will also need sugar and water to reconstitute the ube powder.
Some people add purple food coloring to their ube ice cream. I did not find that necessary at all based on the coloring from the extract I found. Of course, if you feel like you need it, you can always add it before churning.
How To Make Ube Ice Cream
Make sure your ice cream maker bowl is fully frozen before you start making your ice cream mix. This can take anywhere from 6-24 hours.
The ube powder has to be reconstituted first. Add the ube powder and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool. To speed up cooling time, remove the mixture from the hot pan and place it in the refrigerator while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
Add the milk and sugar to a large mixing bowl and whisk together until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the heavy cream and ube extract. Mix in the cooled rehydrated ube and stir until completely combined.
Add the ice cream mixture to your ice cream maker and churn for 25 minutes (or according to your manufactures instructions).
Place the ice cream in a freezer-safe covered container and allow it to firm up for a few hours or overnight. Store any leftover ice cream covered in the freezer. Enjoy!
Ice Cream Makers and Attachments I Use
The two ice cream makers I am familiar with are the Kitchen Aid Ice Cream Attachment and the Cuisinart 1.5 QT. Ice Cream Maker. Both are super easy to use and have a separate bowl that you freeze before using.
Ube Ice Cream
Equipment
- ice maker or attachment
- freezer-safe covered container
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ube powder
- 1 cup water
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1½ tablespoons ube extract
- toasted coconut (optional topping)
Instructions
- Start by adding the ube powder and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool. To speed up cooling time, remove from the hot pan and place in the refrigerator while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
- Add the milk and sugar to a large mixing bowl and whisk together until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the heavy cream and ube extract.
- Mix in the cooled rehydrated ube and stir until completely combined.
- Add the ice cream mixture to your ice cream maker and churn for 25 minutes (or according to your manufactures instructions).
- Place the ice cream in a freezer-safe covered container and allow it to firm up for a few hours or overnight. Store any leftover ice cream covered in the freezer. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure your ice cream maker bowl is fully frozen before you start making your ice cream mix. This can take anywhere from 6-24 hours.
- The ube powder has to be rehydrated and cooled before adding to the ice cream mixture.
- This recipe makes about 1 quart of ice cream.
- Ube extract is very concentrated and the color could stain your hands and clothes so be careful when handling it (and maybe don't wear white 🙂).
- Always read the instruction manual that came with your Ice Cream Maker/Attachment and follow all safety guidelines.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Did you Make This Recipe?
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Tatiana says
Its so much fun to cook with ube extract. I usually cook with kids and they are excited each time. Yummy ice cream!
Emily says
I agree! My son loved this ice cream too. Enjoy!
Amy Bloodworth says
Such a beautiful color! Can't wait to try it.