Ube Cinnamon Rolls

Ube is a purple yam originally from the Philippines, known for its nutty, vanilla-like flavor and stunning color. We use it in our ube latte syrup, but this flavor deserves a spotlight beyond the cup. Its natural sweetness and subtle earthiness pair beautifully with cinnamon, brown sugar, and creamy frosting for the most decadent cinnamon rolls.

Recipe:

Dough:

• ¾ cup lukewarm water

• 2½ tsp active dry yeast

• 1 tbsp sugar

• ⅓ cup sugar

• 1 egg, whisked

• 1 egg yolk, whisked

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp kosher salt

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

• 2 tbsp ube syrup (added with wet ingredients for color & flavor!)

  Dough:

• ⅓ cup unsalted butter, room temp

• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

• 2 tbsp cinnamon

• ⅛ tsp ground cloves

• ⅛ tsp nutmeg

• 1–2 tbsp ube syrup (swirl into the filling mixture for bonus flavor & that beautiful purple hue)
  

  Frosting:

• 4 oz cream cheese, room temp

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ¾ cup powdered sugar, sifted

• 1tbsp of ube syrup
  

 Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix lukewarm water, yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes until bubbly.

2. In a larger bowl, mix flour, salt, remaining sugar, eggs, melted butter, and ube syrup. Add the yeast mixture and stir until a rough dough forms.

3. Knead for 8–10 minutes on a floured surface (or with a stand mixer). Add flour if too sticky.

4. Let rise in a warm place for 1½–2 hours (we love the trick of warming the oven to 175°F, turning it off, and letting the dough rise inside).

5. While it rises, mix your filling ingredients, swirling in ube syrup at the end.

6. Roll out the dough, spread the filling evenly, and roll up tightly. Slice with floss into 8–12 rolls.

7. Let rolls rise again for 30 minutes in your baking dish. Preheat oven to 350°F.

8. Pour a bit of heavy cream over each roll before baking—trust us.

9. Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and fragrant.

10. Whip together your frosting ingredients. Once the rolls cool slightly, slather them generously.
    

We love seeing how creative people get with our syrups, and this recipe is such a fun way to bring that flavor into your kitchen. Whether you’re baking to share or just to treat yourself, we hope these ube rolls bring you as much joy as they brought us.

And hey, if you don’t have time to whip up cinnamon rolls from scratch, our ube latte might just do the trick.

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Alo Ochoa

Alo is often found behind the bar at the Highwood Cafe. When she's not crafting drinks, she's listening to history podcasts or perfecting her latest baking creation