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    Home » Desserts Recipes

    Ube Espasol Recipe

    Published: Jan 11, 2024 by Nora Reyes · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. · 2 Comments

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    Stacked pieces of Ube Espasol.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients you'll need
    • Notes and substitutions
    • How to make this recipe
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Filipino food with ube
    • Other dessert recipes you may like
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients you'll need

    Individual ingredients for Ube Espasol
    Salt is not in the photo.

    Notes and substitutions

    • Glutinous rice flour: Also known as sweet rice flour, this type of flour is made from sticky or sweet rice. It is not sweet, but it becomes chewy and sticky when cooked, giving espasol its signature texture.
    • Tapioca flour: I add a little bit of this for a chewier, more elastic texture. If you don’t have it, you can replace it with the same amount of glutinous rice flour.
    • Ube: This purple yam has a sweet, earthy flavor and vibrant color. You can also use frozen ube, or even purple sweet potatoes (like I did) as a substitute—they’re very similar in taste. If using ube halaya, reduce the sugar by ¼ cup.

    How to make this recipe

    Step 1: Combine the wet ingredients

    In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup mashed ube (I'm using purple sweet potatoes), 1 can of coconut milk, 1 cup brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon ube extract (optional), and a pinch of salt. Mix until the mixture is as smooth as possible.

    Mixing the ingredients in a bowl.

    Step 2: Toast the glutinous rice flour

    In a skillet or wok, toast 2¼ cups of sticky rice flour over medium heat. Keep stirring for about 20 minutes, until the flour turns light brown and smells nutty.

    If it starts to smoke, turn the heat down. You can raise the heat a little to speed things up, but be sure to stir more often to avoid burning. Once it's done, set aside ½ cup of the toasted flour for coating later.

    Toasting the glutinous rice flour in a wok.

    Step 3: Add the tapioca flour

    Reduce the heat to low and stir in ¼ cup of tapioca flour with the toasted rice flour. Keep mixing for about 2 minutes until well combined, then turn off the heat.

    Adding tapioca flour to the toasted glutinous rice flour in the wok.

    Step 4: Prepare your work surface

    Place a 12x12 inch piece of parchment paper (or banana leaf) on a flat surface like a cutting board or countertop. Use a fine-mesh strainer and sprinkle about a third of the reserved toasted flour evenly across the paper.

    Leave a little space around the edges without flour, depending on how thick you want your espasol to be.

    Dusting the parchment paper-lined cutting board using a fine-mesh strainer.

    Step 5: Combine the wet and dry ingredients

    Pour the wet ingredients into the pan with the rest of the flour. Set the heat to medium and mix everything together until smooth. Use a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon, as there will be a lot of mixing.

    Mixing the wet and dry ingredients in the wok.

    Step 6: Mix until thick

    Spread the mixture around the pan as you stir, and fold it by lifting it from the edges and turning it over to mix. Keep doing this for about 10 minutes.

    As it cooks, the mixture will become stickier, chewier, and darken slightly in color. When it thickens and becomes harder to stir, it’s ready!

    Folding and spreading the dough in the wok.

    Step 7: Spread the dough

    While the sticky dough is still warm and easier to work with, transfer it onto the sheet of parchment paper. Spread it out evenly to about ½ inch thick, or to your desired thickness.

    Spreading the cooked Ube Espasol on a parchment paper.

    Step 8: Coat the espasol

    Generously dust the top of the dough with toasted flour. Then, cut the dough into rectangular or cylindrical pieces (or whatever shape you prefer), using a knife or dough scraper.

    Roll each piece in more toasted flour for an extra layer of coating, shaking off any excess.

    Cutting the Ube Espasol into pieces using a dough scraper.

    Enjoy your freshly made Ube Espasol warm, or let it cool! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it and thaw at room temperature when you're ready to eat, so it becomes soft again.

    Stretching the Ube Espasol.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is Ube Espasol?

    Ube Espasol is a Filipino rice cake, or kakanin, with a fun twist on the classic espasol. It has a vibrant purple color and is made with glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and ube (purple yam).

    What does Ube Espasol taste like?

    Ube Espasol has a sweet, nutty flavor with the earthy, vanilla-like taste of ube. Its texture is soft and slightly chewy.

    Can I use regular rice flour?

    No, regular rice flour won’t work for this recipe. You need glutinous rice flour to get the chewy and sticky texture that makes espasol special.

    More Filipino food with ube

    • Ube Cheese Pandesal: Soft and fluffy Filipino bread rolls filled with ube halaya and cheese.
    • Ube Crinkles: Ube-flavored cookies rolled in powdered sugar.
    • Ube Ice Cream: Sorbetes-style ice cream with coconut milk and ube.
    • Ube Mamon: Light and airy sponge cakes flavored with ube.
    • Ube Puto: Soft and fluffy steamed cakes with ube, often topped with cheese.
    • Ube Cheesecake: Creamy ube-flavored cheesecake with a graham cookie crust.
    • Ube Turon: Saba bananas with ube halaya wrapped in lumpia wrappers and fried until crispy.
    • Ube Hopia: Flaky pastry rounds with ube filling.
    • Ube Suman sa Latik: Steamed rice cakes with ube, topped with latik or caramelized coconut curds.
    • Ube Kalamay: Purple rice cake with a thick and sticky consistency, topped with latik.
    • Ube Pastillas: Sweet, milky candies made with powdered milk and ube.
    • Ube Palitaw: Chewy rice patties flavored with ube, then coated in grated coconut and topped with sugar and sesame seeds/peanuts.

    Other dessert recipes you may like

    • crema de fruta on a spoon
      No-Bake Crema de Fruta (Filipino Layered Fruit Cake)
    • Holding a piece of Tikoy Roll.
      Tikoy Rolls
    • A slice of biko on a banana leaf.
      Biko
    • Bibingkang Malagkit on a plate with banana leaf.
      Bibingkang Malagkit

    Did you make this recipe? I would love to know! Your feedback helps me make better recipes.  Please rate, review, or comment below. Questions about this recipe are welcome, too!

    Let's connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube. Be sure to tag me when you try any of my recipes @recipesbynora!

    📖 Recipe

    Ube Espasol picked by fork.

    Ube Espasol

    Ube-flavored chewy rice cakes, a twist on the traditional espasol.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Filipino
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24
    Calories: 101kcal
    Author: Nora Rey
    Cost: $5-$7

    Equipment

    • Non-stick sauté pan or a pan with high sides
    • Spatula or wooden spoon
    • Parchment paper or banana leaves (12x12 inch)
    • Fine mesh strainer
    • Knife or pastry cutter (also known as a bench scraper)

    Ingredients

    • 2¼ cups glutinous rice flour (see note)
    • ¼ cup tapioca flour (see note)
    • 1 cup ube or purple yam boiled and mashed (see note)
    • 1 (13.5-oz) can coconut milk (about 1⅔ cups)
    • 1 cup brown or granulated sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon ube extract or flavoring optional
    • A pinch of salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • In a medium bowl, combine coconut milk, mashed ube, brown sugar, ube extract (if using), and a pinch of salt. Stir until you have a smooth mixture.
    • In a skillet or wok, toast 2¼ cups of glutinous rice flour over medium heat. Keep stirring for about 20 minutes, until the flour turns light brown and smells nice and nutty.
      If it starts to smoke, turn down the heat. If you want to speed up the process, you can raise the heat a bit, but make sure to stir even more often to prevent burning.
    • Set aside ½ cup of the toasted flour for coating.
    • Reduce the heat to low and stir in ¼ cup of tapioca flour with the toasted rice flour. Keep mixing for about 2 minutes until well combined, then turn off the heat.
    • Place a 12x12 inch piece of parchment paper (or banana leaf) on a flat surface. Using a fine-mesh strainer, sprinkle about a third of the reserved toasted flour evenly across the paper.
      Leave a little space around the edges without flour, depending on how thick you want your espasol to be.
    • Pour the wet ingredients into the pan with the remaining flour. Set the heat to medium and mix everything together until smooth.
    • Spread the mixture around the pan as you stir, and fold it by lifting it from the edges and turning it over to mix. Keep doing this for about 10 minutes.
      As it cooks, the mixture will become stickier, chewier, and darken slightly in color. When it thickens and becomes harder to stir, it’s ready.
    • While the dough is still warm and easier to work with, transfer it onto the prepared parchment paper. Spread it out evenly to about ½ inch thick, or to your preferred thickness.
    • Generously dust the top of the dough with toasted flour. Then, cut the dough into rectangular or cylindrical pieces (depending on your preference), using a knife or dough scraper. Roll each piece in more toasted flour, shaking off any extra flour. Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Glutinous rice flour: This type of flour is made from sticky or sweet rice. It becomes chewy and sticky when cooked.
    • Tapioca flour: I add a little bit of this for a chewier, more elastic texture. If you don’t have it, you can replace it with the same amount of glutinous rice flour.
    • Ube: This purple yam has a sweet, earthy flavor and vibrant color. You can use frozen ube, or even purple sweet potatoes as a substitute—they’re very similar in taste. If using ube halaya, reduce the sugar by ¼ cup.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 75mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 9IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.2mg
    Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided here is solely for informational purposes. I am not a certified nutritionist, and this data hasn't been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or any other authority. It shouldn't be seen as health or nutrition advice. The figures are estimates calculated from various food composition databases and might vary based on product types, brands, natural variations in produce, and ingredient processing methods. Individual results may differ.
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @recipesbynora or tag #RecipesByNora!

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    About the author

    Hi, I'm Nora! 

    Whether you're new to Filipino food or have loved it for so long, I sure am happy you're here!  I hope you'll find useful recipes that you can enjoy and share with family and friends.

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    Comments

    1. Len

      January 21, 2024 at 11:50 pm

      5 stars
      Sssoooooooo goooood!!!!!

      Reply
      • Nora Reyes

        January 22, 2024 at 10:47 pm

        Hi Len, thank you so much! Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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