The Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe is a true treat for both the eyes and the palate! Imagine a tender, purple-hued cupcake infused with velvety ube and the nutty undertones of almond, all crowned with an impossibly smooth ube frosting. This is the kind of dessert that instantly brightens up celebrations and turns everyday moments into something special. If you love the unique color and flavor of ube, combined with the comforting notes of almond, you won’t want to miss these gorgeous cupcakes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What makes this Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe so delightful is how each simple ingredient plays a starring role in texture, taste, or that irresistible pop of color. Paying attention to even the small details ensures every cupcake is satisfyingly soft, moist, and flavorful, with a dreamy, vibrant finish.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure, creating cupcakes that are soft yet sturdy enough to hold up a generous swirl of frosting.
- Baking powder: Adds lift, making the cupcakes light and fluffy.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet and nutty flavors in every bite.
- Unsalted butter (room temperature): Gives richness and a tender crumb—plus, soft butter creams beautifully with sugar.
- Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness, balancing the earthiness of ube.
- Large eggs: Bind the batter together and provide wonderful structure.
- Almond milk (or regular milk): Brings subtle almond flavor and keeps the cupcakes moist.
- Ube halaya (purple yam jam): Delivers authentic ube flavor and that brilliant purple color.
- Ube extract: Intensifies the color and flavor for the classic ube experience.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors with gentle warmth.
- Powdered sugar (sifted): Essential for a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth frosting.
- Whole or sliced almonds: Adds crunch and a lovely, nutty finish.
- Edible sugar pearls: Makes each cupcake look party-ready with a shimmering effect.
- Decorative shells or iridescent plates (optional): Perfect for serving if you want that extra wow factor.
How to Make Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Cupcake Tin and Oven
First, set yourself up for success! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tray with your favorite paper liners. This ensures the cupcakes bake evenly and release with ease later on—plus, those liners add a pop of fun color or pattern.
Step 2: Whisk the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Don’t skip this step—sifting and mixing these dry ingredients now ensures your final batter is lump-free and your cupcakes rise up nice and fluffy.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a separate, larger bowl, cream the room-temperature butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy. This is crucial! You’re incorporating air for a lighter cupcake. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition, so everything stays smooth and emulsified.
Step 4: Add Ube, Extracts, and Start Mixing
Now bring out that signature flavor by mixing in the ube halaya, ube extract, and vanilla extract. Take a deep breath—it already smells amazing! Your batter should turn a mesmerizing shade of purple right before your eyes, setting the scene for that iconic Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe color.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures and Add Milk
Alternate adding the flour mixture and almond milk to your wet ingredients, mixing gently just until combined. This helps avoid overmixing, which can make cupcakes tough. The result? A beautifully smooth, purple batter begging to be baked!
Step 6: Fill and Bake Cupcakes
Spoon the batter into your lined cupcake tray, filling each about two-thirds full. Pop them into the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before you even think about frosting—they need to be nice and cool so your frosting stays picture-perfect.
Step 7: Prepare the Ube Frosting
While the cupcakes cool, get started on the dreamy ube frosting. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy, then slowly add the powdered sugar (sifted, so your frosting stays cloud-like), alternating with splashes of almond milk. Mix in the ube halaya and ube extract until the frosting is light, fluffy, and glossy with that unbeatable purple hue.
Step 8: Decorate Like a Pro
With your cupcakes fully cooled, pipe or spread the ube frosting in generous swirls on top. Sprinkle over sugar pearls for sparkle, then dot the tops with whole or sliced almonds for a touch of elegance. For an extra-special presentation, serve each cupcake in a decorative shell or on an iridescent plate if you like. Your Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe is now party-ready!
How to Serve Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe
Garnishes
The best way to finish off these beauties is with whole or sliced almonds for their irresistible crunch, plus a scattering of edible sugar pearls for shimmer and a bit of fun. If you happen to have edible flowers or gold leaf, they also look stunning atop this striking purple frosting.
Side Dishes
Ube Almond Cupcakes are utterly enchanting on their own, but they also play well with others! Try serving them alongside a plate of fresh fruit—think slices of mango, pineapple, or strawberries—to complement the flavors. For an extra-nutty touch, a few almond biscotti or coconut macaroons round out a dessert spread beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
Up the wow factor by placing each cupcake in a decorative shell or on an iridescent plate—this makes the cupcakes feel like little gems at a mermaid’s party. Or, nestle them in a tiered cupcake stand for a party-ready display that highlights their unique color and shimmer. Don’t be shy with the garnishes—let your imagination run wild!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, store your Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If your kitchen is especially warm, pop them in the fridge—just let them come to room temperature before serving for maximum softness.
Freezing
You can absolutely freeze these cupcakes! Freeze them unfrosted by wrapping each individually in plastic wrap and placing in a zip-top bag. When you want to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, then frost fresh. If you need to freeze frosted cupcakes, freeze them on a tray until the frosting is firm, then store carefully in an airtight container for up to a month.
Reheating
To refresh refrigerated cupcakes, let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Avoid microwaving frosted cupcakes, as this could melt that gorgeous ube swirl. If you want a warm cupcake without the frosting, a few seconds in the microwave will make them taste bakery-fresh again.
FAQs
Can I use regular milk instead of almond milk in this Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe?
Absolutely! Regular milk works just as beautifully, but almond milk adds a subtle nuttiness that complements the ube and almonds. Feel free to use whichever you have on hand.
What’s the best substitute if I can’t find ube halaya?
If ube halaya isn’t available, you can use thawed frozen purple yam, mashed and sweetened with a bit of sugar. The flavor won’t be exactly the same, but you’ll still get a lovely color and taste.
Do I need to use paper liners for the cupcakes?
Paper liners are recommended for easy removal and a prettier presentation, especially since the ube color can stain unlined tins. In a pinch, a well-greased muffin tin will also work, but liners make clean-up a breeze.
Why isn’t my frosting turning a bright purple?
This can happen if you use less ube extract or if your ube halaya is lighter in color. You can safely add a drop or two more of ube extract or a dab of purple food gel for a deeper, richer hue. Just add bit by bit to avoid overdoing it.
Can I make this Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe as a cake instead?
Definitely! Simply pour the batter into a greased 8-inch round cake pan and increase the bake time to about 25–30 minutes. Test with a toothpick in the center to ensure it’s done, and frost as you would the cupcakes.
Final Thoughts
I truly hope you fall in love with this Ube Almond Cupcake Recipe as much as I have. With its fabulous color, unique flavor, and irresistible almond crunch, it’s guaranteed to be a hit at any gathering or simply as a special treat for yourself. Give it a try, have fun decorating, and don’t forget to savor every soft, purple bite!