Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (2024)

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

Ube chiffon cake is light, airy and melts-in-your-mouth. With its vibrant purple colour and delicious ube flavour, it’s perfect for special occasions. Easy to make, it’s great as an everyday cake too!

(Looking for a recipe for ube cake with frosting? Check out this delicious ube purple yam cake frosted with the most delightful ube Swiss meringue buttercream.)

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (1)

Jump To hide

What is ube?

What is chiffon cake?

Ingredients for ube chiffon cake

Tools you need to make this chiffon cake recipe

How to make ube chiffon cake

Chiffon cake troubleshooting guide

Other ube purple Filipino dessert recipes

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe

As much as I love frosting, I love simple cakes more. Cakes that aren’t overwhelmingly sweet that you can’t, ironically, stop eating it lol.

This ube chiffon cake is like that. No frosting. Not even a glaze. It’s great on its own it doesn’t need anything else.

I also like that it’s light and fluffy but has a depth to it, you know what I mean? It’s also moist and wonderfully packed with that distinct ube flavour.

It’s a lovely cake to serve to company; who wouldn’t be impressed by that bright colour? But it’s also so simple and easy to make, you can bake it any day just because. And if you’re a fan of ube like me, you’d want to make this cake all the time.

What is ube?

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (2)

Ube (pronounced ooh-bae) is purple yam native to the Philippines. It’s sweet but not too sweet; starchy but not as starchy as sweet potatoes. It’s packed with nutrients too.

Every year, ube climbs up the trendy, must-try food ladder not only because of its bright purple hue but also because of its very unique taste. And I say it’s about time.

Filipinos around the world have been eating (and loving) the lowly ube forever and it’s wonderful that it’s finally given the attention it deserves.

I have a ton of delicious ube dessert recipes here on TUB (just type “ube” on the search bar) but I have never been 100% successful describing how ube tastes like. It’s definitely something you want to try for yourself.

Ube jam is the most widely available kind of ube dessert that you can try. Not all jams are created equal though. And some are downright bad to be honest with you.

I’m partial to the original Good Shepherd ube jam so grab one if you can find it! Homemade ube halaya is great too.

What is chiffon cake?

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (3)

To quote Wikipedia:

A chiffon cake is a very light cake made with vegetable oil, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and flavourings. Its distinctive feature is from the use of vegetable oil, instead of the traditional fat which is solid at room temperature, such as butter or shortening.

This means chiffon cakes are very soft and very light. Egg whites are also usually beaten and added separately to the cake batter and this further adds to the airy texture chiffon cakes have.

Chiffon cakes are part of the sponge cake family. Here’s a helpful intro into the wonderful wide world of sponge cakes.

Ingredients for ube chiffon cake

Now on to baking our ube chiffon cake! You’ll need:

Cake flour has lower protein content than all-purpose flour and results to soft, delicate, fine-crumbed cakes like chiffon cakes and angel food cakes. If you only have all-purpose flour, you can still make chiffon cake by adding cornstarchUbe Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (9) into your mixture.

Here’s a great guide on how to make cake flour with all-purpose flour.

Tools you need to make this chiffon cake recipe

As far as tools go, you’ll need to have a tube pan with a removable bottom. If you’re in the market for one, you want to buy one with a removable bottom that doesn’t leak and has “feet” on its rim to lift the cake up as it cools.

Other than that, the rest of the tools you need are pretty basic:

  • Electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment
  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring cups and spoons

How to make ube chiffon cake

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (10)

1. PREP TUBE PAN. Adjust your baking rack to the lower third/lower middle position and preheat oven to 325F. Line the bottom of a 16-cup tube pan with parchment paper (see guide below) and set aside.

2. COMBINE INGREDIENTS. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, salt and baking powder until combined. Add whole eggs, egg yolks, water, oil, ube extract and whisk until smooth.

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (11)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (12)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (13)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (14)

3. ADD EGG WHITES. Add egg whites you’ve whipped to stiff peaks to your cake batter and fold until combined. Handle carefully so as not to deflate the air out of your egg whites.

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (15)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (16)

4. TRANSFER TO PAN AND BAKE. Transfer your cake batter into your cake pan and smoothen the top with a spatula. Gently tap the pan on your counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Bake for 30 minutes, rotate the pan, then bake for another 30 minutes or until a bamboo skewer inserted into the cake comes out with minimal dry crumbs.

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (17)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (18)

5. COOL ON COUNTER. If your tube pan has “feet” on its rim, invert pan to cool cake. If your pan doesn’t have feet, invert your pan over the neck of a bottle so that the air can circulate. Cool completely; about a couple of hours.

6. REMOVE FROM PAN AND SERVE. To remove the cake from the pan, run a thin knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake then gently tap upside down (I like catching the cake onto a piece of parchment paper or on a cutting board). Peel off parchment paper on the bottom of the cake, turn the cake right side up on a cake platter and enjoy!

Chiffon cake troubleshooting guide

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (19)

How do I know if my cake is done baking?

You’ll know your chiffon cake is done baking if the bamboo skewer you inserted comes out with minimal dry crumbs. This means if it comes out with wet chunks of batter, it needs to bake some more.

The cake should also be lightly springy to the touch.If cake batter sticks to your finger or doesn’t produce a bit of resistance, it’s not done.

Why is my ube chiffon cake dry and rubbery?

When they say baking is a science, they’re not kidding! Several factors can contribute to a rubbery cake, like:

  • Over-mixing the batter or mixing it too heavy-handedly; this results to heavy, dense, rubbery cakes.
  • Your oven temperature might have been too high; invest in an oven thermometerUbe Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (20) so you know you’re always baking at the right temperature.
  • The cake baked for too long; over-baking cakes causes it to lose moisture and become dry and rubbery.

It’s good to always read the recipe beforehand but also trust your gut because you know your oven best. If you think your cake needs to stay in the oven longer or needs to be taken out earlier, you’re probably right.

Why did my chiffon cake collapse after baking?

Again, there are several factors you need to consider.

  • Did you beat the egg whites properly? Not beating the egg whites enough will cause the cake to collapse; over-beating them will result to a dense cake.
  • Did you grease your pan? I hope not! The cake batter needs to cling to the sides and centre of the tube pan in order to rise. Some bakers suggest using a non non-stick pan for optimal results but I’ve always baked my chiffon cakes in my non-stick pan and they turn out fine. I just don’t grease them when baking chiffon cakes.
  • Did you bake at the right temperature? If your oven temperature is too low, your chiffon cake will not rise properly. Again, an oven thermometer helps a lot.
  • How did you cool your chiffon cake? It’s important to invert your tube pan while the cake cools. Otherwise, it will collapse onto itself.

Help! My cake is stuck in the pan.

Usually, the best way to avoid cake sticking to a pan is greasing the pan before pouring the batter into it.

However, chiffon cakes need to stick to the sides and centre of your pan to help it rise. Which is fine because it’s easy enough to run a thin, sharp knife around the edges and centre of the pan to detach your cake.

The bottom part is a little bit more challenging so I always line it with parchment paper. Tube pans are tricky to line with parchment so here’s a handy guide.

How to line a tube pan with parchment paper

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (21)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (22)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (23)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (24)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (25)

Other ube purple Filipino dessert recipes

Ube is one of my favourite ingredients to work with. Ready to get on the ube train? Here are other ube recipes you can try.

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (26)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (27)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (28)
Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (29)
  • Ube cupcakes are little ube cakes packed with big ube flavour. Soft, dense and just the right amount of sweet. This recipe has video and step-by-step photos so you can follow along easily.
  • Homemade ube ice cream is bright, purple and bursting with delicious ube flavour. Bonus: you don’t need an ice cream maker!
  • Ube crinkles are soft, fluffy and perfect for the holidays! Check out the video to see how easy they are to bake.
  • For the ultimate ube treat, make ube cheesecake. It’s everything you ever wanted in an ube dessert. Luxurious ube cheesecake filling on a bed of crunchy coconut cookie crust then topped with creamy coconut whipped cream.

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (30)

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe

Author: Jolina

Ube chiffon cake is light, airy and melts-in-your-mouth. With its vibrant purple colour and delicious ube flavour, it’s perfect for special occasions. Easy to make, it’s great as an everyday cake too!

5 from 62 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Cooling Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Filipino

Servings 12 people

Calories 238 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups sifted cake flour
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 pcs large eggs room temperature
  • 5 pcs egg yolks from large eggs room temperature
  • ¾ cup water room temperature
  • ½ cup canola oil can also use vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp ube extract
  • 5 pcs egg whites from large eggs room temperature
  • ½ tsp cream of tartar

Instructions

  • Adjust your baking rack to the lower third/lower middle position and preheat oven to 325F. Line a 16-cup tube pan with parchment paper (see post) and set aside.

    Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (31)

  • In a large bowl, whisk 1 ½ cups cake flour, 1 ½ cups sugar, 2 tsp baking powder and ½ tsp salt until combined.

    Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (32)

  • Add 2 whole eggs, 5 egg yolks, ¾ cup water, ½ cup oil and 2 tbsp ube extract and whisk until smooth.

    Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (33)

  • Using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip 5 eggs whites with ½ tsp cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy. Switch to medium-high speed and whip until stiff peaks form.

  • Add egg whites to your egg yolk mixture and fold until incorporated and you don't see streaks of egg whites remain. Handle carefully so as not to deflate the air out of your egg whites.

    Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (34)

  • Transfer your cake batter into your tube pan and smoothen the top with a spatula. Gently tap the pan on your counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Bake for 30 minutes, rotate the pan, then bake for another 30 minutes or until a bamboo skewer inserted into the cake comes out with minimal dry crumbs.

    Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (35)

  • If your tube pan has “feet” on its rim, invert pan to cool cake. If your pan doesn’t have feet, invert your pan over the neck of a bottle so that the air can circulate. Cool completely; about a couple of hours.

  • To remove, run a thin knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake then gently tap upside down (I like catching the cake onto a piece of parchment paper or on a cutting board). Peel off parchment paper on the bottom of the cake, turn the cake right side up on a cake platter and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  1. See post for chiffon cake troubleshooting guide, how to line a tube pan and the complete step-by-step photos.
  2. Ube chiffon cake can be stored on the counter at room temperature for up to 2 days and in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 100mgPotassium: 104mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 6IUCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information are estimates only.

Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating today!Also tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I’d love to see your creations.

Happy baking!

Did you make this ube chiffon cake recipe? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below. And check this out if you’re looking for more Filipino dessert recipes!

Ube Chiffon Cake Recipe (with Video Instructions) (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Sen. Emmett Berge

Last Updated:

Views: 5745

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Emmett Berge

Birthday: 1993-06-17

Address: 787 Elvis Divide, Port Brice, OH 24507-6802

Phone: +9779049645255

Job: Senior Healthcare Specialist

Hobby: Cycling, Model building, Kitesurfing, Origami, Lapidary, Dance, Basketball

Introduction: My name is Sen. Emmett Berge, I am a funny, vast, charming, courageous, enthusiastic, jolly, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.