This is the easiest ube ice cream recipe you will make. No ice cream maker, no whipping nor churning needed. The best part? You only need 2 ingredients!
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Filipino Ube Ice Cream
When we say Filipino ice cream, there's only one flavor that comes to mind and that is ube ice cream! It is most popular as a halo-halo topping but definitely enjoyable on its own.
Purple yam flavored ice cream is not an easy flavor to find. Making it from scratch takes quite a lot of effort too–operating an ice cream maker, whipping the ingredients, chilling them on the fridge will take hours not to mention the ingredients and equipment needed. But this ube ice cream recipe is made much easier by removing all these processes.
This is a hack, ladies, and gentlemen 🙂
What you need
No making fancy bases and formulas here, not even eggs or egg yolks. All you need are simple ingredients you can find in the grocery store.
Vanilla or Coconut Ice cream
You can use either of these two flavored ice creams to make the base. Use the best quality you can find. The creamier the better. No additional heavy cream is needed.
Ube Flavor
There are two ways to make a purple yam flavored ice cream:
- Ube extract - the easiest and most convenient way of adding ube flavor to the base ice cream. I recommend using the gel or paste kind for a concentrated flavor.
- Ube halaya - use store-bought or homemade ube halaya. On top of adding flavor and this adds a bit of starchy texture to the ice cream.
How to Make Ube Ice Cream
No complicated steps here. It's just a matter of mixing the store-bought ice cream and the flavor until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
Here are two ways to do it:
- Mix by hand - use a large mixing bowl and a whisk. You will need to let the ice cream soften at room temperature to make the process easier.
- Use stand or hand mixer - if you have any of these kitchen tools at home use them with gusto.
Freeze
After combining the ingredients, transfer them back to the ice cream tub and place them in the freezer for a minimum of 6 hours to 24 hours.
Variation: Ube Macapuno or Coconut
Once the ice cream is blended with the ube flavor, you can add a half jar of macapuno or shredded young coconut for added texture. You can find these in most Filipino grocery stores or Asian specialty stores.
Toppings you can add
To add a bit more fun, you can sprinkle any of these on top of the ube ice cream just before serving.
- Ube Flavored wafer or biscuits - like Stik-O ube (you're welcome!)
- Grated White Chocolate
- Grated Cheddar Cheese
- Colored Sprinkles
- Ground Nuts
- Ube Halaya (purple yam jam)
- Chocolate syrup
More Ube Recipes
How to Serve Ube Ice Cream
Serve in a bowl, cup, or ice cream cone. Growing up in the Philippines, we enjoy any ice cream sandwiched in a wafer or bread. Try it! So good!
Where to buy Ube Extract
Ube extract is available in most Filipino groceries or supermarkets. You can also find it on online sites like Amazon.
Can I use ube powder or taro?
This recipe has not been tested yet with ube powder. Sorry.
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Complete Recipe
2 Ingredient Ube Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 quart vanilla ice cream or coconut ice cream
- 1 tablespoon ube extract
Add-in options (choose any)
- ½ cup macapuno
- ½ cup shredded young coconut
- ½ cup ube halaya
Instructions
- Place ice cream in a large bowl. Let it sit on the kitchen counter until it's soft enough to whisk. If using a stand mixer, scoop ice cream directly into its bowl.
- Add ube flavor. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Stir-in ube macapuno or shredded young coconut if using.
- Transfer to a container. Cover and freeze until solid, around 6 hours or overnight.
- Serve with your choice of toppings and enjoy!
Recipe Notes and Tips:
- Ube Extract - I recommend using the gel kind for a concentrated flavor.
- For added color - add 1 to 2 drops of purple or violet gel food color. TOTALLY OPTIONAL!
- Toppings you can add: ube flavored biscuits or wafer, grated white chocolate, grated cheddar cheese, sprinkles, ground nuts, ube halaya and chocolate syrup.
rogelio borromeo says
THANK YOU! You made my wife very HAPPY! She loved it after I surprised her for dessert. She asked me where did I find and buy UBE ice cream!
Mella says
That is so sweet! So happy to hear this recipe came in handy.
- Mella