Ube Cheese Ice Cream: Easy Homemade Filipino Ice Cream Recipe

Craving something cold, creamy, and unmistakably Filipino? Ube Cheese Ice Cream is the perfect homemade dessert to make when you want a sweet treat without complicated ingredients or an ice cream maker. Made with chilled all-purpose cream, ube-flavored condensed milk, ube flavoring, and grated cheese, this easy recipe creates a rich and velvety frozen dessert with a delicious Filipino twist.

The combination of ube and cheese has become one of the most loved flavor pairings in Filipino desserts. The earthy sweetness of purple yam pairs surprisingly well with the salty, savory taste of cheese. Put them together in a creamy ice cream base, and you get a dessert that is sweet, milky, slightly salty, and incredibly satisfying.

Best of all, this ube cheese ice cream recipe is easy enough for beginners. There is no need to cook a custard, temper eggs, or use an ice cream machine. Simply whip, mix, freeze, and enjoy. It is a wonderful homemade dessert for birthdays, family gatherings, merienda, or those especially hot Philippine afternoons when all you want is something refreshingly cold.

Watch How to Make Cheesy Ube Ice Cream

What Is Ube Cheese Ice Cream?

Ube Cheese Ice Cream is a Filipino-inspired ice cream flavor combining purple yam, creamy milk, and cheese. Ube, or purple yam, has a naturally sweet and mildly nutty flavor that works beautifully in desserts. Its vibrant purple color also makes the finished ice cream especially attractive.

Cheese might sound unusual as an ice cream ingredient, but it is a familiar combination in Filipino cuisine. The slightly salty cheese cuts through the sweetness of the ube and condensed milk, creating a balanced flavor.

This homemade version is particularly convenient because it uses an easy no-churn method. Whipping the chilled cream incorporates air into the mixture, helping create a light and creamy texture once frozen.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There are plenty of reasons to make this homemade ube cheese ice cream.

First, it requires only a handful of ingredients. You do not need an ice cream maker, eggs, or a complicated cooking process. If you have a hand mixer and a freezer-safe container, you are already well equipped.

Second, the recipe is wonderfully customizable. You can adjust the amount of ube flavoring depending on how strong you want the purple yam flavor to be. You can also add more cheese if you enjoy a stronger cheesy taste.

Most importantly, it tastes like a special Filipino dessert while being incredibly easy to prepare. The creamy base melts in your mouth, followed by the sweet ube flavor and little bits of salty cheese.

Ingredients

For this ube cheese ice cream recipe, you will need:

• 2 cans or packs all-purpose cream, about 500 ml total
• 1 can ube-flavored condensed milk, about 300 ml
• Ube liquid flavoring, as needed
• 1/2 cup grated cheese

The all-purpose cream should be thoroughly chilled before whipping. Ube-flavored condensed milk provides both sweetness and purple yam flavor, while additional ube liquid flavoring intensifies the taste and color.

For the cheese, use a mild cheese that you enjoy eating. Grated cheese melts slightly into the ice cream while leaving little cheesy pieces throughout.

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Step-by-Step Method

1. Chill the cream.

Place the all-purpose cream in the refrigerator the night before making the ice cream. Thoroughly chilled cream whips much better and helps create a thicker, more stable mixture.

Do not freeze the cream. It should be cold but still liquid enough to pour into your mixing bowl.

2. Whip the cream.

Pour the chilled all-purpose cream into a large mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the cream until it increases significantly in volume and becomes thick and fluffy.

This step is important because the air incorporated during whipping gives the homemade ice cream its lighter texture.

3. Add the ube.

Pour in the ube-flavored condensed milk and add a few drops of ube liquid flavoring. Continue mixing until the condensed milk and flavoring are completely incorporated.

Taste the mixture if desired. If you want a stronger ube flavor, add a little more flavoring, but do so gradually.

4. Add the cheese.

Add the grated cheese to the ube mixture. Using a spatula or spoon, gently fold it through the cream.

Do not overmix at this stage. You want the cheese to remain distributed throughout the ice cream rather than completely disappearing into the base.

5. Transfer to a container.

Pour the mixture into a clean, freezer-safe container. Spread the surface evenly using a spatula.

For easier scooping later, choose a wide, shallow container rather than an extremely deep one.

6. Freeze.

Cover the container securely and place it in the freezer. Freeze for at least 6 hours, or until the ice cream is firm.

For the best texture, allow it to freeze completely before serving. If it becomes very firm, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping.

7. Serve and enjoy.

Scoop the ube cheese ice cream into bowls, cones, or cups. You can sprinkle additional grated cheese or add a small amount of ube halaya on top for an extra-special presentation.

Tips and Variations

The most important tip for making homemade ube ice cream is to start with properly chilled cream. Refrigerate the all-purpose cream overnight whenever possible. Cold cream whips more efficiently and produces a thicker base.

Avoid adding too much liquid ube flavoring at once. Different brands have different strengths, so begin with a few drops, mix, and taste before adding more.

If ube-flavored condensed milk is unavailable, regular condensed milk can be combined with ube liquid flavoring. Add the flavoring gradually until the desired taste and color are achieved.

You can also use whipping cream or heavy cream instead of all-purpose cream. These alternatives can produce a rich and creamy result, although the exact texture may vary.

For a more pronounced cheesy flavor, increase the grated cheese slightly. You can also reserve some cheese for sprinkling over individual servings.

If you love extra ube flavor, swirl spoonfuls of ube halaya through the mixture before freezing. Do not completely mix it in; leaving visible ribbons creates a beautiful marbled effect.

For a little crunch, top each serving with toasted coconut, crushed cookies, or chopped nuts. Keep additions moderate so they do not overpower the signature ube-and-cheese combination.

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Storage

Because ube cheese ice cream is a frozen dessert, it should always be stored in the freezer. Keep it covered tightly in a freezer-safe, airtight container to help prevent ice crystals from forming and to protect the ice cream from absorbing other freezer odors.

For the best texture and flavor, enjoy the ice cream within a few weeks. Homemade no-churn ice cream can become harder as it stays frozen, so simply let the container sit at room temperature for several minutes before scooping.

Never thaw the entire container and refreeze it repeatedly. Frequent thawing and refreezing can create larger ice crystals and affect the creamy texture.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Ube Cheese Ice Cream in a cup or cone for a simple dessert. For parties and celebrations, make an impressive sundae by adding ube halaya, grated cheese, crushed cookies, or colorful sprinkles.

You can also serve a scoop alongside Filipino desserts such as warm bibingka, puto, or leche flan. The cold, creamy ice cream provides a wonderful contrast to warm or rich desserts.

For a Filipino-style afternoon treat, serve it after merienda with coffee or another favorite drink. It is especially refreshing on warm days.

If you are making ice cream for children, let them create their own toppings station with grated cheese, ube halaya, cookies, and sprinkles. It turns a simple homemade dessert into a fun family activity.

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Conclusion

This Ube Cheese Ice Cream recipe is proof that making a delicious frozen dessert at home can be incredibly simple. With just chilled cream, ube-flavored condensed milk, ube flavoring, and grated cheese, you can create a creamy, colorful and distinctly Filipino treat without an ice cream maker.

The secret is to chill the cream properly, whip it until fluffy, gently incorporate the ube and cheese, and give the mixture enough time to freeze. Once firm, scoop it into your favorite cup or cone and enjoy the wonderful combination of sweet ube and salty cheese.

Whether you are preparing dessert for your family or simply satisfying a craving for something cold and creamy, homemade Ube Cheese Ice Cream is an easy recipe to keep in your collection. One scoop may not be enough, so make plenty and get ready for everyone to ask for seconds!