Hello, foodies! My name is Sofia Alvarez, and today I’m sharing my recipe for the Ultimate Ube Bliss cinnamon rolls. Trust me when I say that these aren’t your average cinnamon rolls – they’re made with ube, a vibrant purple yam that’s all the rage in Filipino cuisine. The ube adds a unique sweetness and a pop of color that will impress even the most discerning pastry connoisseur. The cream cheese frosting is the perfect counterbalance to the ube’s sweetness, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave your taste buds singing. So get ready to experience your new favorite indulgence!
Sofia is a graphic designer and avid traveler from a family of Filipino immigrants. She’s always on the hunt for new food experiences and loves to experiment with fusion recipes. When she’s not designing or cooking, you can find her hiking or practicing yoga.
Sofia Alvarez currently resides in the United States and grew up in Philippines.
As a first-generation Filipino-American, ube has always been a part of my life. Growing up, my family would make ube halaya – a sweet yam pudding – for special occasions, and we always had ube ice cream in the freezer. Ube’s versatility and distinct identity make it a beloved ingredient in Filipino cuisine, and it’s exciting to see it gaining popularity in the culinary world. This recipe is my modern take on a classic Filipino ingredient, combining my heritage with my love of baking and creativity. I can’t wait for you to try it and experience the magic of ube for yourself.
Although ube has been a staple in Filipino cuisine for centuries, it’s only recently gained mainstream attention in the United States. In fact, I first discovered Trader Joe’s Ube Spread – a key ingredient in this recipe – during a routine groceries run. I was ecstatic to find a pre-made ube product that was easily accessible and could be used in a variety of recipes. It’s amazing how one ingredient can inspire so much experimentation and imagination in the kitchen. I hope this recipe inspires you to try new things and appreciate the incredible diversity of flavors that exist in the culinary world.
What you need
If you’re looking for a recipe that will impress your family and friends, look no further than these Ultimate Ube Bliss cinnamon rolls. Made with the vibrant purple yam (ube), which is both unique and delicious, these cinnamon rolls are sure to turn heads and tantalize taste buds. But don’t be intimidated by the ingredient list or the number of steps – making these rolls is easier than you think! You start by making the dough, which includes ingredients like warm milk, melted butter, and a touch of ube extract. After the dough has risen, you roll it out, add a cinnamon-brown sugar filling, and slice it into individual rolls. Let the rolls rise again, then bake until golden brown. But that’s not all – we can’t forget the cream cheese frosting. I’ve added Trader Joe’s Ube Spread to this frosting, which gives it an extra pop of ube flavor, but you can easily substitute with homemade ube puree or omit it altogether. Honestly, why bother with plain old cinnamon rolls when you can make these Ultimate Ube Bliss ones? Get ready to be the star baker at your next brunch or dinner party!
Ingredients:
- All-Purpose Flour – The base for the dough, use gluten-free flour to make it gluten-free.
- Granulated Sugar – Adds sweetness to the dough.
- Active Dry Yeast – Helps dough rise and creates fluffy rolls.
- Warm Milk – Activates the yeast and adds moisture to the dough. Can swap with almond or soy milk for vegan rolls.
- Unsalted Butter – Adds richness to the dough and keeps it moist. Can swap with vegan butter.
- Egg – Acts as a binder in the dough. Can swap with flax or chia egg for vegan rolls.
- Ube Extract – Adds the distinctive, vibrant ube flavor to the dough. Can replace with vanilla extract if ube is unavailable.
- Salt – Enhances the flavor of the dough.
- Cinnamon – Adds warmth and flavor to the filling.
- Brown Sugar – Sweetens the filling and adds a caramel flavor.
- Unsalted Butter – Creates a creamy and spreadable filling.
- Cream Cheese – Forms the base of the decadent cream cheese frosting.
- Unsalted Butter – Adds richness to the frosting.
- Trader Joe’s Ube Spread – Adds extra ube flavor and a splash of color to the frosting. Can replace with ube extract or omit altogether.
- Powdered Sugar – Sweetens the frosting and adds a smooth texture.
Utensils:
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Stand mixer or hand mixer – Can mix by hand, but requires more time and effort.
- Dough hook attachment – Only needed if using stand mixer.
- Plastic wrap
- Rolling pin
- 9×13 inch baking dish
- Serrated knife – Makes cutting the rolls easier.
- Offset spatula – Makes spreading the frosting easier.
Ube Extract
Ube is a purple yam commonly used in Filipino cuisine that has been gaining popularity in recent years. Ube extract is made from boiled and mashed ube, and has a sweet, nutty flavor with a hint of vanilla. It adds a unique flavor and beautiful purple color to these cinnamon rolls. Fun fact: in the 1930s, a variety of ube grown in Hawaii was actually called “Hawaiian ube,” but the name became a bit of a misnomer when Filipinos started immigrating to Hawaii and bringing their own variety of ube with them. Anyway, don’t be intimidated by this lesser-known ingredient – it’s definitely worth trying out!
Trader Joe’s Ube Spread
Trader Joe’s Ube Spread is a product that embodies the popularity of ube in recent years. It’s a creamy spread made from ube, coconut milk, and sugar, and can be used in a variety of ways – on toast, in smoothies, or in this case, as an extra ube flavor in the cream cheese frosting. While some might argue that using a store-bought spread is not as authentic as making everything from scratch, I appreciate the convenience and accessibility of this product. Plus, it tastes great! My Filipino grandmother approves, and she’s a tough critic. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, you can easily make your own ube puree using fresh or frozen ube.
What to serve it with?
When I serve these Ultimate Ube Bliss cinnamon rolls to friends and family, I like to pair them with a hot cup of strong coffee. The bitterness of the coffee perfectly complements the sweetness of the rolls, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. As a Filipino-American, serving coffee with pastries is a tradition that runs deep in my culture. We call it “merienda,” which is a light meal or snack that’s typically eaten in the afternoon or evening. It’s a time to gather with loved ones, slow down, and savor the moment. So, next time you whip up a batch of these cinnamon rolls, take a moment to brew a pot of coffee and treat yourself to a little merienda. Your taste buds – and your soul – will thank you.
Summary
Well my fellow foodies, that’s a wrap on our Ultimate Ube Bliss cinnamon rolls recipe! I hope you enjoyed learning about the magic of ube and how it can transform an ordinary pastry into a work of art. Now, I want to hear from you – have you tried baking with ube before? What are your favorite recipes or memories involving this delightful yam? Let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to tag me in your social media posts if you make these rolls – I’d love to see your creations. Until next time, keep exploring, experimenting, and indulging in the amazing world of food.
Here’s the recipe:
Ultimate Ube Bliss: Decadent Ube Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting and Trader Joe's Ube Spread
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Dough hook attachment
- Plastic wrap
- Rolling Pin
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- Serrated Knife
- Offset spatula
Ingredients
- 4 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) Active Dry Yeast
- 1 cup Warm Milk
- 1/2 cup, melted Unsalted Butter
- 1 large, room temperature Egg
- 1 teaspoon Ube Extract
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons Cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups, packed Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup, softened Unsalted Butter
- 4 oz, softened Cream Cheese
- 1/4 cup, softened Unsalted Butter
- 3 tablespoons Trader Joe's Ube Spread
- 1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Mix the dough - In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and yeast. Add the warm milk, melted butter, egg, ube extract, and salt. Mix until the dough comes together and forms a ball. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest in a warm place for 1 hour, or until it doubles in size. - Make sure the milk is just warm to the touch - if it's too hot, it can kill the yeast and the dough won't rise. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment to make this step easier.
- Make the filling - In a small bowl, mix together the cinnamon and brown sugar. In another bowl, cream the softened butter until smooth. - For a more complex flavor, you can toast the cinnamon in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes before mixing it with the brown sugar.
- Roll out the dough - After the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Spread the softened butter over the entire surface. Then, sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the top, leaving a 1-inch border. - Roll the dough out as evenly as possible to prevent thinner spots from burning in the oven. You can use a ruler or measuring tape to help you make straight edges.
- Roll and cut the dough - Starting at the long edge closest to you, roll the dough tightly away from you. When you get to the end, pinch the seam of the dough to seal it. Using a serrated knife, cut the roll into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Place the rolls into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, cut side up. Cover with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise again in a warm place for 30-45 minutes, or until they double in size. - To prevent the filling from oozing out during baking, use dental floss or a serrated knife to cut the rolls instead of a straight-edge knife. Slide 18 inches of floss under the roll, cross the ends over the top, and pull quickly to cut through the dough. You can also freeze the rolls at this point for later use.
- Bake the rolls - Preheat the oven to 350F/180C. Bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Make the frosting - In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, softened butter, and Ube spread until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar until it reaches your desired consistency. - Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to ensure a smooth and fluffy frosting.
- Frost the rolls - Spread the frosting over the warm rolls using an offset spatula. Serve warm and enjoy!
