Ube Tiramisu Recipe: The Purple Twist Your Tiramisu Needed

Ube Tiramisu Recipe: The Purple Twist Your Tiramisu Needed

Creamy mascarpone. Coffee-soaked ladyfingers. Layers of rich, velvety ube.

Meet Ube Tiramisu — a purple twist on the iconic Italian dessert that combines the creamy indulgence of classic tiramisu with the naturally nutty, subtly sweet flavor of ube.

If you're looking for an easy ube tiramisu recipe, this one delivers all the layers and creaminess you want from tiramisu, with a seriously beautiful purple upgrade.

And yes, it looks almost too good to eat.

Almost.

What Is Ube Tiramisu?

Ube tiramisu combines the basic structure of traditional tiramisu with ube, also known as purple yam.

Instead of relying only on the traditional mascarpone filling, we add ube powder to create a smooth purple mascarpone cream with a subtle earthy, nutty sweetness.

The result?

A dessert that's creamy, coffee-forward and unmistakably ube.

Why Make Tiramisu With Ube Powder?

Using 100% ube powder is one of the easiest ways to bring ube into homemade desserts.

Unlike heavily sweetened ube spreads or flavored syrups, pure ube powder gives you more control over the sweetness and lets you adjust the intensity of the ube flavor yourself.

For this recipe, we use ALATA 100% Ube Powder.

No artificial purple coloring is needed — the ube is already the star.

Ube Tiramisu Recipe

Prep time: 25 minutes
Chill time: 6 hours minimum
Servings: 6–8
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the ube mascarpone cream:

  • 500 g mascarpone cheese

  • 250 ml heavy whipping cream

  • 60–80 g powdered sugar, depending on desired sweetness

  • 2–3 tbsp ALATA Ube Powder

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 2–4 tbsp milk, as needed

For the tiramisu layers:

  • 200–250 g ladyfinger biscuits

  • 250 ml freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee, cooled

  • 1–2 tbsp sugar, optional

  • Extra ALATA Ube Powder for dusting

How to Make Ube Tiramisu

Step 1: Prepare the Ube

Place the ube powder in a small bowl.

Add a few tablespoons of warm milk and whisk until it forms a smooth, thick mixture.

This helps hydrate the ube powder before adding it to the mascarpone cream and creates a smoother final texture.

Allow it to cool before continuing.

Step 2: Make the Ube Mascarpone Cream

Add the mascarpone, powdered sugar and vanilla to a large bowl and mix gently until smooth.

Add the prepared ube mixture and continue mixing until the cream becomes evenly purple.

In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until medium-stiff peaks form.

Gently fold the whipped cream into the ube mascarpone mixture.

Don't overmix it — we want that cream light, fluffy and dangerously spoonable.

Step 3: Prepare the Coffee

Brew your espresso or strong coffee and allow it to cool completely.

Pour it into a shallow bowl.

If you prefer a sweeter tiramisu, stir in a little sugar while the coffee is still warm.

Step 4: Dip the Ladyfingers

Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled coffee.

And we mean quickly.

About one second per side is enough.

If you leave them soaking for too long, they'll absorb too much coffee and your beautiful tiramisu can turn soggy.

Step 5: Build Your Ube Tiramisu

Arrange a layer of coffee-dipped ladyfingers across the bottom of your serving dish.

Spread approximately half of the ube mascarpone cream evenly over the top.

Add another layer of dipped ladyfingers.

Finish with the remaining ube mascarpone cream and smooth the top.

Step 6: Let It Chill

Cover the tiramisu and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

For the best texture and flavor, leave it in the refrigerator overnight.

We know.

Waiting is the hardest ingredient.

Step 7: Give It the Purple Finish

Right before serving, lightly dust the top with ALATA Ube Powder.

You can keep the surface clean and minimal or go completely purple.

We support both decisions.

Slice, serve and enjoy.

Tips for the Best Ube Tiramisu

Hydrate your ube powder first. Mixing the powder with a small amount of warm liquid before adding it to the mascarpone helps create a smoother texture.

Don't drown the ladyfingers. A very quick dip is enough.

Give it time. Tiramisu gets better after several hours in the fridge because the layers have time to soften and come together.

Adjust the ube intensity. Start with two tablespoons of ube powder and add more if you want a stronger ube flavor and deeper purple color.

Make it the night before. Ube tiramisu is an ideal make-ahead dessert for dinner parties because most of the work is finished before your guests arrive.

What Does Ube Tiramisu Taste Like?

Ube has a naturally mild, slightly sweet and nutty flavor.

Combined with mascarpone, it becomes creamy and rich without overpowering the coffee-soaked ladyfingers.

Think classic tiramisu — but nuttier, more colorful and a little less predictable.

Can You Make Tiramisu With Ube Powder?

Absolutely.

Ube powder works particularly well in creamy desserts because it can be hydrated and incorporated directly into mascarpone, whipped cream, custards and other fillings.

The important part is to hydrate the powder before mixing it into the cream rather than adding a large amount of dry powder directly to the mascarpone.

Can I Make Ube Tiramisu Without Coffee?

Yes.

If you want the ube flavor to take center stage, replace the espresso with milk, coconut milk or another complementary non-coffee soaking liquid.

This also creates a naturally caffeine-free version when the remaining ingredients you use are caffeine-free.

How Long Does Ube Tiramisu Last?

Store your ube tiramisu covered in the refrigerator and enjoy it within approximately 2–3 days for the best texture and freshness.

Because the recipe contains mascarpone and fresh cream, keep it refrigerated rather than leaving it at room temperature for extended periods.

Ube Tiramisu FAQ

What is ube?

Ube is a purple yam, botanically known as Dioscorea alata. It is known for its naturally purple color and subtly sweet, nutty flavor and is widely used in Filipino cuisine, particularly in desserts.

Is ube the same as purple sweet potato?

No. Although they're often confused because of their purple appearance, ube and purple sweet potato are different plants with different flavor profiles and characteristics.

Can I use ube powder for tiramisu?

Yes. Ube powder is an easy way to incorporate ube into tiramisu. Hydrating it before mixing it into your mascarpone filling helps achieve a smoother consistency.

How much ube powder should I use in tiramisu?

For approximately 500 g of mascarpone, start with around 2 tablespoons of ube powder. Increase the amount gradually if you prefer a stronger ube flavor.

Does ube contain caffeine?

Ube itself does not naturally contain caffeine. However, traditional tiramisu contains coffee, so this particular recipe will contain caffeine unless you replace the coffee with a caffeine-free alternative.

A New Way to Ube

Tiramisu didn't exactly need fixing.

But we're pretty happy this happened.

Whether you're discovering ube for the first time or looking for another way to use the purple powder sitting in your kitchen, this ube tiramisu recipe is an easy place to start.

Creamy. Nutty. Coffee-soaked. Purple.

Basically, everything a dessert should be.

MAKE IT PURPLE. MAKE IT ALATA.