Ube Macarons

Crisp and slightly chewy macaron shells filled with a light and creamy ube buttercream. These purple yam flavoured macarons are a mix between Filipino and French cuisine!

I’m back again with another ube flavoured dessert, and this time we’re making macarons! With the growing popularity of ube all around the world, this macaron is the perfect representation of Asian and European fusion!

What is Ube?

If you aren’t familiar with ube, it is a purple root vegetable originating in the Philippines. It has a sweet, slightly nutty, vanilla-y taste and is commonly used in desserts.

Ube is often confused with taro and purple sweet potato. Taro is not as vibrant in colour and sweetness, and is used more often in savoury dishes. On the other hand purple sweet potato has a more intense purple colour and sweetness. If you can’t find ube, purple sweet potato is often a great alternative.

How to use ube in desserts?

There are a couple of different ways to incorporate ube into your desserts. At the Asian grocery store you will find ube in several different forms: fresh, powdered, frozen, grated, jam and extract. Fresh, powdered, frozen and grated ube are all ube in their natural form. Unlike ube jam and extract these need to be prepared before used in desserts.

The most common method to use ube in desserts is to prepare a jam, aka ube halaya. This is essentially ube, various milks/creams and sugar cooked together to form a thick, sweet jam. You can make this yourself at home with fresh or frozen ube, or you can find it pre-made in jars.

As there is often a lot of work that goes into making desserts I don’t find the need to make it myself- so store bought ube halaya works for me!

The other most common form of ube used in desserts is ube extract, a super concentrated little bottle of ube flavour. A couple of drops will transform your batter or cream into an explosion of fragrant, bright purple ube. This is by far the easiest way to incorporate ube as it won’t impact the texture of your baked goods as mashed ube would, while giving you as much flavour as you could possibly want!

Tips to Perfecting Macarons

Throughout my macaron posts on this blog I have covered a lot of different topics. This time I’ll be covering the ingredients needed to create perfect macarons and which ones are best.

For other topics see…

• Crucial points when making macarons: Perfect macarons with salted milk tea caramel
• Frequently asked macaron questions and trouble shooting tips: Earl grey macarons
• Colouring macarons: Carrot cake macarons
• Creating character macarons: Tiktok frog macarons
• Creating macaron designs: Carrot cake macarons

If you are looking for a definitive guide to help you master your macarons I have an ebook which outlines the steps to make French and Italian macarons in detail. It includes photographic steps as well as a guide to the best ingredients and equipment needed to create that perfect macaron!

It also includes 6 exclusive recipes with detailed instructions to impress ????

Additional Tips for Making Ube Macarons

Sift Almond Flour and Sugar Twice

Double sifting the almond flour and powdered sugar ensures a smoother, lump-free batter. This helps achieve the signature smooth macaron shell and prevents hollow or bumpy tops.

Use an Oven Thermometer

Macarons are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Using an oven thermometer helps ensure that the internal temperature matches the setting, improving consistency and reducing overbaking or underbaking issues.

Pipe with Consistent Pressure and Size

Use a printed piping guide under your parchment or silicone mat to ensure that each macaron shell is the same size. Consistent pressure while piping helps achieve uniform shapes and even baking.

Use Room Temperature Ingredients

Egg whites whip better and create more stable meringue when they are at room temperature. Cold whites can lead to uneven air incorporation, resulting in weak peaks. Allow eggs to rest for at least 30 minutes before whipping.

Age the Egg Whites for Stability

Professional bakers often “age” egg whites for 24 to 48 hours by covering them loosely in the refrigerator. This process slightly dehydrates the whites, giving you more control over volume and stability during whipping.

Test Batter Consistency with the Figure-8 Method

A well-mixed macaron batter should flow slowly like lava. Use the “figure-8” test — when you can draw a figure-8 with the batter without it breaking, the consistency is ideal for piping. Overmixing can cause flat shells, while undermixing leads to cracked tops.

Control Humidity Levels During Drying

Macaron shells are sensitive to moisture in the air. If your kitchen is humid, extend drying time or use a dehumidifier. Shells should form a dry skin before baking — touching them lightly should leave no residue.

Rotate Baking Trays Midway

Every oven has hot spots. To ensure even color and texture, rotate the baking tray halfway through baking. This helps prevent browning on one side and ensures uniform rise and “feet” formation.

Allow Shells to Mature Before Serving

For best flavor and texture, refrigerate filled macarons for at least 24 hours before serving. This allows the buttercream or ganache to meld with the shells, creating the chewy-crisp contrast macarons are known for.

Add Coloring at the Right Stage

If you want a vibrant purple hue, add gel or powder coloring during the meringue stage rather than the macaronage phase. This ensures even dispersion without overmixing.

Freeze for Long-Term Storage

Place fully assembled macarons in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to one month. When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight to maintain structure and flavor.

Ube Macaron Variations

Coconut Ube Macarons

Incorporate finely shredded desiccated coconut into the ube buttercream or add a coconut ganache as a filling. This tropical combination brings out the richness of the ube and adds texture to the macarons.

Ube Cheesecake Macarons

Combine softened cream cheese with ube halaya and a touch of powdered sugar to create a tangy-sweet filling. This variation adds a cheesecake-inspired flavor that complements the nuttiness of the macaron shells.

Ube White Chocolate Ganache Macarons

Use a white chocolate ganache base infused with ube extract or halaya for a rich and creamy center. This filling creates a luxurious texture and enhances the sweetness of the ube.

Ube Pandan Macarons

Pair ube-flavored macaron shells with a pandan buttercream or pandan-flavored ganache. This flavor fusion offers a Southeast Asian twist and provides a colorful contrast of purple and green.

Ube Coconut Macarons

Enhance the tropical profile by incorporating toasted coconut flakes into the buttercream or sprinkling them lightly over the shells before baking. The nutty aroma of coconut balances the earthiness of ube beautifully.

Ube Cheesecake Macarons

Whip cream cheese with ube halaya, sugar, and a splash of lemon juice to create a tangy-sweet filling. The mild acidity lifts the buttery sweetness of the macaron, making it taste like a bite-sized cheesecake.

Ube White Chocolate Ganache

Create a rich filling using white chocolate melted with cream and a few drops of ube extract. The sweetness of white chocolate enhances ube’s nutty flavor while offering a velvety texture.

Ube Pandan Macarons

For a Southeast Asian twist, pair ube shells with pandan buttercream. The combination of purple and green creates a visually stunning and aromatic dessert that celebrates regional flavors.

Ube Mango Macarons

Blend dried mango powder or mango puree into your buttercream. The tanginess of mango complements the creamy sweetness of ube, adding a tropical contrast to each bite.

Ube Latte Macarons

Combine espresso powder and ube extract in the buttercream for a fusion of rich coffee and sweet yam. This flavor pairing captures the essence of café-style desserts in macaron form.

Ube Salted Caramel Macarons

Fill the shells with ube buttercream and drizzle salted caramel over the filling. The salty-sweet balance intensifies the dessert’s flavor complexity and adds a hint of luxury.

Serving Suggestions for Ube Macarons

Serve with Filipino Milk Tea or Iced Ube Latte

Pair ube macarons with chilled ube milk tea, coconut-infused coffee, or iced ube lattes for a thematic and complementary dessert-and-drink combination.

Present in Decorative Macaron Boxes

Arrange macarons in clear plastic gift boxes or pastel-colored tins lined with parchment for parties, holidays, or edible gifting. This presentation enhances the visual appeal and keeps the macarons fresh.

Serve on Mini Dessert Boards

Include ube macarons on a curated dessert board alongside other Filipino-inspired treats like leche flan, ube crinkle cookies, or cassava cake bites. This makes for a vibrant and cultural dessert spread.

Pair with Filipino Milk Tea or Iced Ube Latte

Serve your macarons alongside iced ube lattes, coconut milk tea, or a creamy Spanish latte for a cohesive flavor experience. The pairing enhances the ube’s nutty sweetness while balancing richness with refreshment.

Create a Dessert Charcuterie Board

Arrange ube macarons with mini cream puffs, matcha tarts, and coconut bites on a wooden platter. This approach adds visual appeal and gives guests a diverse flavor experience that highlights Asian-inspired desserts.

Present in Elegant Gift Packaging

Use pastel boxes or clear clamshells lined with tissue paper to display the macarons. A well-designed presentation elevates your dessert’s appeal and makes it suitable for gifting during festive occasions.

Serve with Ice Cream

Place ube macarons on a scoop of vanilla or coconut ice cream to create a plated dessert. The temperature contrast between warm macaron shells and cold ice cream provides a sensory delight.

Tea Party or Bridal Shower Treat

Feature these macarons at tea parties or bridal showers for a sophisticated touch. Their pastel purple hue fits perfectly into soft color palettes and upscale dessert tables.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Overwhipping the Meringue

Beating egg whites past stiff peaks causes dry, clumpy meringue that fails to blend smoothly during macaronage. Stop whipping once glossy peaks form that slightly bend at the tip.

Undermixing the Batter

If the batter is too thick, the shells will crack or develop peaks. Mix just until it flows in a slow ribbon. Practice and observation are key to mastering this stage.

Baking at Incorrect Temperatures

Macarons require consistent oven heat. If too hot, they brown quickly; if too cool, they remain sticky. Always use an oven thermometer to confirm internal accuracy before baking.

Skipping Resting Time

Failing to rest piped shells leads to cracked tops and missing feet. Ensure shells develop a dry outer layer before placing them in the oven.

Inconsistent Piping Pressure

Uneven piping creates shells of varying sizes that bake irregularly. Hold the piping bag vertically and apply steady pressure to maintain uniformity.

Print