Ube Pancakes with Coconut Syrup

Fluffy, vibrant purple ube pancakes, infused with the distinct, nutty, vanilla-like flavor of purple yam, served with a luscious, creamy coconut syrup. A delightful Filipino-inspired breakfast or brunch that's as beautiful as it is delicious.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Total Time: 45 min
Servings: 4
FilipinoBreakfastVegetarianPescatarianShellfish-FreeFish-FreeSesame-Free

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1.5 teaspoon ube extract
  • 2 tablespoon ube halaya (purple yam jam), softened
  • 13.5 oz full-fat coconut milk
  • 0.25 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 pandan leaf, tied into a knot (optional)
  • 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract (if not using pandan)
  • 0.125 teaspoon salt for syrup
  • as needed vegetable oil or butter for griddle

Instructions

  1. 1.

    Prepare the Coconut Syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the full-fat coconut milk, light brown sugar, pandan leaf (if using), and a pinch of salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly, about 8-10 minutes. If not using pandan, stir in the vanilla extract after removing from heat. Remove the pandan leaf before serving. Keep warm while you make the pancakes.

  2. 2.

    Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.

  3. 3.

    Prepare Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk the large egg, whole milk, melted unsalted butter, ube extract, and softened ube halaya until smooth and uniformly purple.

  4. 4.

    Combine Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a whisk or spatula until just combined. A few lumps are perfectly fine; do not overmix, as this will result in tough pancakes. Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes while you heat your griddle.

  5. 5.

    Cook Pancakes: Heat a lightly oiled or buttered griddle or large non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Once hot, pour about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the griddle, spacing them apart.

  6. 6.

    Flip and Finish: Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until bubbles appear on the surface and the edges look set, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil or butter to the griddle as needed.

  7. 7.

    Serve: Stack the warm ube pancakes on plates and generously drizzle with the warm coconut syrup. Garnish with fresh fruit, toasted coconut flakes, or a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

Tips

  • 💡Do not overmix the pancake batter; lumps are okay. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tough pancakes.
  • 💡Adjust the amount of ube extract to achieve your desired purple color and flavor intensity. Start with the recommended amount and add a little more if you prefer a deeper hue or stronger ube taste.
  • 💡Keep cooked pancakes warm by placing them on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 200°F (95°C) while you finish cooking the remaining batter.
  • 💡For extra richness in the pancakes, replace a quarter of the milk with coconut milk.
  • 💡The coconut syrup can be made ahead of time and reheated gently before serving.

Recipe from TheCookbook.ai

Created by Basil Roux