Oh, if you haven’t jumped on the ube train yet, you are seriously missing out! That vibrant purple yam makes every dessert feel like a special occasion, and guess what? We’re taking that gorgeous color and amazing flavor right into breakfast with my **Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe**. I love ube because it brings this subtle, almost vanilla-pistachio flavor that just sings.
Now, the eternal waffle struggle is real, right? So many recipes promise crispiness but deliver sad, floppy discs, or they come out beautifully crisp but taste like cardboard inside. Not this one! Trust me, I spent way too many mornings perfecting this balance. My goal was simple: a shatteringly crisp exterior that gives way to the most tender, fluffy, subtly sweet purple yam interior. This recipe nails the texture contrast we all dream about.
Why This Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe Stands Out
You’re going to love how these come together! It’s not just about the incredible, natural violet hue—although, let’s be honest, that color is stunning for breakfast. This recipe focuses on delivering that true textural magic. I even link to my buttermilk pancake recipe because texture is everything!
- The incredible visual pop from the ube that makes every plate look gourmet.
- That glorious contrast: a golden, loud crunch on the outside giving way to sweet, soft goodness inside.
- A flavor profile that is subtly earthy and perfectly balanced, never too heavy.
Achieving Perfect Crispy Exterior
Crispiness isn’t accidental here; it’s engineered! Make sure your waffle iron is piping hot before the batter even thinks about hitting the plates. Seriously, don’t rush the preheat. Also, if you let the batter sit for just ten minutes before cooking—I know, I know, patience is hard—the flour hydrates properly, and you get that amazing, crackly finish.
The Secret to Tender Ube Waffles Interior
This is where the magic of separating the eggs comes into play. We treat the yolks like the wet ingredients, mixing them with the milk and butter for richness, but the egg whites? We whip those until they form stiff peaks. Folding those airy whites in at the very end traps tons of air. That trapped air is what keeps the inside miraculously tender, even with the richness of the butter and ube jam.
Gathering Ingredients for Your Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe
Okay, let’s talk about what you need to make this vibrant purple dream happen. Don’t stress; the ingredient list is pretty straightforward unless you don’t have ube halaya on hand, which is the star, obviously! Write this list down exactly as I write it here so you don’t miss a beat.
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, separated
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
I know you might be tempted to substitute, but those specific measurements are what gives you that perfect rise and tender crumb. If you run into trouble finding the halaya, you can check out some ideas on making your own buttermilk substitutions if you need to tweak the liquid balance, but stay focused on that ube!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
The quality of your ube halaya really matters here. Since ube jam sweetness varies wildly based on the brand, you might need to taste yours first. If it’s super sweet, maybe drop the granulated sugar in the dry mix down to just one tablespoon. If you’re in a pinch and only have ube extract, you can use that—but only about 1 teaspoon—and you’ll need to add an extra tablespoon of sugar to the batter to compensate for the lost sweetness from the jam. It won’t have the same density, but it’ll still be glorious purple!
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe
Alright, let’s get cooking! While the recipe itself is fast—only 30 minutes total—the key to getting that perfect crispy-tender result is really paying attention during the mixing and cooking stages. Don’t worry if you’ve never folded eggs before; it’s easier than it sounds, and it’s the secret sauce for the texture! If you want more general advice on improving your process, you should check out some of my general baking tips to make you a better baker.
Mixing the Dry and Wet Components
First things first, grab your biggest bowl for the dry stuff: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Give that a little whisk just to make sure everything settles in evenly. In a separate bowl, whisk up your yolks—remember, we separated the eggs!—with the milk, melted butter, that gorgeous ube halaya, and the vanilla extract. Whisk them until they look smooth and purple. Now comes the crucial part: Pour that wet mix right into the dry guys. Mix it all up with a spatula or wooden spoon until they are *just* combined. I mean it—stop mixing the second you don’t see streaks of dry flour left. Overmixing develops gluten, and gluten makes waffles dense, which is the enemy of tenderness!
Incorporating the Egg Whites for Lightness
While you were mixing the batter, you should have beaten those egg whites in a separate, very clean bowl until they formed stiff peaks. They need to stand up proudly on their own! Next, take about a third of those fluffy whites and gently fold them into the main ube batter. This lightens the batter up a bit. When that small portion is mixed in, add the rest of the whites and use a big, sweeping motion to fold them in. Keep folding until you don’t see any big white streaks of meringue. Remember, you’re trying to keep all that air we just whipped in there! This step is vital for keeping your waffles light inside. If you want that extra crispiness I mentioned, now is the time to let the finished batter rest on the counter for about 10 minutes.
Waffling to Achieve Maximum Crispness
Now, let’s get that iron screaming hot! Preheat your waffle maker well according to its instructions—seriously, a cold iron steams the batter instead of crisping it. Even if it says you don’t need to grease it, I always give mine a quick brush with a little melted butter or cooking spray for insurance, especially when using a recipe rich with that ube jam. Pour in just enough batter to cover about 3/4 of the bottom plate—don’t overfill! Close the lid and step back. Depending on your machine, they usually take between 4 to 6 minutes to turn that perfect golden brown and release easily. Once they smell done and look deeply colored, take them out immediately and repeat with the next batch. Don’t let them sit around waiting; serve them hot so you can hear that satisfying crunch!

Tips for the Most Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles
Getting these waffles perfect isn’t just about the ingredients; it’s about listening to what the batter is telling you! I’ve learned a few little tricks over my many attempts to get that amazing contrast every single time. Follow these and you will skip right past the soggy stage permanently.
First, the biggest pro tip I can give you—and this is essential for that famous crispiness—is to let the completed batter rest for about 10 minutes before you start cooking. Seriously, put a tea towel over the bowl and walk away. This allows the flour to fully absorb the liquids, which guarantees a crisper exterior when it hits that hot iron. It’s a game-changer!
Also, don’t be afraid of a hot waffle iron. A slightly higher cooking temperature ensures the outside sets fast and hard, locking in that crunch. Remember, the egg white folding is what gives you the tenderness inside, so be gentle when you combine them. It’s a balance, the gentle touch on the inside, and the high heat on the outside!
Equipment Needed for Your Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe
You don’t need a million fancy gizmos to make these ube waffles, but a few key players will make the job much smoother. Think of these as your essential toolkit for achieving that perfect crispy outside and tender inside. No need for specialized gear, just good old reliable kitchen standards!
Here’s what I always have ready right before I even think about cracking those eggs:
- A Good Waffle Iron: This is the most important thing, obviously! Whether yours is Belgian-style or the classic grid, make sure it heats up evenly. A non-stick surface is a lifesaver with sticky batters like this one.
- Two Big Mixing Bowls: You need one large one for combining your dry ingredients and all the wet stuff (minus the whites), and a separate, clean, grease-free bowl for whipping those egg whites until they look like little snow peaks.
- A Whisk: Essential for combining the yolks, milk, and jam into a smooth liquid, AND crucial for getting those whites whipped up properly.
- A Sturdy Spatula: You’ll use this specifically for the folding part—gently incorporating those airy egg whites into the heavy ube batter. Use a flexible rubber spatula; it helps scoop under the batter without deflating everything!
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: I know this sounds obvious, but get these out first! Getting the flour and sugar ratios right is how we control that final texture, so measure carefully.
Having everything laid out—we call this *mise en place*—stops me from making silly mistakes, especially when I’m excited and want to rush the folding process. Trust me, having the right tools at hand means less stress and way better waffles!
Serving Suggestions for Irresistible Ube Waffles
Now that you’ve conquered the crispy-tender challenge, it’s time to dress up your beautiful purple creations! Ube has a unique, slightly nutty and vanilla-like flavor, so it pairs wonderfully with creamy textures and bright, tropical fruit. Serving them immediately is key to enjoying that fresh-from-the-iron crunch, so make your toppings ready to go!
My absolute favorite way to enjoy these—and the one that screams summer to me—is with something cooling and sweet. If I’m feeling extra indulgent, I warm up a batch of my coconut chocolate chip cookies and crumble the tops over the waffles, but for a fresh approach, try these combinations:
- Coconut Cream Drizzle: Forget regular whipped cream! Whisk chilled heavy cream with a tablespoon of coconut cream or coconut milk until it holds soft peaks. The tropical note elevates the ube flavor so much.
- Fresh Tropical Fruit: Sliced fresh mangoes or even tart passion fruit pulp cut through the richness beautifully. If you can find toasted coconut flakes, sprinkle those on top for an extra layer of texture!
- Nutty Crunch: A light drizzle of honey over the top, finished with a scattering of toasted cashews or macadamia nuts. This emphasizes the subtle, earthy depth of the purple yam.
- Maple Syrup with a Twist: If you absolutely must have syrup, try mixing a tiny splash of vanilla or even a drop of almond extract into your warm maple syrup. It enhances the underlying sweet notes of the halaya.
Honestly, these waffles are so flavorful on their own, sometimes a simple dusting of powdered sugar is all they need. But if you’re serving guests, go big with the toppings; that purple color deserves a fancy presentation!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles
Even though they are best eaten piping hot right off the iron, sometimes you get lucky and have leftovers from making a giant batch! Don’t even think about throwing these beauties away. They are too colorful and delicious to waste. I’ve learned the hard way that you have to treat these differently than standard pancakes if you want to recapture that fantastic crispness the next day.
The absolute number one rule for storing these waffles is to let them cool COMPLETELY before you even think about putting them in a container. If you seal them even slightly warm, the steam gets trapped, and you end up losing all that hard-earned crispiness instantly. I spread them out on a wire cooling rack for about 20 minutes until they are totally room temperature.
Storing Your Ube Waffles Properly
Once they are cool, you need an airtight container, no question. If you layer them, make absolutely sure you put a piece of parchment paper or waxed paper between each waffle. This stops them from sticking together, which is important because peeling sticky purple waffles apart is definitely not fun! Store them on the counter for up to two days, or you can pop them in the freezer if you want them to last longer. They freeze surprisingly well!
Reheating to Restore That Perfect Crunch
This is the most important part of saving leftovers: the reheating method. Please, I beg you, do not put these in the microwave. I repeat: NO MICROWAVE. Microwaving brings back the moisture, turning your crispy waffle into a soft, chewy mass almost instantly. We want to reverse the cooking process slightly to dry the outside back out.
You have two excellent options, depending on how much time you have:
- The Toaster Method (Fastest): If your waffle iron made them standard size, pop them straight into your toaster! For most toasters, setting it to a medium-low setting works perfectly—you just want it hot enough to crisp the exterior without burning that delicate ube color. This usually takes two rounds on a moderate setting.
- The Oven Method (Best for Multiple Waffles): If you have a half-dozen leftovers, laying them in a single layer on a baking sheet and popping them into a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5 to 8 minutes works wonders. This brings them back to that fresh-baked texture beautifully. Make sure you check them around the 5-minute mark!
Do not skip the cooling step before storing, and whatever you do, stick to the toaster or the oven for reheating. That sound of the waffle coming back to life and getting crunchy again is seriously satisfying!

Frequently Asked Questions About Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe
I know when you see a recipe like this, your brain starts buzzing with all the little “what ifs!” Don’t worry, that’s totally normal! I always anticipate these questions because I ran into most of these issues when I first started making my **Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe**. Here are the things folks ask me most often about getting the best texture and the prettiest purple color.
Can I use fresh ube instead of ube halaya?
That’s a great question if you can’t find the jam! Yes, you absolutely can use fresh *ube*, but it takes a bit more work. You need to peel, boil, and mash the fresh ube until it’s completely soft. You’re aiming for a smooth puree. The tricky part is moisture content—fresh roots vary so much! You might need to cook your fresh puree down a bit more than the jam to get rid of excess water, otherwise your batter will be too thin. And because it’s fresh, it won’t be as sweet as the pre-made jam, so you might need to increase that granulated sugar slightly. If you want to see how I handle other vegetable purees in baking, check out some tips I share when trying out my other blended vegetable recipes!
How do I make sure my ube waffles stay crispy?
Crispiness is my obsession with this recipe, so listen close! There are two non-negotiables for a truly crunchy waffle. First, the batter rest! Letting the batter sit on the counter for 10 minutes before it even sees the waffle iron allows the flour to hydrate fully, which is essential for that firm, crisp exterior. Second, temperature! You need a screaming hot waffle iron. If it’s just warm, the waffle steams and cooks slowly, resulting in a soft center that never crisps up. Make sure the indicator light says it’s ready, *and then* wait another minute before pouring the batter in. That high heat immediately sets the outside structure.
What is the best way to get that vibrant purple color?
It’s all down to the star ingredient: the ube halaya, or purple yam jam! High-quality jam is naturally intensely purple, and when you mix that fat-soluble color into your batter, it blooms beautifully when heated. You don’t need any artificial food coloring at all if you use a good halaya. If your color looks a little pale, it usually means your jam wasn’t as concentrated as it could be. Using the extract instead of the jam—as mentioned in the notes—will give you a great flavor, but the jam gives you that unbelievable, unmistakable natural purple hue that makes these **purple yam** waffles so famous!
Estimated Nutritional Data for This Irresistible Crispy And Tender Ube Waffles Recipe
I always like to give you a rough idea of the nutritional side of things, just so you know what you’re working with when you sit down for this delicious breakfast. Keep in mind that these numbers are just estimates based on the ingredients I listed. How much butter you use to grease the iron, or how much syrup you decide to drown them in later, will definitely change these figures!
We’re aiming for four perfect waffles from this batch, so these numbers reflect just one of those glorious, crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside servings.
Per serving (1 waffle), here’s the breakdown:
- Calories: Around 350—not bad for such a satisfying breakfast!
- Total Fat: Approximately 18 grams. Remember, a good chunk of that comes from the delicious melted butter we cream in there for flavor and texture.
- Carbohydrates: Sitting around 40 grams.
- Protein: About 9 grams, thanks largely to those two big eggs we separated!
- Sugar: About 15 grams, mostly coming naturally from that ube halaya and the added granulated sugar.
- Sodium: Roughly 300mg.
This is important: This is purely based on what’s in the batter. If you add a mountain of whipped cream or go heavy on the syrup, you’ll obviously need to adjust your total! Enjoy them; they’re a treat made with real ingredients, and a little indulgence now and then is good for the soul!
Print
Crispy and Tender Ube Waffles
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 waffles 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A recipe for making waffles with ube, resulting in a crispy exterior and a tender interior.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, separated
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks, milk, melted butter, ube halaya, and vanilla extract until mixed.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter until no white streaks remain.
- Preheat your waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s directions. Lightly grease if necessary.
- Pour the batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook until golden brown and crisp, usually 4 to 6 minutes.
- Remove the waffle and repeat with the remaining batter.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Ube halaya sweetness can vary; adjust sugar in the batter if your jam is very sweet.
- For extra crispiness, let the batter rest for 10 minutes before cooking.
- You can use ube extract instead of halaya, reducing the amount to 1 teaspoon and adding 1 tablespoon of sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Waffling
- Cuisine: Filipino Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 waffle
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 90
Keywords: ube waffles, purple yam, crispy waffles, tender waffles, breakfast, dessert

