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    Decorated Treats » Recipes » Bread & Pastry Recipes

    Ube Rolls (Soft and Fluffy Twisted Bread Rolls)

    Published: Dec 12, 2021 · Modified: Jun 22, 2023 by Priya Maha

    Jump to Recipe

    This ube rolls recipe makes soft and fluffy twisted bread rolls filled with homemade ube jam (ube halaya).

    With an irresistible delicate ube flavor, these rolls not only make delicious treats, they are sure to become a showstopper at your breakfast table with their eye catching appearance and vibrant purple hue.

    Twisted ube rolls on a wire rack.
    Homemade twisted ube rolls with homemade ube halaya

    The ube rolls are made using my easy yeast rolls recipe as the base and are filled with my homemade ube jam. Instead of making them into typical round rolls, I made them into twisted rolls instead!

    Making the twisted rolls may look like it's complicated, but is in fact, pretty straightforward. For each roll, you start by filling and rolling it up exactly like a cinnamon roll, except that these ones are filled with ube jam. You then slit the roll into half, leaving about 1cm allowance at the top and twist the slit halves like a rope. And finally, you twist the rope into a circle and tuck the ends. That's all! More on this process with step by step photos in the sections below.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why you will love this recipe
    • 📋Ingredients
    • 🧾Substitution and Variations
    • 👩‍🍳How to Make
    • 🍽️Serving & storage
    • 💡Expert Tips
    • 💭FAQs
    • ❤️More Recipes You Will Love
    • 📖Recipe

    ❤️Why you will love this recipe

    • This is an easy recipe and makes fluffy ube bread rolls.
    • The rolls are not only delicious but pretty too with their bright purple color streaks.
    • The sweet ube filling in these soft bread rolls makes this recipe a perfect choice for those who love sweet breads.
    • The fluffy bread rolls make great breakfast and snack option. They can be enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee or tea and also hot chocolate. They are also great for any special occasions.

    Like this recipe? Here are my other posts you might want to check out:

    • Ube Jam (Ube Halaya) - How to Make
    • Ube Ice Cream (Purple Yam Ice Cream)
    • Butter Mints Candy (Easy Homemade Recipe)
    • Coconut Rolls with Coconut Glaze
    • Small Batch Strawberry Jam (A Homemade Recipe without Pectin)
    • Homemade White Bread Loaf (Basic Bread Recipe)
    • Pandan Bread - Easy Homemade Milk Loaf with Raisins
    • Chocolate Brioche (Easy Brioche Loaf)
    • Coffee Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
    • Easy Moist Banana Bread with Oil

    📋Ingredients

    • All purpose flour - best to be sifted before using.
    • Instant dry yeast - instant yeast allows you to mix it directly into the other ingredients without having to activate it like active dry yeast. If you are using active dry yeast, you will need to dissolve it in the milk first and see if it turns frothy after a few minutes. If not, the yeast cannot be used and you will have to use a new batch of yeast.
    • Granulated sugar - as a sweetener to the sweet bread.
    • Butter - both salted or unsalted butter will work fine for this recipe.
    • Egg - use large egg, and at room temperature.
    • Coconut milk - this is the white liquid that is squeezed out of the coconut flesh and not the clear liquid in the coconuts known as coconut water. Also, this is different from coconut cream, so make sure you use milk, not the cream or water.
    • Salt - enhances the taste of the bread rolls.
    • Ube Jam - this is the star of the recipe. You can make on your own with my easy ube halaya recipe or you can purchase it ready made for a local Asian store.

    *Refer to the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and exact quantities. For best results, use a digital kitchen scale where applicable*

    🧾Substitution and Variations

    • All purpose flour can be replaced with bread flour.
    • Coconut milk can be replaced with whole milk.
    • For additional ube flavoring, you can add one teaspoon of ube extract to the coconut milk before mixing the bread dough. Alternatively, you can also use vanilla extract for fragrant, vanilla aroma for the ube bun.

    This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you do try, please let me know in the comments section below!

    👩‍🍳How to Make

    Making the ube jam

    • You can make the ube jam ahead of time. Follow the recipe as stated in my ube jam recipe.
    • This twisted ube rolls recipe only requires about 9 tablespoons of jam (i.e. 1 tablespoon for each roll).

    Mixing the dough

    A poster of 4 images showing how to mix bread dough.
    1. Start by measuring the yeast into a mixing bowl. Add the coconut milk and stir lightly with a spoon to make sure the yeast does not stay lumpy at the bottom of the bowl. Suffice if you mix it lightly and there is no need to wait until the yeast dissolves.
    2. Add the egg. And then add the sugar.
    3. Next, measure the flour and salt into a bowl and add both into the yeast mixture.
    4. Turn the machine to low speed and let it knead (with a dough hook attachment) for about 2 minutes until all the ingredients come together.
    A poster of 4 images showing how to proof dough.
    1. Add the butter and continue to knead at low speed for another 8 to 10 minutes. The dough will look sticky initially but should be smooth at the end of the kneading time.
    2. Turn the dough out onto a clean working space. Knead it lightly by hand to form into a ball. The dough will be very soft and might appear a little sticky. Kneading it lightly by hand should bring it together.
    3. Place the dough back into the bowl, cover the bowl with a plastic wrap to let the dough rise.
    4. Let it proof until doubled in size.

    Making the twisted purple rolls

    A poster of 6 images showing how to spread ube jam and roll the bread dough.
    1. Once the dough has doubled in size, press it down with your fingers to release the air. Turn the dough out onto your working space and roll it into a log.
    2. Divide the log into 3 and then divide each of the 3 sections into 3 smaller sections of equal size. This should leave you with 9 sections.
    3. Roll each section (with a rolling pin) into a square measuring about 12 cm by 12 cm.
    4. Spread 1 tablespoon of ube jam on the rolled dough.
    5. Roll the dough starting from one end of the square towards its opposite end.
    6. Pinch the ends tightly.
    A poster of 4 images showing how to make twisted buns.
    1. Using a sharp knife, slice the roll into half, lengthwise but remember to leave about 1 cm of the roll unsliced at the top.
    2. Twist each of the sliced sections such that the insides are facing up. You will be able to see pretty lines of the ube jam filling in each of the sliced sections.
    3. Gently twist each of the sliced sections into a rope.
    4. Pinch the ends.
    A poster of 6 images showing how to prood ube rolls.
    1. To form the twisted rolls, bend the lower end of the rope halfway (as in forming the letter 'j' but in the opposite way).
    2. Next, bring the top of the rope and tuck it underneath the end of the rope bent in the earlier step.
    3. Pinch it to the bottom so that it does not puff out as the rolls proof. And that completes the twisted rolls formation.
    4. Place each of the purple ube rolls well apart on a lined baking tray. Cover them with a kitchen towel.
    5. Let them proof until doubled in size.
    6. Bake the bread rolls in a preheated oven at 165 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Remove the baked ube rolls from the oven and brush the top with melted butter while they are still hot.
    Twisted ube rolls on a wire rack.
    Ube bread rolls with purple yam jam

    🍽️Serving & storage

    • The rolls are best served when they are warm.
    • They can last at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. Keep them refrigerated up to 5 days if you wish to keep them longer. Reheat the rolls for about 5 minutes (in a preheated 165 degrees Celsius oven) in a normal oven or toaster oven until the rolls turn warm before serving.

    💡Expert Tips

    • There are generally 2 types of dry yeast, i.e. the instant yeast and the active yeast. Instant yeast does not require activation and can be mixed directly into other dry ingredients and wet ingredients. Active yeast, on the other hand, requires activation in a warm liquid. Adding some sugar to the liquid helps with the activation.
    • If you are using instant yeast, there really is no need to test it first, unless you are using from a packet that was opened some time ago. If you are unsure, always test the yeast by mixing it with the liquid in the recipe and leaving it aside for about 10 minutes. If the yeast is still ok, it should start frothing. Otherwise, you will need to get a new batch of yeast.
    • Unlike the instant yeast, active yeast requires activation even if it is a brand new packet. You cannot add it directly to any dry ingredients without mixing it with some liquid first. So, if you are using active yeast for this recipe, make sure to mix it with warm milk (heat up the coconut milk lightly until it is lukewarm) and leave it aside for a few minutes to see if it starts to froth before mixing in all the other ingredients.

    💭FAQs

    What is coconut milk and can it be substituted with plain milk?

    Coconut milk is the white substance squeezed from the coconut flesh. It is not the same as the clear liquid (coconut water) found in coconuts. This ube rolls recipe requires the milk and cannot be made with coconut water.

    You can substitute coconut milk with regular whole milk if you wish. Substitute it in the exact same quantity.

    Can the dough be refrigerated or frozen?

    The dough for these ube rolls can be prepared in advance and refrigerated or even frozen for later use. Refrigeration is best if you intend to use the dough within the next day while freezing is best if you wish to keep the dough longer (up to one week).

    To refrigerate the dough, form it into a ball after mixing and place it in a large bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and place in the refrigerator. The dough will proof in the fridge slowly. The next day, if it has already doubled in size, you can remove it from the bowl and start shaping the twisted rolls. If it has not doubled in size, leave it at room temperature (with the bowl still covered in cling wrap) to allow it to proof further. After that, you can remove it and shape the ube rolls.

    If you wish to freeze the dough, form it into a ball after mixing and wrap it tightly with a few layers of cling wrap. Place it in the freezer. When ready to use, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature before removing the cling wrap. Place the dough in a large bowl and let it proof until doubled in size before pressing it down and forming the ube rolls.

    What is Ube?

    Ube is a purple yam and is native to the Philippines. It is widely used in many Filipino cuisine especially Filipino desserts.

    The tuber looks almost similar to purple sweet potato. They have almost identical shapes, outer skin texture (some are dark brown and some lighter brown) and flesh color (both come in vivid purple flesh).

    You can purchase ube in your local Asian supermarket or Filipino market.

    A twisted bread roll cut into half.
    Delicious ube rolls with ube halaya jam filling

    ❤️More Recipes You Will Love

    • Scoops of purple ice cream in a transparent glass
      Ube Ice Cream (Purple Yam Ice Cream)
    • A white bowl of purple jam.
      Homemade Ube Halaya (Ube Jam Recipe)
    • A stack of 4 ube brownies.
      Ube Brownies (Fudgy Purple Yam Brownie Recipe)
    • Cinnamon raisin rolls on a wire rack.
      Cinnamon Raisin Rolls

    Do you like this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating in the recipe card below and consider a review further down this page. I would love to hear from you. Thank you!

    📖Recipe

    Twisted ube rolls on a wire rack.

    Ube Rolls (Soft and Fluffy Twisted Bread Rolls)

    This twisted ube rolls recipe makes truly delectable homemade ube jam-filled bread rolls. Learn how to make these pretty ube buns right here!
    4.94 from 31 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: Asian
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Proofing Time: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 50 minutes minutes
    Yield: 9 rolls
    Author: Priya Maha
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Metric - US Customary

    For best results, use the metrics measurements. US customary measurements have not been tested and are only meant for guide.

    Ingredients

    Bread Rolls

    • 280 g all purpose flour
    • 4.5 g yeast
    • 20 g granulated sugar
    • 1 egg
    • 40 g butter
    • 125 ml coconut milk
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Filling

    • 9 tablespoon ube jam
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    Ube Jam

    • Make the jam as per the recipe here. This recipe requires only 9 tablespoons of the ube jam.

    Bread Rolls

    • Measure yeast into a mixing bowl.
    • Add the coconut milk and mix with a spoon lightly.
    • Add the egg, followed by the sugar, flour and salt.
    • Turn on the mixer to a low speed and mix until the dough comes together. This should take about 2 minutes.
    • Cut butter into small pieces and add to the dough.
    • Continue to knead the dough on low for 8 to 10 minutes, until the butter is no longer visible and the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
    • Remove the dough from the bowl and form it into a round ball.
    • Place the dough back into the bowl and cover with a cling wrap. Let the dough proof until it has at least doubled in size.
    • Press the air bubbles out of the dough and turn it out onto a clean workspace.
    • Form the dough into a long log.
    • Cut the dough into 9 equal sections. For easy cutting, start by dividing the dough log into 3. After that, divide each of the sections into 3 to make a total of 9 dough sections.
    • Roll each dough section into squares measuring approximately 12 cm on each side.
    • Spread one tablespoon of the ube jam evenly on the rolled dough.
    • Gently roll the dough tightly as is done for cinnamon rolls.
    • Slit the roll into half, leaving about 1 cm allowance at the top.
    • Twist both the halves like a rope. Next, twist the rope into a circle and tuck the ends.
    • Place the twisted rolls well apart from one another on a lined baking tray.
    • Cover with a kitchen towel and let them proof until double in size.
    • Bake the rolls in a pre heated oven at 165°Celsius for 20 minutes.
    • Remove the rolls from the oven and brush the top with melted butter.

    Video

    Notes

    • There are generally 2 types of dry yeast, i.e. the instant yeast and the active yeast. Instant yeast does not require activation and can be mixed directly into other dry ingredients and wet ingredients. Active yeast, on the other hand, requires activation in a warm liquid. Adding some sugar to the liquid helps with the activation.
    • If you are using instant yeast, there really is no need to test it first, unless you are using from a packet that was opened some time ago. If you are unsure, always test the yeast by mixing it with the liquid in the recipe and leaving it aside for about 10 minutes. If the yeast is still ok, it should start frothing. Otherwise, you will need to get a new batch of yeast.
    • Unlike the instant yeast, active yeast requires activation even if it is a brand new pack. You cannot add it directly to any dry ingredients without mixing it with some liquid first. So, if you are using active yeast for this recipe, make sure to mix it with the coconut milk and leave it aside for a few minutes to see if it starts to froth before mixing in all the other ingredients.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 29.7g | Protein: 4.6g | Fat: 7.4g | Saturated Fat: 5.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1.3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 27.7mg | Sodium: 111.3mg | Potassium: 146.7mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 3.3g | Vitamin A: 2979.2IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 16.8mg | Iron: 2.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @decorated_treats or tag #decoratedtreats!

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    Twisted ube rolls on a wire rack.

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