March 5, 2026 · Recipe
Ube Ice Cream Recipe: Creamy Purple Yam Ice Cream at Home
The most stunning, naturally purple ice cream you'll ever make - and it tastes even better than it looks.
Filipino ube ice cream is legendary for a reason: its deep purple color, creamy texture, and irresistible vanilla-hazelnut flavor make it unlike any ice cream you've tried. With pure ube powder, you can recreate this iconic dessert at home.
Whether you have an ice cream maker or not, this guide covers both methods, plus variations, storage tips, and the secrets to getting that perfect vibrant purple color.
Quick answer
Key Takeaways
- No ice cream maker needed - the no-churn method is foolproof
- 100% natural purple color from real ube powder
- Vanilla-hazelnut-white chocolate flavor, naturally
- 20 minutes active prep, 6-8 hours freezing
- Vegan version available with coconut cream
- Keeps up to 2 weeks in the freezer
Why Ube Ice Cream Is Special
Ube ice cream holds a special place in Filipino cuisine. Unlike artificial 'purple' ice creams that rely on food coloring, real ube ice cream gets its color from anthocyanins - powerful antioxidants.
The texture is different too. Ube adds a natural creaminess and density that makes the ice cream feel more luxurious than standard vanilla.
🍨 Ube Ice Cream - 8 Servings
- • 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream - cold, for whipping
- • 1 can (14 oz / 400 ml) sweetened condensed milk
- • 3 tablespoons ube powder - 100% pure, no fillers
- • 2 tablespoons warm water - to dissolve the powder
- • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- • Pinch of salt
Optional: 2 tbsp coconut cream for extra richness, white chocolate chips for folding in
Method 1: No-Churn Ube Ice Cream (No Machine Needed)
This is the simplest method and produces incredible results.
- Make the ube paste: Combine 3 tablespoons of ube powder with 2 tablespoons of warm water. Stir until completely smooth.
- Prepare the base: Whisk the condensed milk, ube paste, vanilla extract, and salt until evenly combined.
- Whip the cream: In a separate chilled bowl, whip the cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form (about 3-4 minutes).
- Fold together: Add one-third of the whipped cream to the ube base and stir. Then gently fold in the remaining whipped cream.
- Freeze: Pour into a freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze for 6-8 hours or overnight.
- Serve: Remove from freezer 5-10 minutes before serving. Scoop with a warm ice cream scoop.
💡 Pro Tip: For even more vibrant color, add an extra tablespoon of ube powder. For swirled effect, don't fully fold the ube base into the cream.
Flavor Variations & Mix-Ins
Once you've mastered the base recipe, try these variations:
🍫
Ube White Chocolate Chip
Fold in ½ cup white chocolate chips before freezing.
🥥
Ube Coconut Swirl
Layer coconut cream and ube base alternately for a marbled effect.
🌰
Ube Hazelnut Crunch
Fold in ½ cup crushed toasted hazelnuts.
🍪
Ube Cookie Dough
Add small chunks of edible cookie dough.
Ube Ice Cream: Nutrition Highlights
While it's still a dessert, ube ice cream brings genuine nutritional benefits:
| Nutrient | Per Serving (approx.) | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Anthocyanins | High | Powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory |
| Calories | ~280 kcal | Moderate for ice cream |
| Fiber | ~1.5g | Supports digestion |
| Vitamin C | Present | Immunity support |
| Natural color | 100% | No artificial dyes |
Less than a coffee. Better than a matcha.
With the 5-pack subscription, you get 165 ube lattes at home. Cheaper than a café - and delivered to your door.
