Traditional crinkle cookies with a hint of ube or purple sweet potatoes is a HUGE hit in our house. The recipe can be made with egg or without egg. All the tips you need to know to get the perfect crinkles and to prevent the powdered sugar from melting.
Amazingly Soft Ube Crinkle Cookies
Purple crinkle cookies
These amazingly soft ube or purple ube or sweet potato crinkle cookies are a twist from the classic crinkle cookies. They have become one of our family favorites every year. I like the crusty cookies on the outside but the inside is soooo soft, gooey and just melt in your mouth!! It has that hint of purple sweet potato that I love. Even if you don’t think you will like purple sweet potato or ube, you will not mind it in these cookies. For Real!
*Please note that I will mention both Ube or purple sweet potatoes in this post, but they are not the same thing. I tried the recipe with ube and two different types of purple sweet potatoes. The recipe can be made with any of the three*
*Please note that I will mention both Ube or purple sweet potatoes in this post, but they are not the same thing. I tried the recipe with ube and two different types of purple sweet potatoes. The recipe can be made with any of the three*
What is ube?
Ube is a popular purple yam that originated in the Philippines. It is being used extensively in desserts in the Phillipines. It has a nice purple hue and has a subtle flavor and a creamier texture but not as sweet compared to purple sweet potatoes, which tend to be drier in texture. Don’t be mistaken this with the taro, which is also called yam, but it’s not the same kind of yam as ube. I have used ube in ube coconut ice cream and ube bibingka galapong
Why we love these ube crinkle cookies
1. The recipe uses mashed ube or purple sweet potatoes and not only using extract. So I can actually taste some ube in the cookies
2. The cookies are not overly sweet. You can adjust by adding more if you have a sweet tooth.
3. Now you can make eggless ube crinkle cookies by replacing the egg with ground flax seeds
You can read about the different purple sweet potatoes and ube in this purple sweet potato chiffon cake.
Substitute for fresh ube yam
If you can’t find fresh ube (I couldn’t), here are options of what you can use:
1. Frozen grated ube
They are widely available at Asian grocery store at the frozen aisle
2. Ube halaya (Ube jam)
You can use store-bought ube halaya or homemade ube halaya
3. Ube powder
You can reconstitute or rehydrate the ube powder and use it in any recipe that calls for ube
4. Stokes or Okinawan sweet potatoes
They are not exactly the same as ube yam, but it’s an acceptable substitution as well
Frozen Grated Ube
Other ingredients used in this recipe
1. All-purpose flour
I use unbleached all-purpose flour with gluten content somewhere between 8-11% can be used
2. Baking powder
I use double-acting baking powder
3. Salt
A tiny pinch really brings out the flavor. I use fine sea salt in this recipe
4. Butter
I use unsalted butter. You can use salted butter and just omit the salt in the recipe
5. Granulated sugar
You can also use caster sugar
6. Light brown sugar
Light brown sugar adds some moisture and gives a chewier texture to cookies. I try to balance between the granulated sugar and light brown sugar by using 50:50 for that balance of crisp and chewiness in texture
7. Ube extract/essence
Ube extract is available at Asia grocery store. This is the one I use and I really like it. It helps to maintain the purple color. Otherwise, you cookie without it will sure turn into green or blue in color
8. Whole egg
I use a large chicken egg, about 50 grams in weight without the shell
9. Egg yolk
The egg yolk adds more richness and keep the cookies moist and again, for that more fudgy texture
Why the ube cookies turn green or blue after baking?
The acid-base balance is what causing the purple color to change color. Anything basic (alkaline) will turn the purple color greenish or bluish. Ingredients like egg whites and baking powder are more alkaline and causing the color to change. This doesn’t alter the taste of your cookies. It’s just the appearance.
How do you fix this? please add ube extract or purple food coloring to make sure you get the nice vibrant purple color.
Why the ube crinkle cookies don’t crinkle?
1. Make sure you measure ingredients correctly
Too much flour will make your cookie tougher and won’t expand and give you that crinkle look
2. Don’t overbeat the butter and sugar
The butter and sugar in cookie don’t have to beat until fluffy like in making a cake. If you incorporate too much air into the cookie dough, the structure will be weak and it will deflate when you take them out from the oven, no fun!
3. The dough needs to be chilled for at least 4 hours
This is a very sticky dough and chilling the dough is a must, 4 hours in the refrigerator or 2 hours in the freezer
4. Roll the cookie dough in sugar only after the oven is done preheating and ready for baking.
Once you coat with icing sugar, they need to go on the baking sheet and into the oven for baking
5. Avoid touching the cookie dough too much after coating with sugar
6. The dough may be too cold
If the dough is too cold, the cookies may not spread properly and will stand tall. If that’s the case, you can leave the dough out on the counter for 10-15 minutes after shaping them into balls and coat with sugars. Then apply another coating of powdered sugar just before baking
How to get that perfect crinkles on crinkle cookies and prevent icing sugar from melting?
No matter how much icing sugar I coat the cookie dough with, it seems like they just get absorbed into the dough during baking and disappear. So I ended up with cookies that barely have any crinkle effect on top. Finally, after doing a bit of research, I learned from reviewers at King Arthur’s Baking that rolling the cookie dough in granulated sugar first and then heavily coat with icing sugar helps to prevent the icing sugar from melting or being absorbed by the cookie dough. You guys, this trick works like a charm!
The cookies have that light taste of ube or purple sweet potatoes in it, which is really nice! Kids really are digging these cookies. I have to actually hide these cookies away from them LOL!
These crinkle cookies are made with Stokes purple sweet potato (with brownish purple skin).
These crinkle cookies are made with ube.
How to freeze unbaked ube crinkle cookies
Prepare as directed in the recipe up to chilling the dough for at least 4 hours and then roll them into little balls. I place the balls on a baking sheet, not touching each other, and then place them in the freezer for 1 hour. They will firm up and then I transfer them to a freezer bag to save space. When ready to bake, arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let them sit for about 10 minutes, then roll in granulated sugar, and then heavily coated with powdered sugar.
How to freeze baked ube crinkle cookies
Let the baked cookies cool down completely. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, not touching each other and freeze for 1 hour and then transfer to a container in a single layer in between sheets of parchment paper. Simply thaw them at the kitchen counter before serving.
Did you make this ube crinkle cookies recipe?
I love it when you guys snap a photo and tag to show me what you’ve made 🙂 Simply tag me @WhatToCookToday #WhatToCookToday on Instagram and I’ll be sure to stop by and take a peek for real!
You may also like this red velvet cream cheese crinkle cookies
Red Velvet Cream Cheese Crinkle Cookies (from scratch)
You may also like these recipes using ube
How To Make Ube Halaya / Ube Jam (Vegan and Dairy-free)
Ube Coconut Ice Cream (with Ube Crinkle Cookies)
Ube or Purple Sweet Potato Crinkle Cookies (with Egg or Eggless)
Ingredients
Dry ingredients:
- 175 grams all-purpose flour 7/8 cups
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Wet ingredients:
- 110 gr mashed ube 1/2 cup, see notes
- 113 gr butter 1 stick (1/2 cup), unsalted, softened
- 100 gr granulated sugar 1/2 cup
- 110 gr light brown sugar 1/2 cup packed
- 1 tsp ube extract or use purple food coloring if you can't find ube extract
- 1 large egg room temperature, omit for eggless version
- 1 egg yolk room temperature, omit for eggless version
For eggless ube crinkle cookies:
- 2 Tbsp finely ground flax seeds
- 6 Tbsp water
To roll the cookie doughs:
- 120 grams confectioners’ sugar 1 cup, for rolling & dusting cookies
- 50 grams granulated sugar 1/4 cup
Recommended equipments:
Instructions
For eggless version:
- Mix ground flax seeds with water and let it sits for 10-15 minutes
Prepare ube or purple sweet potatoes:
- If using fresh ube, Okinawan purple sweet potatoes, or Stokes purple sweet potatoes, peel the skin and then cut into large chunks and steam for about 15 minutes or until easily mash with fork. You can also microwave on high for 8-10 minutes or until soft.
- If using frozen grated ube, thaw and pour off any excess liquid. Steam for about 10-15 minutes or until easily mashable. Pour off any excess liquid if any. Transfer to a food processor to blend until smooth consistency
- Get 125 grams of purple sweet potatoes or ube to make cookies, you can keep the rest for other use
- If you want to use ube powder, you need to rehydrate/reconstitute the powder. You can also use ube halaya/ube jam
Prepare cookie dough:
- Place the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to mix. Set aside. Update: I recommend not using an electric mixer. Use a rubber spatula to mash the softened butter and then add both the sugar and mix until combined. Add room temperature egg and egg yolk (for egg version) or soaked flax seeds (for eggless version). Add ube or purple sweet potatoes, food coloring or ube extract and beat until combined
- Add the flour mixture in 3 batches and let it mix until just combined. Don't overwork the dough. The dough will be very sticky at this point. Please don't be tempted to add more flour
Chill the cookie dough:
- Cover the mixing bowl and chill the dough in the fridge for at least 4 hours or in the freezer for about 2 hours. It is best if you can do it overnight. The longer you chill, the flavor will be more intense too
Shape the cookies:
- Preheat oven at 350 F (180 C) for a conventional oven. You may want to lower the temperature by 20 degrees if you use a convection oven. When the oven is done preheating, scoop about 1 Tbsp of the cookie dough out. The cookie dough is still sticky but easier to work with because it's cold. You can also spray your palms with non-stick cooking spray or lightly oil them. Roll it into a round ball then flatten slightly with your palm and place them on a lined cookie sheet
- Cover each one in granulated sugar first and then generously roll them in icing sugar. This step prevents the icing sugar from being absorbed by the dough and you won't get the crinkle effect. Roll them about 2-3 times in the icing sugar to make sure each ball is well-coated or the confectioners' sugar will not show much after baking
Baking:
- Pop them into the oven, 3rd rack from the top.Let them bake for 10 minutes for really soft cookies or 12-14 minutes if you want them crispier on the outside. They will still appear to be very soft when you pull them out from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. They will firm up a bit as they cool down
- They taste better the next day onwards as I find that the texture is slightly chewier compared to when just freshly baked on day one IMHO
Storing:
- Let the cookies cool down completely and then keep in air-tight container. They can be kept at room temperature for about a week. If you want to keep the longer, freeze them
- I notice that after chilled in the fridge or kept frozen, the cookies have an even "chewier" texture (if you enjoy that!)
57 comments
I know a few people have asked for it, but I really prefer your recipe from a number of years ago, like early 2018. It is very different that what you have now. Can you share it?
Hi Vanessa, I have updated the recipe with the older version (I think 🙂 ) I have several versions written down and I kinda forgot which one I had shared here before I updated, but I’m pretty sure this is the one.
I really like the old ube crinkle recipe better before it was revised… it was more soft and chewy and was my kid’s favorite. Is there a way to access your previous ube crinkle recipe? Or if you can tell me which measurements or ingredients was changed? The family agreed the old recipe was so much more delish. Thanks!
Hi Raya, there are actually more eggs in this recipe than the previous one. I believe I kept pretty much everything the same except the old recipe used only 1 large egg (you may need to add extra yolk as needed, depending on how moist the ube or purple sweet potato you use) and 1 tsp of baking powder.
Hi! I used to follow your recipe but noticed you changed the measurement of flour, baking powder and the sugar.. Before used to me soft and chewy with your previous measuments of the ingredients
Hi Angela, I’ve tested and retested recipes several times before I change and I change because this recipe gives the best consistent result with soft and chewy texture or crisp on the edge if you bake it a bit longer. Cheers!
Hi! I enjoyed this recipe and had three cookies with my coffee for breakfast; surprisingly, it was quite filling and that’s great! I modified this recipe and used 1/4 cup butter and 1/8 cup sugar minus the dye. And with the powdered sugar coating, it was sweet enough. My cookies didn’t flatten out, so I had to press them after scooping out the refrigerated batter. And that It tasted more like a scone! It was fun making this.
Hi Pey-Lih, I agree with you, they were quite filling actually. With less butter and sugar, the dough won’t spread as much and the texture is more similar to a scone instead. I’m glad you had fun making them 🙂
Hello Marv! Awesome recipe 🙂 I want to make the cookies bigger (around 13-15 cookies instead of 26-30). I am wondering if i need to change the baking time? Thank you!
Hi Amanda, I would probably add a minute or two, depending on if you want them soft or slightly crispy on the edge. They will still appear very soft when they first come out, but will firm up after cooling down
Hello Marv! I’m so thankful your recipe included the option of using okinawan sweet potatoes, as they are readily available here in Hawaii. Since a coworker had brought these cookies to work and they were so delicious, I just had to bake them myself. I used flax egg, and homemade vegan butter as a substitute for a vegan version and they turned out very good, except they did not spread and the cookie seemed too bready , like some of the other comments. I think the moisture content needs be just right, and my dough may have been too dry with the changes I made. So, on the second batch (I made double recipe), I turned the oven up to 350F and baked them longer. My husband and I both preferred the crispy-on-the-outside version, which also seems to bring out the ube flavor more.
Hi Madeleine, purple sweet potatoes do seem to be at a drier side and you are right that the moisture content will of course affect the outcome of the cookies. I like the substitution you make to make it vegan. I’ve never used flax egg before but I’ve tried with chia eggs as a substitute. The family did comment that it tastes more like bread than cookies ha..ha..!
Hi. Can I use the powder of the purple ube instead ? It’s hard for me find purple ube or yam here. And if yes i can use the purple ube powder, how much measurement do I use per recipe ? and how will it affect the dough and the taste also the color after it baked ? Thank you and can’t wait to try ur recipe. 😚
Hi Rina, I haven’t tried making these with powder ube before so I can’t really tell you for sure how much you need to use I’m so sorry 🙁 I will definitely get some powder ube next time and try it out though. I’m curious too! It’s probably easier than using fresh ube.
did you ever figure out how to adjust the recipe if using reconstructed ube powder?
Hi, I have a post for how to rehydrate ube powder, you can then use that in this recipe 🙂
i’d like to learn more about cooking
Hi Lyka, let me know if you have anything you want to ask or clarify. I would be more than happy to help the best I can!