Purple Crinkle Cookies with Ube

These purple crinkle cookies are the ultimate eye-catching dessert that tastes as amazing as they look. Featuring soft, chewy centers with beautiful crackled tops dusted in powdered sugar, these vibrant cookies get their stunning purple color and subtle sweetness from ube extract. Whether you’re making them for a birthday party, baby shower, or just because you love colorful baked goods, these cookies are guaranteed to spark conversation and disappear quickly.

Why You’ll Love These Purple Crinkle Cookies

Stunning Visual Appeal: The bright purple color combined with the white crackled coating creates cookies that look professionally made.

Soft and Chewy Texture: The combination of butter, eggs, and milk creates perfectly tender cookies with just the right amount of chew.

Unique Ube Flavor: Ube (purple yam) adds a subtle, sweet flavor that’s different from typical vanilla cookies without being overwhelming.

Party Perfect: These cookies are ideal for themed parties, baby showers, birthdays, or any celebration where you want a wow factor.

Easy to Make: Despite their impressive appearance, these cookies use simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.

Great for Gifting: Package these colorful treats in clear bags or boxes for beautiful homemade gifts.

What is Ube?

Ube is a purple yam popular in Filipino cuisine. It has a naturally sweet, slightly nutty flavor and a vibrant purple color. Ube extract is used in baking to add both color and a subtle, unique sweetness that pairs beautifully with vanilla. You can find ube extract at Asian markets or online. If unavailable, you can use purple food coloring with an extra ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Ingredients for Purple Crinkle Cookies

Cookie Dough

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour – Provides structure
• 1½ tsp baking powder – Creates the signature cracks
• ¼ tsp salt – Enhances all flavors
• ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened – Creates tender texture
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar – Sweetens and helps with spreading
• 2 large eggs, room temperature – Adds richness and moisture
• 1 tsp vanilla extract – Enhances overall flavor
• 1½ tsp ube extract – Provides purple color and flavor
• ½ cup (120ml) whole milk – Keeps dough smooth and moist

Coating

• ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar – Creates the crackled white coating
• 2 tbsp cornstarch (optional) – Makes coating thicker and more prominent

Ingredient Notes

Ube Extract: Look for McCormick or other quality brands. Start with 1½ teaspoons and adjust for desired color intensity.

Purple Food Coloring Alternative: If you can’t find ube extract, use purple gel food coloring (about ½ teaspoon) plus an extra ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.

Milk: Whole milk provides the best texture, but 2% milk works too. Avoid skim milk as it may make cookies less tender.

Butter: Must be softened to room temperature for proper creaming. Don’t use melted butter.

Cornstarch: This optional ingredient makes the powdered sugar coating thicker and more visible after baking.

How to Make Purple Crinkle Cookies (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. The mixture should look pale and airy.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract and ube extract until fully incorporated. The mixture will turn a beautiful purple color at this stage.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions, alternating with the milk. Begin with flour, add half the milk, more flour, remaining milk, and end with flour. Mix on low speed just until combined after each addition. Don’t overmix or cookies will be tough.

Step 5: Chill the Dough (Critical Step!)

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Do not skip this step! Chilling prevents excessive spreading and ensures the cookies maintain their shape and develop proper cracks.

Pro Tip: Chilled dough is easier to handle and produces thicker, chewier cookies with better cracks.

Step 6: Preheat and Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

In a small bowl, mix together powdered sugar and cornstarch (if using).

Step 7: Shape the Cookies

Scoop chilled dough using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon each). Roll between your palms to form smooth balls. The dough will be sticky—this is normal and indicates a moist final cookie.

Step 8: Coat in Sugar

Roll each dough ball generously in the powdered sugar mixture, ensuring complete coverage. The more sugar coating, the more dramatic the cracks will be.

Step 9: Bake

Place coated dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Cookies should spread slightly and develop beautiful cracks on top. The centers will look slightly underbaked—this is perfect! They’ll continue setting as they cool.

Don’t Overbake: Removing cookies when they look slightly underdone ensures soft, chewy centers.

Step 10: Cool

Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. The cracks will become more defined as they cool.

Expert Tips for Perfect Crinkle Cookies

Chill Overnight for Best Results: An overnight chill creates the best texture and easiest handling. Plan ahead!

Don’t Skip the Coating: Generously coat each ball in powdered sugar. Sparse coating = fewer cracks.

Room Temperature Matters: Softened butter and room temperature eggs incorporate better and create better texture.

Measure Flour Correctly: Use the spoon-and-level method or weigh your flour for accuracy. Too much flour makes cookies dry.

Watch the Clock: Set a timer! Even 2 extra minutes can turn soft cookies dry and cakey.

Cool on the Pan: The 5-minute rest on the hot pan helps cookies set without overbaking.

Adjust Ube Intensity: For deeper purple, add an extra ½ teaspoon ube extract. For lighter lavender, use only 1 teaspoon.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Dough Too Sticky to Handle?

• Chill for an additional hour
• Lightly flour your hands when rolling
• Use a cookie scoop and avoid touching dough too much

Cookies Spreading Too Much?

• Dough wasn’t chilled long enough—refrigerate for full 2 hours minimum
• Butter may have been too soft—it should be room temp but still hold its shape
• Oven temperature too low—use an oven thermometer to verify

Not Enough Cracks?

• Use more powdered sugar in the coating
• Don’t press dough balls flat before baking
• Ensure baking powder is fresh (check expiration date)

Cookies Too Dry?

• Overbaked—reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes
• Too much flour—measure properly using spoon-and-level method
• Added extra flour to combat stickiness—chill dough longer instead

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Refrigerator: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor.

Freezer (Baked Cookies): Freeze in airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Freezer (Cookie Dough): Scoop dough into balls, freeze on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Roll frozen dough balls in powdered sugar and bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to bake time.

Make-Ahead Dough: Prepare dough up to 2 days in advance and keep refrigerated. This actually improves flavor and texture!

Creative Variations

Different Colors: Use different food colorings to match party themes (pink, blue, green, or rainbow batches).

Chocolate Twist: Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the flour for purple chocolate crinkle cookies.

Coconut Addition: Mix in ¼ cup shredded coconut for tropical flavor and extra texture.

Chocolate Chip Version: Fold in ½ cup mini chocolate chips for added richness.

Lemon Ube: Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest for a bright, citrusy note that complements ube.

Condensed Milk Upgrade: Replace ¼ cup whole milk with sweetened condensed milk for ultra-rich, dense cookies.

Grape Flavor Alternative: Use grape flavoring or Kool-Aid powder instead of ube for kid-friendly grape cookies.

Serving Suggestions

Party Displays: Arrange on colorful platters or tiered stands for baby showers, birthday parties, or themed events.

Beverage Pairings: Serve with milk, hot chocolate, coffee, or purple-hued drinks like lavender lemonade or ube lattes.

Dessert Trays: Mix with other crinkle cookie varieties (chocolate, lemon, red velvet) for a rainbow effect.

Ice Cream Sandwiches: Sandwich vanilla or ube ice cream between two cookies for a special treat.

Gift Boxes: Package in clear boxes or bags tied with ribbon for beautiful homemade gifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ube taste like? Ube has a subtle, sweet, slightly nutty flavor similar to vanilla but more complex. It’s not overpowering and pairs beautifully with the vanilla in these cookies.

Where can I buy ube extract? Find it at Asian grocery stores (especially Filipino markets), specialty baking stores, or online retailers like Amazon.

Can I use food coloring instead of ube extract? Yes! Use purple gel food coloring (about ½ teaspoon) and add an extra ½ teaspoon vanilla extract to replace the ube flavor.

Why must I chill the dough? Chilling is essential to prevent excessive spreading, create the proper texture, and allow the cookies to develop their signature cracks.

Can I make these without eggs? Eggs are crucial for structure and texture in crinkle cookies. Substitutions will significantly change the result and may not crack properly.

How do I get more vibrant purple color? Use more ube extract (up to 2 teaspoons) or add additional purple food coloring gel.

Can I double this recipe? Absolutely! Double all ingredients and you may need to bake in multiple batches. Dough stores well refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Why This Recipe Works

The science behind perfect crinkle cookies lies in the balance of ingredients and technique. The combination of baking powder and eggs creates lift during baking, while the powdered sugar coating on the outside sets quickly in the oven. As the cookie expands and rises, it breaks through this sugar shell, creating those beautiful cracks.

Chilling the dough firms up the butter, which slows spreading in the oven. This allows cookies to rise upward before spreading outward, creating that thick, soft texture and dramatic cracks. The milk keeps everything tender and moist, while the ube adds both flavor and that stunning purple color that makes these cookies truly special.

Nutritional Information (Per Cookie, Makes 24)

• Calories: 120
• Total Fat: 4g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5g
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 12g
• Protein: 2g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.