These ube Lofthouse cookies are a vibrant and fun twist on the classic soft sugar cookies kids love. Made with purple yam (ube) for natural color and flavor, they’re topped with fluffy ube frosting and colorful sprinkles—perfect for birthdays or lunchbox treats.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These cookies are ultra-soft, cake-like, and have a gentle sweetness. The ube flavor adds a nutty, vanilla-like profile and the fun color makes them appealing to children. The recipe is easy to make, freezes well, and is great for decorating with kids.
Ingredients
(Tip: You can find the complete list of ingredients and their measurements in the recipe card below.)
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Sour cream
- Ube extract
- Purple food coloring (optional)
- Powdered sugar (for frosting)
- Milk
- Sprinkles
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add egg, ube extract, food coloring, and sour cream; mix well.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to form a soft dough.
- Scoop onto baking sheet, flatten slightly, and bake for 8–10 minutes.
- Cool completely before frosting.
- For frosting, beat butter and powdered sugar, then add milk and ube extract.
- Frost cookies and top with sprinkles.
Servings and timing
- Servings: 20 cookies
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Bake time: 10 minutes
- Total time: About 45 minutes
Variations
- Dairy-Free: Use plant-based butter and yogurt.
- Ube Cream Cheese Frosting: Swap frosting for a tangy version.
- Color Fun: Add rainbow food coloring swirls to the dough.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Storage/reheating
Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Cookies can be frozen (frosted or unfrosted) for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature.
FAQs
What is ube?
Ube is a purple yam from the Philippines with a sweet, nutty flavor.
Where do I find ube extract?
Look in Asian markets or online.
Can I skip the food coloring?
Yes, but ube extract alone may produce a paler color.
Are these cookies soft or crunchy?
They’re very soft and fluffy, like Lofthouse originals.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes, portion it out and freeze raw dough balls.
Is sour cream necessary?
It helps with softness and flavor. You can substitute yogurt.
Can I reduce the sugar?
Yes, reduce slightly in both dough and frosting.
Are they safe for toddlers?
Yes, just avoid hard sprinkles for very young children.
Can kids help with decorating?
Absolutely, it’s a fun, family-friendly activity.
Can I use ube halaya?
Not for this recipe—ube extract is better for even color and flavor.
Conclusion
Ube Lofthouse cookies are a soft, colorful treat that’s perfect for children and ube lovers alike. Easy to bake and fun to decorate, they bring playful joy to any occasion.
Print
Ube Lofthouse Cookies for kids
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Filipino-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft and fluffy Ube Lofthouse Cookies perfect for kids, featuring a vibrant purple hue and subtle sweet flavor of ube (purple yam).
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Purple food coloring (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for frosting)
- 2 tbsp milk (for frosting)
- 2 tbsp butter, softened (for frosting)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the egg, ube halaya, sour cream, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add food coloring if using.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized dough portions onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Let the cookies cool completely before frosting.
- For the frosting, beat powdered sugar, milk, and softened butter until smooth.
- Spread frosting on cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles if desired.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes if you prefer thicker cookies.
- You can substitute sour cream with plain yogurt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
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