The first time I had ube pancakes with ube coconut sauce was at a Filipino brunch spot in San Francisco. I was instantly blown away by the fluffy pancakes, creamy coconut sauce, and ube flavor in every bite. I recreated these at home because I want to eat it every day (but I won't) and so you can enjoy them too.

A stack of ube pancakes with ube coconut sauce, covered in glossy purple sauce, topped with shredded coconut and a scoop of purple paste, sits on a white plate with a green plant in the background.

What Are Ube Pancakes with Ube Coconut Sauce?

Ube pancakes are fluffy pancakes flavored with ube halaya (aka ube jam) and ube extract, giving them that signature purple color and sweet, vanilla like flavor. These get stacked over a creamy ube coconut sauce made from coconut milk, condensed milk, and ube extract.

It's a Filipino inspired breakfast that tastes like dessert but is technically still pancakes, so it counts.

Why You'll Love These Ube Pancakes with Ube Coconut Sauce

That ube sauce: Creamy coconut milk and condensed milk simmered with ube extract is an irresistible combo.
Double ube: Ube in the pancakes and ube in the sauce means real flavor in every bite, not just pretty color.
Save money: It's become very expensive to order from restaurants nowadays but this recipe is way more affordable.

Equipment

Ingredients

Ube Coconut Sauce

Full fat coconut milk: The base of the sauce, and full fat gives it that rich, creamy body.
Condensed milk
Ube extract: Concentrated ube flavor and color, found at Asian grocery stores or online.
Salt
Corn starch
Water

Ube Pancakes

Ube halaya: A sweet Filipino purple yam jam that gives the pancakes real ube flavor, not just color. These are shelf stable and can be found at Asian grocery stores or online.
Milk
Eggs
Ube extract
Unsalted butter
All purpose flour
Sugar
Baking powder
Salt
Neutral oil

Garnish

Ube halaya
Toasted coconut flakes: Adds a nutty crunch that plays perfectly with the creamy sauce. You can use untoasted coconut flakes as well.

Customizations

Add syrup: If you like your pancakes sweeter, feel free to drizzle some maple syrup.
Other Toppings: Top with berries, stone fruit, or any other fruits you like.

How to Make Ube Pancakes with Ube Coconut Sauce

Make the Ube Coconut Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk the corn starch with the water to make a slurry.

In a medium pot over medium heat, combine the coconut milk, condensed milk, ube extract, salt, and corn starch slurry. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened, then set aside.

Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the ube halaya, milk, eggs, ube extract, and melted butter until smooth.

Finish the Batter

Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and whisk gently just until combined. Do not overmix, small lumps in the batter are fine and keep the pancakes light and fluffy.

Cook the Pancakes

Heat a nonstick pan or griddle over medium heat and add a little oil, brushing it around so the surface is evenly coated. Scoop about ⅓ cup of batter into the pan and cook for about 2 minutes per side, flipping only once.

Remove and repeat with the remaining batter, adding more oil as needed.

Assemble and Serve

Pour the ube coconut sauce onto a plate and stack the pancakes on top. Garnish with more ube halaya and toasted coconut flakes.

A dessert served on a purple plate, featuring shaved ice topped with shredded coconut and a scoop of dark purple ice cream, reminiscent of Ube Pancakes with Ube Coconut Sauce, with utensils and bowls visible around the plate.

Storage

Store leftover pancakes and sauce separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat pancakes in a toaster or pan and warm the sauce on the stove with a splash of coconut milk to loosen it up.

Tips to Make the Perfect Ube Pancakes with Ube Coconut Sauce

Lumps are your friend: A slightly lumpy batter means softer pancakes. Smooth batter means you overmixed.
Sauce first, pancakes second: Pouring the sauce on the plate before stacking means every pancake gets sauced from the bottom up. It also looks prettier for presentation.
Medium heat, patience on: Ube batter is a little sweeter than regular pancake batter, so it browns faster. Keep the heat moderate so the insides cook through.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I make ube pancakes with ube coconut sauce without ube extract?

You can, but the flavor and color will be more subtle. Ube halaya alone gives a gentle purple hue and mild flavor, so the extract really carries both. I recommend using ube extract for color and flavor.

What is ube halaya and where do I find it?

Ube halaya is a sweet Filipino jam made from purple yam, coconut milk, and condensed milk. Look for it in jars at Filipino or Asian grocery stores, usually near the desserts or canned goods. I also included a link to purchase online in the recipe card below.

Is ube the same as taro?

Nope! They get mixed up constantly, but ube is a purple yam with a sweeter, more vanilla like flavor, while taro is starchier and more subtle. For this recipe, you want ube.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

Yes, the sauce keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. It will thicken as it chills, so rewarm it gently with a splash of coconut milk before serving.

What Are Ube Pancakes with Ube Coconut Sauce?

Why You'll Love These Ube Pancakes with Ube Coconut Sauce

Equipment