Super easy and fluffy ube bread rolls done in the bread machine to save you time! No kneading required to make these soft, swirled ube bread that comes out perfectly each time! Tropical and sweet, with the most amazing cream cheese frosting to top these rolls off!
These ube bread rolls are incredibly fluffy, with a vibrant purple color due to the ube! Swirled to perfection, this Filipino ube bread is a popular favorite!
With the use of the bread machine, this ube rolls recipe come together too easy without any kneading or extra effort to the dough!
Get ready for the most incredible ube rolls that is sure to be everyone’s favorite! Make sure to read our tips below on getting the dough fluffy and sweet!
This post will go over everything you need to know to create these ube bread rolls.
Recipe difficulty: Beginner to Moderate level (I know folks….an almost moderate level upgrade!)
So how to make ube bread rolls? Simple. Use the bread machine! Using the bread machines creates the fluffiest dough with minimal effort! Plus, combined with the sweetness of the ube and cream cheese frosting, licking your fingers is almost a must! Since this is a baking recipe, make sure to follow our detailed tips below with the recipe directions, and you will be totally fine!
Sam’s Pro Tips for these Ube Bread Rolls
Bread Machine Basics
Most important tip for the success of your dough!
When adding the ingredients to your bread machine, remember it needs to be in order of LIQUIDS, DRY, YEAST! Super important!
The order of the ingredients placed in the machine will affect the rise and consistency of your dough, so it’s critical to get this right in the beginning.
Plus, for the ube swirl bread to get mixed evenly, the ingredients need to be at room temperature with the exception of the milk! I’ll explain more below!
Make a Well for the Yeast
Yes, literally make a well in the dry ingredients to add the yeast!
After you add the dry ingredients (e.g., flour, sugar, salt), make a little hole into the dry ingredient making sure to not have the liquid layer at the bottom peek through!
Once you made the hole, add the bread machine yeast into the hole. By adding the yeast into the hole, we’ll ensure these ube bread rolls will get that tasty bread consistency that is both soft and chewy!
This was a tip recommended for my bread machine in the directions!
Check the Sugar Level of the Ube Halaya
Similar to my Easy Rosette Ube Cupcakes with Coconut Buttercream That is So Moist, make sure to check the sugar level of the ube halaya you’re using!
Depending on the kind of ube halaya you’re using, the sugar content may need to be adjusted.
There are different kind of ube halayas out there, and all are made differently! If you find that your ube halaya is too sweet, you can adjust the amount of brown sugar in the filling. We think 1/3 cup of brown sugar is the perfect amount for this ube bread Filipino!
However, make sure to try your ube halaya and adjust accordingly!
How Big Can these Ube Rolls Get?
Once the dough is out of the bread machine, don’t be surprised if the dough continues to rise!
Like ube cinnamon rolls, after the dough is rolled with the filling, we leave it alone for an hour covered with a kitchen towel for the dough to double in size! Not joking!
Covering the dough with the kitchen towel will create a dark, enclosed environment for the dough to continue to rise and you’ll see the height of the ube bread rolls continue to rise.
The size of the rolls will depend on your climate and consistency of the dough as it won’t rise too much in the oven afterwards!
Soften the Cream Cheese
This is important for the cream cheese to whip into a fluffy frosting for the ube bread rolls!
Have the cream cheese sit on the counter 45 minutes to an hour depending on the climate you live in. You want the cream cheese to be soft, but still slightly firm if you put your finger on it.
If you’re able to press down easily, it’s too soft! Once it’s too soft, it will be a lot harder to whip and incorporate air into the frosting.
Sift the Powdered Sugar and Incorporate Gradually
If the powdered sugar is not sifted, it may become grainy in the frosting!
I like to sift the powdered sugar into the cream cheese and butter so that it can incorporate evenly. Do this in stages instead of adding all at one time.
By adding the powdered sugar gradually, you’ll prevent a mess in your kitchen!
Key Ingredients – Ube Bread Rolls
Below are some key and optional ingredients for this recipe:
Dough
- Warm milk: 1 cup of warm milk is needed to make the dough! Warm the milk in the microwave for 45 seconds!
- Eggs: Make sure the eggs are at room temperature.
- Unsalted butter: Melt the butter when adding to the ingredients. Make sure the butter has slightly cooled before incorporating!
- All-purpose flour: This Filipino ube bread works well with all-purpose flour, so no need to buy any special flour!
- Salt: Add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to balance the consistency of the dough with the sugar!
- Sugar: White sugar will be incorporated with the dry ingredients for some sweetness.
- Bread machine yeast: Sometimes seen as instant yeast on the packaging. Make sure the yeast you use is good quality and not expired (totally easy to forget) as this will affect the dough!
Ube Filling
- Ube halaya: The secret sauce in this recipe! Using the ube halaya will give you a ton of flavor and a beautiful purple color. Adjust the sweetness as needed in this ube rolls recipe as seen in our Easy Rosette Ube Cupcakes with Coconut Buttercream That is So Moist!
- Unsalted butter: The butter needs to be softened for the filling to mix evenly. Have this sit out in the counter for at least 45 minutes to an hour for it to be softened!
- Brown sugar: Mix the brown sugar with the butter for at least a minute to avoid grittiness in the filling! Really important to make the smooth filling in our ube swirl bread!
- Salt: Of course, salt is added as a basic flavor enhancer and cuts the sugar ratio in the ube swirl bread.
- Ube extract (optional): By adding the extract, you will elevate the purple color to a vibrant, violet color when baked and ensures the ube will shine through when baking. Start with a ¼ teaspoon.
Frosting
- Cream cheese: Try to use the full-fat cream cheese to get the creamiest frosting. Have this sit out in the counter for at least 45 minutes to an hour for it to be softened!
- Unsalted butter: Unsalted butter is usually preferred as the salt level can be adjusted to preference. The butter needs to be appropriately softened so it can whip extra fluffy to top these ube bread rolls!
- Powdered sugar: Using powdered sugar keeps this frosting smooth and fluffy. If you have done my 5-Minute Mock Devonshire Cream with Honey, you know I have this sifted in to prevent clumps.
- Heavy cream: Just a dash is needed for the ultimate cream cheese frosting with a creamy texture. See our Classy Chocolate Mousse with Grand Marnier to Indulge In for more heavy cream recipes!
- Vanilla and Salt: Just the basics!
More Variations to these Ube Bread Rolls
There are a few ways you can variate these ube bread rolls. Here’s how:
- Add cinnamon: Make this a ube cinnamon rolls recipe by adding cinnamon to the filling. Start with two tablespoons and mix with the ube halaya and brown sugar. So good!
- What can I pair with this dish? This is a solid, tropical ube bread recipe easy by itself! For some main dishes to accompany this dessert, try our 5-Topping Filipino Palabok Recipe with Easy Shrimp Sauce or our hearty Filipino Pork Barbecue Skewer Recipe Perfectly Glazed!
Interested in Filipino cuisine, but don’t know where to begin? Download our Top 5 Crazy-Cheap Ingredients You Need for Filipino Cooking and Where to Find It from my free resource library!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long can butter sit out to soften?
Depending on the temperature, butter will usually soften in 45 minutes to an hour.
How to store ube bread rolls?
Store these ube bread rolls in the refrigerator. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal flavor.
Is ube a Filipino flavor?
Ube is a purple yam native to the Philippines and is common in Filipino desserts.
How do you bring baking ingredients to room temperature?
Leave your ingredients used for baking on the counter for 45 minutes to an hour depending on the climate you leave in. Room temperature ingredients will incorporate better in the dough and help bake evenly.
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