This ube cheesecake bars recipe blends ube halaya and ube extract into a creamy cheesecake filling set over a buttery graham cracker crust, resulting in a strikingly vibrant purple dessert. This easy ube dessert bar takes about an hour plus chilling and puts one of this year’s most popular trending flavors to genuinely delicious use.
Recipe at a Glance
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour (plus chilling)
Servings: 12
Category: Dessert
Why You’ll Love This Ube Cheesecake Bars
- This ube cheesecake bars recipe delivers the trending purple yam flavor in an approachable bar format.
- The vibrant purple color makes these bars genuinely eye-catching on any dessert table.
- Ube’s naturally sweet, slightly nutty flavor pairs beautifully with classic cheesecake.
- A great make-ahead dessert since it needs to chill before slicing anyway.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp ube extract
- 1/2 cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
How to Make Ube Cheesecake Bars
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
- Mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar, then press into the pan for the crust.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, adding the eggs one at a time.
- Mix in the ube extract, ube halaya, sour cream, and vanilla until combined and vibrant purple.
- Pour the filling over the crust.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.
- Cool, then chill for at least 4 hours before slicing.
Tips for the Best Ube Cheesecake Bars
- Use room-temperature cream cheese for this ube cheesecake bars recipe to avoid lumps in the filling.
- Ube halaya adds both flavor and color, so don’t skip it even if using ube extract.
- Let the bars chill for the full time before slicing for clean, firm cuts.
- Look for ube halaya and extract at Filipino or Asian grocery stores.
Variations to Try
- Top with whipped cream and toasted coconut flakes before serving.
- Add crushed macapuno (sweetened coconut strings) as a garnish.
- Use a chocolate cookie crust instead of graham crackers for contrast.
How to Store It
Store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ube?
Ube is a bright purple yam popular in Filipino desserts, known for its naturally sweet, slightly nutty, vanilla-like flavor.
Where can I find ube halaya and extract?
Both are available at Filipino and Asian grocery stores, and increasingly at larger supermarkets and online retailers.
Can I make ube cheesecake bars ahead of time?
Yes, they need to chill for several hours anyway, making them a great dessert to prepare a day in advance.
Can I use only ube extract without the halaya?
Ube halaya adds richer flavor and a more vibrant color, so using both together gives the best result, though extract alone can work in a pinch.
Ube Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a baking dish with parchment.
- Step 2: Mix graham crumbs, butter, and sugar, then press into the pan.
- Step 3: Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth, adding eggs one at a time.
- Tip: Use room-temperature cream cheese to avoid lumps.
- Step 4: Mix in ube extract, ube halaya, sour cream, and vanilla.
- Step 5: Pour over the crust.
- Step 6: Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until set with a slightly jiggly center.
- Step 7: Cool, then chill at least 4 hours before slicing.