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This creamy and colorful ube latte is sweet and refreshing! Ube extract is mixed with ice and almond milk, then topped with strong espresso. Skip the coffee shop and enjoy this simple iced latte at home!Fresh ube is a purple yam that's been a staple in the Philippines for a long time! It's a popular vegetable in Filipino markets that resemble purple sweet potatoes. It has a sweet, nutty flavor similar to vanilla or coconut with a bright purple flesh.
It's taken the food world by storm, and for good reason! It has a gorgeous purple hue and sweet taste that's delicious in more than just coffee. Ube halaya (ube jam) can be found in everything from pancakes to brownies and desserts like ube ice cream.
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And since Starbucks hasn't yet unveiled an ube latte, I knew I had to make mine at home. Thanks to its growing popularity, it's easier than ever. Ube extract mimics the taste and color of sweet ube! Enjoy this refreshing latte for a morning pick-me-up or an afternoon treat.
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- A dreamy swap from the usual
- Sweet vanilla taste
- Switch up your daily beverage fix
- Sweet & colorful summer drink
- Gorgeous purple color
- Low sugar and gluten free
- Dairy-free & vegan ube iced latte
- Best ube latte made at home
- No need for an ube latte mix or ube latte kit!
🥘 Ingredients
You only need five simple ingredients for this ube latte recipe!
Ube Extract: Ube flavoring does a great job capturing the flavor of this purple yam. I prefer to buy mine online, but you can find it at specialty food stores too.
Ice: To keep your iced ube (purple yam) latte refreshingly cold! I like to go heavy on the ice since the espresso melts some of it.
Almond Milk: I prefer dairy-free plant-based milk, but dairy milk works too! Feel free to swap in your favorite cold milk, sweetened or unsweetened.
Sugar: This is optional, but a nice touch. Be sure to mix it with the hot espresso so it dissolves before it gets cold again.
Espresso: If you don't have an espresso maker, don't worry, instant coffee and hot water works in a pinch! There are other ways to make a shot of espresso. If you have a French press, you can make a more concentrated version of coffee to top your latte.
📖 Variations
- Milk: Whole milk, oat, almond, cashew, unsweetened coconut milk, or any of your favorite milks work great for this recipe! Switch them up as you please.
- Ube jam: Some ube recipes call for ube jam instead of ube extract. It can be harder to find, but if you do find it, snag it! You can substitute the ube extract with 2 to 3 tablespoons of ube jam. Stir it into the milk and warm until dissolved, then follow the recipe as directed.
- Toppings: Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ube powder for a bright and cheery finish!
- Sweeteners: Maple syrup, vanilla syrup, brown sugar, coconut sugar, condensed milk, simple syrup, and honey are great options! If you like it extra sweet, vanilla flavors the latte perfectly!
- Ube Matcha Latte: This purple yam tastes great with matcha powder! Add a teaspoon of matcha powder to the milk and ube extract. Stir well until dissolved then top with hot espresso!
- Ube Coffee Latte: If you prefer a cup of coffee to espresso, make a coffee latte instead! Stir 1/2 cup of hot coffee with the ube extract, then top with frothed hot milk!
- Cold Brew: Use cold brew instead of espresso! Mix the purple yam extract with the cold brew, then top with your milk of choice! Sweeten with vanilla extract or syrup.
- Ube Horchata: In a tall glass, combine simple syrup, ube flavoring, rice milk, and cinnamon. Top with lots of ice!
- Ube Bubble Tea: Add ube extract to homemade bubble tea!
🔪 Instructions
Add Ube Extract: Drop the purple yam extract into the bottom of a tall glass. Add Ice: Fill the glass with ice cubes.
Stir In Almond Milk: Pour in the cold almond milk and stir until well combined.
Top With Espresso: Combine the sugar with the hot espresso then top the ube milk with it. Serve: Enjoy immediately!
❓ Recipe FAQs
Are ube lattes healthy?
The answer is, it depends! Ube lattes can be really healthy if they're made with minimal added sugar, as the ube + coffee provide powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Just watch out for any ube latte recipes that have a lot of syrups or added sugars - that would be more of a dessert than a healthy drink. Our purple yam latte recipe is super healthy and happens to be vegan, low in calories, low in sugar, and gluten free!
What does ube coffee taste like?
Ube has notes of vanilla and coconut with a nutty-like flavor. It pairs well with strong espresso and creamy milk.
Is ube and purple sweet potato the same?
No, ube is a purple variety of yam, not a purple sweet potato. This purple yam is grown on vines above ground, while sweet potatoes grow underneath the soil. They are similar in flavor with the sweet potato having a drier texture.
What's the difference between a latte and an iced latte?
A latte is made with hot espresso and steamed milk. An iced latte is made with chilled espresso, milk, and plenty of ice! Both can be flavored and sweetened however you please.
Can I make this creamy iced ube latte ahead of time?
Yes! Iced lattes can be refrigerated for up to 2 days ahead of time. I recommend making the espresso ahead of time and chilling it, then assembling the latte once ready to drink it.
💭 Expert Tips
- Be sure to mix the sugar with the hot espresso so it dissolves. But if you're using a liquid sweetener, there's no need to mix it with hot espresso first, because it's already dissolved and ready to go into your iced drink.
- I prefer ube extract, but ube tea drops or ube jam work great too.
- Use high-quality dark roast coffee beans for best results.
- For a hot ube latte, heat the milk in the microwave, then use a milk frother to froth it.
- Make your own simple syrup to sweeten all your coffee drinks! Simply boil equal parts sugar and water, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
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📋 Recipe Card
Ube Latte
This creamy and colorful ube latte is sweet and refreshing! Ube extract is mixed with ice and almond milk, then topped with strong espresso. Skip the coffee shop and enjoy this simple iced latte at home!
- Any milk can be used instead of almond milk.
- Top with whipped cream as an added option.
- Recipe can be doubled and is best served immediately.
- Ube latte can also be made without coffee by simply removing the coffee and adding an extra ½ cup milk.
- Be sure to mix the sugar with the hot espresso so it dissolves. But if you're using a liquid sweetener, there's no need to mix it with hot espresso first, because it's already dissolved and ready to go into your iced drink.
- I prefer ube extract, but ube tea drops or ube jam work great too.
- Use high-quality dark roast coffee beans for best results.
- For a hot ube latte, heat the milk in the microwave, then use a milk frother to froth it.
- Make your own simple syrup to sweeten all your coffee drinks! Simply boil equal parts sugar and water, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, and refrigerate for up to 1 month.