Ube Crinkle Cookies: Soft, Chewy, and Perfectly Purple Filipino Treat

Introduction: The Origins and Popularity of Ube Crinkle Cookies 💜🍪

From Filipino Tradition to Global Treat

The vibrant purple color of ube crinkle cookies is more than just eye-catching—it carries deep cultural roots. Ube, or purple yam, has been a beloved staple in Filipino cuisine for generations. Traditionally used in desserts like ube halaya (a sweet jam made from boiled and mashed ube, milk, and sugar), it symbolizes homegrown comfort and festive flavor.

Over time, ube’s rich, nutty-vanilla profile has captivated taste buds far beyond the Philippines. Its natural sweetness and vivid hue have made it a global dessert trend—especially on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where its visual appeal turns heads and inspires bakers worldwide.

A Cookie Born from Innovation and Nostalgia

The evolution of ube halaya cookies into ube crinkle cookies bridges tradition with innovation. Inspired by classic chocolate crinkle cookies, these purple gems are rolled in powdered sugar before baking, revealing a crackled surface and chewy interior that mirrors the soft comfort of their predecessors—yet offers something distinctly Filipino.

Today, these cookies are enjoyed far and wide in countries like:

1. 🇵🇭 Philippines

2. 🇺🇸 United States

3. 🇨🇦 Canada

4. 🇯🇵 Japan

5. 🇦🇺 Australia

6. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7. 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

8. 🇲🇾 Malaysia

9. 🇸🇬 Singapore

10. 🇩🇪 Germany

Whether you’re a first-time baker or a seasoned dessert explorer, this ube crinkle cookie recipe promises a uniquely soft, chewy, and sweetly spiced experience.

🔗 Learn more about the history of ube in Filipino cuisine.

🥄 Want more colorful, fusion-forward desserts? Try our Cannoli-Inspired Overnight Oats for another twist on traditional favorites.

What You’ll Need 🍠🧁

Essential Baking Equipment 🔧

To make perfect Filipino crinkle cookies, you don’t need a professional kitchen—just a few trusted tools:

• Mixing bowls – At least two: one for wet and one for dry ingredients.

• Measuring cups and spoons – Accurate measurements ensure consistency.

• Baking sheet – Use a heavy-duty one for even baking.

• Parchment paper or silicone baking mat – Prevents sticking and promotes even browning.

• Whisk or electric mixer – For beating eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.

• Cookie scoop (optional) – Helps you portion the dough evenly for uniform, bakery-style cookies.

🧑‍🍳 Pro Tip: If you want perfectly round, chewy ube cookies, a medium-size cookie scoop is a worthwhile investment.

Key Ingredients Breakdown 🌾🥚

The heart of this ube crinkle cookie recipe lies in the balance between flavor and texture. Here’s what makes it work:

• Ube halaya or ube extract –

  • Ube halaya: Pre-sweetened and adds moisture and authentic texture.

  • Ube extract: More concentrated in flavor and color—perfect when you want visual impact without added moisture.

• All-purpose flour – Base of the dough; you can also use 1:1 gluten-free flour for a gluten-free ube cookie version.

• Baking powder – Gives the cookies a light lift and soft interior.

• Salt – Just a pinch balances the sweetness.

• Eggs – Bind the dough and help it rise.

• Granulated sugar – Provides sweetness and helps create a crinkled top.

• Powdered sugar – For rolling the cookie dough and forming those classic, craggy crinkles.

🥥 Flavor Note: Want a more tropical vibe? Add shredded coconut or a drop of pandan extract to enhance the Filipino flavor base.

Pro Tips Before You Bake 💡

• Substitute fresh ube by boiling and mashing, then adding sugar and condensed milk to create a halaya-like base.

• Chill the dough for 2+ hours to ensure clean crinkles and prevent spreading.

• Avoid overmixing once dry ingredients are added—this keeps the texture soft and chewy.

🍪 Want more ube-based treats? Check out our High-Fiber Apple Cranberry Baked Oats for a fiber-packed, colorful breakfast that blends flavor and nutrition.

Ingredients List 📝💜

This ube crinkle cookie recipe keeps things simple while delivering bold color and flavor. Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up a batch of these chewy, powdered sugar-dusted delights:

Main Ingredients 🧁

• 1 cup ube halaya or 1 tablespoon ube extract
  (If using extract only, increase sugar slightly and add ¼ cup neutral oil for moisture.)

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  (Substitute with gluten-free 1:1 flour for gluten-free ube cookies.)

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs

• ¾ cup granulated sugar

• ½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)

🍠 Ingredient Insight: Ube halaya adds both color and creaminess, making your cookies extra tender. Ube extract, on the other hand, intensifies that iconic purple hue and flavor.

💬 Want to take these cookies over the top? Try sandwiching them with ube buttercream or toasted coconut frosting for a next-level ube dessert.

Instructions: Step-by-Step Ube Crinkle Cookie Recipe 👩‍🍳🍪

These chewy ube crinkle cookies are simple to make but deliver big flavor and Instagram-worthy visuals. Follow this easy method to achieve those signature cracks and soft centers.

1. Prepare the Dough 🥄

• In a large bowl, beat 2 eggs and ¾ cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy—about 2–3 minutes with an electric mixer.

• Mix in 1 cup ube halaya or 1 tbsp ube extract. If using extract, add ¼ cup neutral oil to maintain softness.

• In a separate bowl, sift together 1½ cups flour, ½ tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt.

• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain a tender texture.

💡 Tip: The dough should be sticky and soft—this helps create those chewy ube cookie cracks.

2. Chill and Roll ❄️

• Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight). This step is crucial to prevent spreading and to create that classic crinkle look.

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

• Scoop chilled dough into 1-inch balls using a cookie scoop or spoon.

• Roll each ball in ½ cup powdered sugar until fully coated.

🧊 Why chill? Cold dough holds its shape better and forms defined cracks as it bakes.

3. Bake and Cool 🔥

• Place sugar-coated cookie dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.

• Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the cookies are puffed and crinkles appear. Centers should still be slightly soft.

• Let cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

🍪 Texture Tip: Slight underbaking keeps the cookies moist and chewy in the center—just like a perfect crinkle should be.

🔗 Want more chewy treats? Try our Snickerdoodle Blondies—warm, cinnamon-packed, and just as cravable.

Nutrition Information and Health Insights 🧠🥣

Estimated Nutrition Per Cookie (Based on a 24-cookie batch)

These ube crinkle cookies are a sweet indulgence, but they can fit into a balanced lifestyle—especially with smart ingredient swaps.

• Calories: 100

• Total Fat: 2g

• Saturated Fat: 1g

• Carbohydrates: 18g

• Sugars: 10g

• Protein: 1g

• Fiber: <1g

🍠 Health Note: Using ube halaya slightly increases sugar content due to its pre-sweetened nature. Opt for pure mashed ube with extract if you want more control over sweetness.

Gluten-Free and Vegan Options 🌾🌱

Want to make your ube dessert recipe more inclusive? Here’s how:

Gluten-Free Ube Cookies

• Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.

• Ensure your baking powder is labeled gluten-free.

Vegan Ube Crinkle Cookies

• Use 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp water) in place of regular eggs.

• Swap in coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free fat source.

• Choose ube extract instead of halaya to avoid dairy or egg-based additions.

🥥 Pro Tip: Coconut sugar works as a substitute for granulated sugar if you want a lower-glycemic option.

🧁 Looking for more vibrant and nourishing sweets? Try our Zesty Roasted Beet and Orange Salad for a refreshing, antioxidant-rich balance to your cookie tray.

Serving and Storage Tips 🍽️❄️

How to Serve Ube Crinkle Cookies ✨

These soft ube cookies aren’t just delicious—they’re also incredibly photogenic. Whether for casual snacking or elegant dessert platters, here’s how to serve them right:

• Pair with a cup of coffee, milk tea, or hot chocolate for the ultimate afternoon treat.

• Stack them on a purple-themed dessert tray for baby showers, birthdays, or holidays.

• Serve with a scoop of ube ice cream or drizzle with coconut glaze for a gourmet twist.

• Make mini ube cookie bites for party-ready finger food—or jumbo soft-baked cookies for a bakery-style indulgence.

🎉 Presentation Tip: Dust with extra powdered sugar just before serving to refresh the visual crinkle and add a fresh sweetness.

Storage Guidelines 🧊

Keep your ube sweets recipe fresh and chewy with these storage tips:

• Room Temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temp for up to 4 days.

• Refrigeration: Not required, but you can extend shelf life up to a week—just bring to room temp before serving.

• Freezing Dough: Freeze pre-rolled dough balls (without sugar coating) for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw slightly and coat in powdered sugar.

• Freezing Baked Cookies: Flash-freeze baked cookies in a single layer, then store in a freezer bag. Reheat at 275°F (135°C) for 5 minutes to refresh.

💡 Softness Hack: Place a slice of white bread in the storage container—the cookies absorb moisture and stay soft longer.

🔗 For more smart storage tricks, read our favorite guide: How to Store Homemade Cookies Correctly

Variations of Ube Crinkle Cookies 🎨🍪

Flavor Twists 🌴🍫

Ready to upgrade your ube cookie recipe? These add-ins take your cookies from classic to completely crave-worthy:

• Shredded Coconut – Stir in ½ cup for a chewy texture and a tropical vibe.

• White Chocolate Chips – Add ¾ cup for a creamy sweetness that complements the earthy ube flavor.

• Purple Yam Buttercream Filling – Sandwich two cookies with ube frosting for an indulgent treat.

💡 Combo Idea: Try white chocolate + coconut for the ultimate ube truffle cookie effect.

Shape and Size Alternatives 🍥

Customize the look and texture of your chewy ube cookies with these simple shape hacks:

• Mini Ube Cookie Bites – Use a small scoop and reduce bake time to 7–8 minutes for bite-sized, party-ready treats.

• Jumbo Soft-Baked Style – Use a large scoop and bake an extra 2–3 minutes for thick, bakery-style cookies with a gooey center.

🍪 Pro Tip: Adjust powdered sugar coating for smaller or larger cookies to maintain that signature crinkle.

Cross-Cultural Fusions 🌏

Ube pairs beautifully with other global flavors—here are a few innovative mashups:

• Matcha + Ube Crinkle Cookies – Mix 1 tsp matcha powder into half the dough for a stunning green-and-purple swirl.

• Mochi-Filled Ube Cookies – Add a cube of frozen mochi or sweet red bean paste in the center before baking for a gooey surprise.

• Ube Cheesecake Crinkles – Stuff the cookie dough with a chilled ball of cream cheese-sugar filling before baking.

🎭 Fusion Fun: These cookies not only taste amazing—they create a visual wow factor perfect for social sharing.

📸 Want more bold, vibrant sweets? Check out our Sticky Toffee Chia Pudding—another unexpected fusion of flavor and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓💜

1. What does ube taste like in cookies?

Ube has a unique flavor that’s subtly nutty, slightly vanilla-like, and mildly earthy—often compared to a mix of sweet potato and pistachio. In cookies, it adds both flavor and vibrant purple color, especially when made with ube halaya or ube extract.

2. Can I use fresh ube instead of ube halaya or extract?

Yes! Simply boil, mash, and cool fresh ube, then mix it with a bit of condensed milk and butter to create a homemade ube halaya-style base. If using plain mashed ube, boost the flavor with a few drops of ube extract to achieve that iconic taste and color.

3. How do I keep ube crinkle cookies soft and chewy?

To maintain the perfect texture in your chewy ube cookies, try these tips:

• Slightly underbake—pull them out when the edges are set but centers are still soft.

• Add a spoonful of brown sugar to the batter for extra moisture.

• Store in an airtight container with a slice of bread to retain softness.

• Use ube halaya instead of extract for added richness.

4. Are ube crinkle cookies gluten-free or can they be made gluten-free?

They’re not naturally gluten-free, but they can easily be made so by:

• Substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

• Double-checking that your baking powder and other add-ins are certified gluten-free.

🥣 For another allergy-friendly recipe with fun flavors, try our Mini Crustless Quiches with Kale, Mushrooms & Feta—a savory, make-ahead option packed with nutrients.

Conclusion: Why You’ll Love This Ube Crinkle Cookie Recipe 🍠💜

Soft, chewy, and coated in sweet powdered sugar, these ube crinkle cookies are more than a treat—they’re a celebration of flavor, color, and culture. Whether you grew up with Filipino crinkle cookies or are discovering the magic of purple yam desserts for the first time, this recipe brings joy to every bite.

With easy-to-find ingredients and options for gluten-free and vegan variations, this is the kind of cookie you can make for everyone—at holidays, potlucks, or just because. Their bold purple hue makes them an instant favorite on social feeds and dessert tables alike.

🧁 Don’t forget to share your cookie creations with friends—or tag us online! Want more purple-hued delights? Be sure to try our Cannoli-Inspired Overnight Oats for a fun, fusion-filled twist on breakfast or dessert.