Soft & Sweet Ube Pandesal (Trader Joe’s Inspired)

You ever get that craving right before dinner where you’re basically desperate for something yeasty, soft, and a little out-of-the-ordinary? Well, my ube pandesal recipe (yep — like the one at Trader Joe’s) totally hits that craving, every single time. I first heard about these from a friend who called them “magic purple pillows.” I mean, who wouldn’t start drooling at the name alone? If you love Filipino food, or just want a twist on classic bread, let me just say: you’re in the right kitchen today. By the way, if you want more things like this, you should definitely check out my recipe for eggless ube cheese pandesal and also don’t miss my piece on easy Filipino recipes.

Ingredients

Basic, nothing fancy. That’s what makes me love baking these on lazy Sundays. Here’s what you need:

• All-purpose flour (Trust me, don’t try swapping it for anything too mysterious. Stick to regular flour)
• Instant yeast (the quick stuff, best if you don’t have all day)
• Sugar (white or raw, your call)
• Salt (just a pinch)
• Milk (whole or whatever’s in your fridge)
• Butter (soft and unsalted, for dreamy texture)
• Large eggs (room temperature—if you forget, dunk ’em in warm water)
• Ube halaya (purple yam jam. You need this. It’s not ube powder, not extract straight—get the jam)
• Ube extract (this is optional, but if you want the color nice n’ bold)
• Breadcrumbs (for rolling before baking, see, I told you: easy)

Steps

Here’s how it usually goes when I make these: messy, a bit sticky, but deeply satisfying. First, warm your milk till it’s cozy, sprinkle in the yeast and sugar, then let it froth up. Now just toss in everything else—flour, eggs, salt, ube halaya, (plus extract if you want), and softened butter. Knead until the dough looks smooth. Is it purple enough? If not, splash in a little more ube extract. Cover, let it puff up until doubled (usually about 1 hour for me).

Next, roll your dough into little balls. You can stuff each one with a cube of cheese or just leave ’em plain. Quickly roll them in breadcrumbs for that signature pandesal coating. Line on a tray with space to grow. Let them rise again, just until puffy. Bake at 350°F for about 18 minutes, or until lightly golden.

My kitchen smells like a five-star restaurant when these are baking. No joke, neighbors have knocked on my door with wild eyes.

Tips & Storage

Some folks ask me how to keep their soft & sweet ube pandesal fresh or fluffier. I’ve made them so many times, I’ve got hacks for days.

• Brush the tops with melted butter as soon as they’re out of the oven for a glossy finish (like they do at bakeries).
• Want them even softer? Let the dough rest a tiny bit longer before rolling.
• Leftovers keep best in an airtight container, warmed slightly in the microwave.
• Serve these with coffee for breakfast or as a mid-afternoon treat. Trust me on this.

“I never thought I could make bread this good at home. This ube pandesal recipe ended up better than Trader Joe’s—my kids ate the whole batch before I even grabbed one.”

— Abby S., Los Angeles

Ube origin

Right, you might be wondering—what’s the deal with ube anyway? It’s a Filipino staple that’s a purple yam (not taro, not sweet potato, it’s its own funky thing). Packed with gentle sweetness and killer color, ube pops up in all sorts of Filipino sweets, like cakes, ice cream, and obviously, pandesal.

I always explain to first-timers: eating anything with ube is like taking a bite of nostalgia and happiness. It’s warm, satisfying, a little nutty, and honestly, the best flavor surprise you can gift to new friends.

Accessibility

Finding ube halaya could be your only hurdle. Pop into your local Asian or Filipino grocery, or even look online (some supermarkets are catching on, finally). And, if you’re hunting for the exact Trader Joe’s ube pandesal flavor, adding a zap of ube extract makes all the difference in color and taste. Ube extract can be found online easily too. For anyone gluten-free: this definitely isn’t your treat, but otherwise, all the ingredients are easy-peasy to score on a frugal budget.

Related links

Now if you want to venture further (I know you do), check out my other Filipino breakfast bread ideas for your next Sunday bake. And hey—if you’re all-in with purple treats, my ube cheese cupcakes always get raves on social. For all things bread, see my updated pandesal tutorial so you nail it every single time.

So there you have it—real talk, real kitchen, and a real-deal soft & sweet ube pandesal recipe outta my oven. And if your curiosity hasn’t been squashed yet, you gotta see the Super Soft Ube Pandesal with Cheese from Foxy Folksy for cheesy inspiration. Still want more variations? Here’s a proper lowdown on How to Make Ube Pandesal with options for plain or filled (super handy for beginners) on The Unlikely Baker.

Give it a try—let me know if Trader Joe’s has anything on your homemade batch!