Ube Loaf (Purple Yam Loaf)

This vibrant purple yam loaf brings a beloved Filipino flavour to your bread basket. Ube, traditionally a staple in Filipino cuisine, has recently captured mainstream attention and become a trendy ingredient across social media and popular culture. This recipe transforms the classic purple yam into a soft, fluffy loaf with a beautiful swirled pattern that's as visually stunning as it is delicious.

Fittingly, this month has been a series of ube (purple yam) recipes. My daughter has often been craving for "something with ube". After scrolling through her Instagram, she mentioned the different and unique types food dishes that incorporated ube (purple yam).

I started with ube mamon, ube crinkles, ube ice cream, ube cheesecake and now ube loaf. For this recipe, instead of using the fresh ube halaya that I've done, I wanted to try the purple yam powder. To start off, the purple yam powder has to be rehydrated. (See the link. )

I also added a teaspoon of ube extract, as the color from the ube powder is very light. You can add more of the ube extract or purple coloring to achieve a more uniformed colored dough. To achieve the swirl, follow steps 9-11.

This recipe requires moderate time and attention, as it involves yeast-based bread making with a multi-step process. You'll need to prepare the dough, allow it to rise, create the signature swirl by layering plain and ube-infused doughs, and then bake until golden brown. While it demands patience and some hands-on work—approximately 2-3 hours from start to finish—the process is straightforward enough for home bakers of varying skill levels. The result is well worth the effort: a show-stopping loaf that combines traditional Filipino flavours with modern baking techniques.

Yield: 10

Author: Malu Bonifacio

Print

With ImageWithout Image

UBE LOAF (PURPLE YAM LOAF

This recipe transforms the classic purple yam into a soft, fluffy loaf with a beautiful swirled pattern that's as visually stunning as it is delicious.

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 40 MinInactive time: 1 H & 30 MTotal time: 2 H & 30 M

Ingredients

UBE LOAF

• 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter
• ½ cup ube (ube powder rehydrated)
• 1 tbsp oil (divided)
• 1 egg + 1 tsp water or milk (egg wash)

Instructions

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water and 1 tsp of sugar.
2. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the all purpose flour, sugar and salt.
3. Food
4. Mix in the yeast mixture.
5. Add the milk and melted butter. Mix until incorporated.
6. Divide the dough into 2.
7. Place one dough in a container and rub with ½ tbsp oil. Cover and let it rise until double in size.
8. Return the other dough in the standing mixer. Combine the ube mixture.
9. Once combined, rub ½ tsp oil in the dough and cover to let it rise for an hour.
10. Take the plain dough and flatten to a 12 inch rectangle. Do the same thing for the ube dough.
11. Once flattened, put the ube dough on top of the plain dough. Cut the combined dough into two parts. Put them on top of each other.
12. Roll the the combined doughs together and place in a greased loaf pan.
13. Cover with plastic or towel for 30 minutes.
14. Brush with egg wash.
15. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.