Ube Pancake Bites for breakfast? Oh, heck yes. We’ve all had those mornings—you’re running late, the kids are hangry (or maybe you’re the hangry one), and you just can’t face another boring piece of toast. That’s where these sweet and fun Filipino treats come in. Mini Ube Pancake Bites are my personal kitchen hack for when you need something special but don’t have ages to spare. Trust me, you’ll never look at boxed pancakes the same way again. 
Ingredients
Alright, grocery list time. Don’t worry, you won’t need to raid some obscure market! All these can be found at most Asian stores (or heck, try the international aisle at your local big-box). Here’s what you need for classic Mini Ube Pancake Bites:
- 1 cup pancake mix (just the regular kind, nothing fancy)
- 2 eggs (I always use large, but honestly—whatever you’ve got)
- 1/2 cup milk (full-fat? Delicious. But any works)
- 1/2 cup ube halaya (store-bought or your own, like in my ube halaya from frozen yam recipe)
- 1 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil
- 2 tbsp sugar (personally, I like ‘em sweet)
- Pinch of salt (just a tiny bit)
That’s it, really. The magic’s in the ube (aka Filipino purple yam).
Mix Ube Batter
Honestly, even if you’re half-awake, you’ll nail this. All you do is toss your pancake mix, eggs, milk, ube halaya, butter, sugar, and salt in a big bowl. Use a fork, whisk, whatever—no one’s judging.
Ube makes the batter gloriously purple. I give it a quick sniff (ugh, smells so good, honestly) to check for that vanilla-sweet note every time. If it feels too thick, add a splash more milk. You want a smooth but pourable batter, not a sticky sludge.
I’m weirdly picky about lumps here. For best texture, give your wrist a little workout and mix til smooth. But hey—maybe leave a lump or two just to rebel. 
“These Mini Ube Pancake Bites totally blew my mind! They’re fun, perfectly sweet, and my picky toddler ate six before I could blink.” — Gemma T., Chicago
Pour into Mini Molds
Ah, here’s the fun (or slightly annoying) part. Grab your trusty mini muffin pan. Spray or butter it so things don’t get sticky—seriously, don’t skip this.
Pour the batter in about 3/4 full. Don’t go all the way up, or you’ll have a purple volcano situation. A little batter dribble? Who cares. That just means you’re living real life.
Perfect circle shapes, or a little sloppy? No one’s grading you. Just try to spread the batter evenly so they bake up at the same pace. That bit’s important, believe me.
Cook and Serve
Shove ‘em in a hot oven, 350°F (175°C), for around 10-12 minutes. Don’t walk away and binge TikTok, though—these mini ube pancake bites cook super quick. I poke one with a toothpick, and if it comes out clean, yank ‘em out.
Let them cool (well, if you can stand to wait). They’re soft, pillowy, gently sweet, and that ube color is honestly Instagram material. I usually toss a few in a bowl, slap on some whipped cream, and immediately regret not making a double batch. If you’re into sweet Filipino breakfasts, check out my soft sweet ube pandesal too—it’s another family fave.
Topping Ideas
Okay, let’s talk toppings. Here’s where you can get wild (or just play it classic):
- A scoop of whipped cream or vanilla yogurt
- Chopped mango or bananas—tropical upgrade, trust me
- Simple dusting of powdered sugar
- Drizzle some condensed milk if you’re feeling extra
Whatever you put on top, these are a hit for breakfast or (real talk) a midnight snack.
Common Questions
Q: Can I freeze mini ube pancake bites?
A: Yep! Just pop ‘em in a freezer bag. A quick zap in the microwave gets them soft again.
Q: What even is ube halaya?
A: It’s Filipino purple yam jam. You can find it jarred, or make your own if you’ve got a little extra time.
Q: Can I make these gluten free?
A: Absolutely. Grab a good gluten-free pancake mix, and you’re golden.
Q: Can I use coconut milk instead of dairy?
A: Totally. I do it sometimes for that richer vibe. Works great.
Q: They look undercooked—is that normal?
A: They’re supposed to be moist and soft, but not gooey. If you press a finger on top and it bounces back, you’re good.
Go Try These Little Purple Beauties!
Whether you’re Filipino or totally new to ube, these mini ube pancake bites are a complete breakfast game changer. So fun, the kids go wild for them, and you’ll probably want to keep a secret batch for yourself. Did you know there are even more creative versions out there, like Ube Banana Bite Pancakes — Whisk’d NYC? Makes me wanna try mixing in other stuff, honestly. For anyone out there hunting down more ways to use up ube, don’t forget those ube halaya from frozen yam and soft sweet ube pandesal recipes too. Go make a batch and let that purple magic work its five-star breakfast magic. You’ll thank yourself—maybe even make a double! 
Mini Ube Pancake Bites
Ingredients
For the batter
- 1 cup pancake mix Just the regular kind, nothing fancy
- 2 whole eggs Large eggs are recommended
- 1/2 cup milk Full-fat is delicious, but any milk works
- 1/2 cup ube halaya Store-bought or homemade
- 1 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil Either works well
- 2 tbsp sugar Adjust according to sweetness preference
- 1 pinch salt Just a tiny bit
Instructions
Preparation
- In a large bowl, mix the pancake mix, eggs, milk, ube halaya, melted butter, sugar, and salt together until smooth.
- If the batter is too thick, add a splash of milk to reach a smooth but pourable consistency.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a mini muffin pan.
- Pour the batter into the mini muffin pan, filling each cavity about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
- Let cool briefly before serving.