Soft Ube Crinkle Cookies
This post may contain affiliate links.These Soft Ube Crinkle Cookies are like little clouds of purple cookies, crisp on the outside, soft and chewy inside, and bursting with that irresistible ube flavor. Each bite melts in your mouth, thanks to the creamy Ube Halaya that gives these cookies their rich taste and beautiful color.
If you love soft and chewy cookies with unique flavors, these Soft Ube Crinkle Cookies are going to win your heart. They’re sweet, slightly nutty, and irresistibly purple thanks to homemade Ube Halaya. Just like my Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies or Banana Soft Almond Cookies, these crinkles have that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture. They are soft inside, slightly crisp on the outside, and so comforting with a cup of tea or coffee.
If you’ve already made ube halaya, you have the magic ingredient ready. That same velvety jam gives these cookies their signature color and deep flavor, and it can also be used in other ube desserts for brunch or dessert.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
Caster sugar – Finer than granulated sugar, it dissolves easily into the batter and gives the cookies a delicate sweetness and smooth texture. You can use granulated sugar if that’s what you have, but caster sugar gives a more refined crumb.
Ube halaya – This creamy ube jam adds moisture, richness, and authentic flavor. Homemade Ube Halaya works beautifully and makes the cookies extra fragrant.
Cake flour or all-purpose flour – Cake flour gives a softer, lighter texture, while all-purpose flour gives a slightly chewier bite. Either works, just don’t overmix the batter.
Baking powder – Helps the cookies puff up slightly and creates that soft, crinkled texture on top. Make sure your baking powder is fresh for the best result.
Ube paste or extract – Enhances both the ube flavor and the vibrant purple color. If your Ube Halaya is pale, a few drops of extract will make the cookies pop.
How to Make Ube Crinkle Cookies
STEP 1. Cream the butter and sugar. In a bowl, mix room temperature butter, caster sugar, and salt together (Image 1). Beat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns pale and creamy (Image 2). Crack in the egg and mix until fully combined (Image 3). Sift the flour into the bowl (Image 4) and gently fold until no streaks of flour remain.
STEP 2. Add the ube goodness. Add ube halaya along with ube extract or paste (Images 5, 6). Mix until the dough turns evenly purple and fragrant. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes, or even better, overnight (Image 7). Chilling helps you shape the cookies easily and creates that perfect crinkle texture.
Preheat the oven to 347°F (175°C). Scoop the dough using an ice cream scoop and shape it into round balls (Image 8).
STEP 3. Coat and bake. Roll each dough ball in caster sugar first (Image 9), then in powdered sugar until it’s fully covered (Image 10). Line the cookies on a baking sheet (Image 11), leaving space between each one.
Bake for 12–15 minutes, turning the pan halfway through for even baking. Once done, cool the cookies on a cooling rack and enjoy the soft, chewy magic of your freshly baked ube crinkle cookies!
Pro Tips
- Chill the dough for the best crinkles – Let the cookie dough rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but you can chill it for up to 3 days before baking. The cold dough helps create those beautiful, defined crinkles and prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
- Use good quality ube halaya – The flavor and texture of your cookies depend a lot on the Ube Halaya. Homemade or premium brands give a richer, nuttier taste.
- Coat twice for perfect snow-like crinkles – Roll the dough in caster sugar first, then powdered sugar. This double coating ensures the sugar sticks well and gives a beautiful contrast once baked.
- Don’t overbake – The cookies might look slightly soft when you take them out of the oven, but that’s perfect! They’ll continue to set as they cool, keeping the inside chewy and moist.
- Use an ice cream scoop – For even-sized cookies and consistent baking, use a small ice cream scoop or weigh them to portion the dough.
Serving Suggestions
These Ube Crinkle Cookies are lovely with a cup of Lemongrass Pandan Tea or a Ginger Lemon Drink. For extra indulgence, dip them in coconut jam or enjoy them with a scoop of Mango Ice Cream!
And if you can’t get enough of ube treats, try pairing them with Ube Mochi Pancake for brunch or a scoop of Ube Ice Cream for dessert.
FAQs about Ube Crinkle Cookies
This usually happens when the dough isn’t cold enough or if you skipped rolling it in caster sugar before powdered sugar. Make sure to chill the dough and coat it well for those signature crinkles.
They keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want to make them ahead, chill the dough for up to 3 days before baking.
Yes! Shape the dough into balls, freeze them on a tray until firm, then store in a freezer bag for up to 1 month. Roll in sugar and bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
Absolutely. Just make sure it’s not too dry or too sweet. If it’s thick, you can add a teaspoon of milk or oil to loosen it before mixing.
You can, but the cookies will have a paler color and a milder flavor. For that vibrant purple hue and deep ube aroma, a bit of extract or paste makes a big difference.
Storage
Keep your Ube Crinkle Cookies in an airtight container or cookie jar at room temperature for up to 1 month. For gifting, you can wrap them individually in cookie bags. They stay fresh, look adorable, and make perfect sweet treats to share.
More Purple Sweet Potatoes Recipes
Soft Ube Crinkle Cookies
Equipment
- 1 ice cream scoop
Ingredients
- 60 gr unsalted butter
- 1 egg
- 68 gr sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 150 gr flour
- 4 gr baking powder
- 60 gr ube jam ube halaya
- 1½ tsp ube paste
- 2 drops purple food coloring optional
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix room temperature butter, caster sugar, and a pinch of salt together. Beat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns pale and creamy.
- Crack in the egg and mix until fully combined. Sift the flour into the bowl and gently fold until no streaks of flour remain.
- Add ube halaya along with ube extract or paste. Mix until the dough turns evenly purple and fragrant. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes — or even better, overnight. Chilling helps you shape the cookies easily and creates that perfect crinkle texture.
- Preheat the oven to 347°F (175°C). Scoop the dough using an ice cream scoop and shape it into round balls.
- Roll each dough ball in caster sugar first, then in powdered sugar until it’s fully covered.
- Line the cookies on a baking sheet with parchment paper, leaving space between each one.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, turning the pan halfway through for even baking. Once done, cool the cookies on a cooling rack — and enjoy the soft, chewy magic of your freshly baked ube crinkle cookies!
Notes
- Chill the dough for the best crinkles – Let the cookie dough rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but you can chill it for up to 3 days before baking. The cold dough helps create those beautiful, defined crinkles and prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
- Use good quality ube halaya – The flavor and texture of your cookies depend a lot on the Ube Halaya. Homemade or premium brands give a richer, nuttier taste.
- Coat twice for perfect snow-like crinkles – Roll the dough in caster sugar first, then powdered sugar. This double coating ensures the sugar sticks well and gives a beautiful contrast once baked.
- Don’t overbake – The cookies might look slightly soft when you take them out of the oven, but that’s perfect! They’ll continue to set as they cool, keeping the inside chewy and moist.
- Use an ice cream scoop – For even-sized cookies and consistent baking, use a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon to portion the dough.
These Soft Ube Crinkle Cookies turned out so soft, chewy, and full of that nutty ube flavor! I love how easy they are to make, and they look so pretty with their purple color and powdered sugar crinkles. Perfect for gifting or enjoying with tea!