If you’re on the hunt for the perfect Ube Crinkle Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling, look no further! These Filipino crinkle cookies are a stunning treat—crackly on the outside, chewy in the middle, and oozing with a velvety cream cheese center. Combining the earthy sweetness of ube (purple yam) and a creamy surprise, they’re the kind of cookies that disappear fast from the dessert tray!
In this guide, we’ll show you how to make these ube cream cheese cookies from scratch, suggest essential tools and ingredients via Rakuten, and link you to other sweet treats you’ll love. Ready to bake your way to purple perfection? Let’s go!
Why You’ll Love These Ube Crinkle Cookies
- Beautifully Purple: Thanks to ube extract and ube halaya, the color is vibrant and naturally eye-catching.
- Creamy Center: The cream cheese filling adds a tangy, rich contrast to the sweet cookie dough.
- Family Favorite: Perfect for parties, holiday platters, or anytime you crave something sweet.
- 🇵🇭 Inspired by Filipino Flavors: Ube is a beloved ingredient in many Filipino dessert recipes, and this one is a modern classic!
Ingredients & Tools You’ll Need
Here are some of the kitchen tools and ingredients I recommend. These links contain Amazon affiliate products for easy ordering:
- Ube Extract – McCormick Purple Yam Flavoring
- Hand Mixer with Dough Hooks
- Silicone Baking Mat Set
- Cookie Scoop Set for Even Baking
- Ube Halaya Jam (Purple Yam Jam)
How to Make Ube Crinkle Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling
These chewy ube cookies are easier to make than you might think! Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll do:
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: Combine cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Scoop into small balls and freeze.
- Prepare the Ube Cookie Dough: Beat butter, sugar, ube halaya, and extract. Add eggs and dry ingredients to form a thick dough.
- Wrap the Filling: Enclose each frozen cream cheese ball with cookie dough.
- Roll in Sugar: Coat each ball in granulated sugar, then roll it in powdered sugar.
- Bake and Cool: Bake until the top is crackly and the center is just set. Cool before serving.
Full Recipe Card
Ube Crinkle Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
Servings: 20 cookies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 42 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Filipino Fusion
Estimated Cost: $10
Keywords: Ube Crinkle Cookies, Filipino crinkle cookies, purple yam cookies
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
- Cookie Scoop
- Baking Sheet
- Silicone Mats
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Filling
- 115 g (4 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp ube extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Rolling
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
1. Freeze Filling
Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Scoop into 20 small balls and freeze for 30 minutes.
2. Make Dough
In a bowl, cream butter, sugar, and ube halaya until fluffy. Add the egg, ube extract, and vanilla extract. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until a thick, vibrant purple dough forms.
3. Shape Cookies
Scoop a portion of dough, flatten it, and place a frozen cream cheese ball in the center. Wrap the dough around the filling and roll it into a ball.
4. Sugar Coat
Roll each dough ball first in granulated sugar, then in powdered sugar until fully coated.
5. Bake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking tray with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Place cookies 2 inches apart and bake for 11–12 minutes until crinkled and just set. Cool on a tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.
Nutrition (per cookie)
- Calories: 160
- Carbs: 21g
- Fat: 8g
- Protein: 2g
- Sugar: 13g
FAQs: Ube Crinkle Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling
❓Can I use ube powder instead of ube halaya?
Yes! Hydrate ube powder with water or milk and let it cool before adding it to the dough. Ube halaya offers more moisture and sweetness.
❓Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can refrigerate the dough for 24 hours or freeze shaped, unbaked cookies for up to 1 month.
❓What does ube taste like?
Ube has a slightly nutty, vanilla-like flavor with subtle earthy tones. It’s not overly sweet, making it the perfect partner for cream cheese.
Love This? Try These Too!
Here are some other desserts from the blog you must check out:
- Raspberry Mousseline – Light & Fruity!
- Caramel Waffles Recipe
- Chocolate Fondant – Decadent and Gooey
- Creamy Mango Mousse Cake
- Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe
Other Blogs You’ll Love
We’re all about sharing the foodie love. Here are a few other reputable food blogs featuring delicious crinkle or ube variations:
- The Little Epicurean – Ube Crinkle Cookies
- Kawaling Pinoy – Classic Ube Halaya Recipe
- Foxy Folksy – Filipino Ube Desserts
Final Thoughts: Bake a Batch of Filipino Flavor!
There’s no denying the magical pull of Ube Crinkle Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling. With their gorgeous purple hue, rich center, and soft crinkled texture, they’re a showstopper in every sense. Try this recipe and tag us with your results—we’d love to feature your baking on the blog!
If you enjoyed this Filipino twist on classic cookies, don’t miss our favorite dessert recipes for even more sweet inspiration!
