I make this Ube Coconut Shake when I want something cold, creamy, and sweet that feels like a treat but is still easy to blend at home. The ube gives it a pretty purple color and a soft vanilla-like flavor, while the coconut milk makes it smooth, rich, and refreshing.
This is the kind of drink my family loves on warm afternoons, after dinner, or when we want something fun without baking. It feels special because of the color and flavor, but the steps are simple enough for a busy day
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ube Coconut Shake is creamy, colorful, and full of gentle sweetness. The ube has a mellow, almost nutty vanilla flavor, and it blends beautifully with coconut milk, milk, and ice for a smooth dessert-style drink.
It is also very family-friendly because it tastes like a milkshake but can be adjusted to your needs. You can make it thicker, lighter, sweeter, dairy-free, or extra coconutty without changing the heart of the recipe.
I love that it works as an afternoon snack, a simple dessert, or a fun drink for birthdays and family meals. It looks beautiful in a glass and feels cheerful without needing anything complicated.
Serves: 2 people
This recipe makes 2 generous shakes or 3 smaller kid-sized servings. If you are serving it with snacks, dessert, or a meal, smaller cups are usually enough because the coconut milk and ube make it creamy and satisfying.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Shake
- 1 cup cooked mashed ube, chilled
- 1 cup canned coconut milk, chilled
- ½ cup milk of choice, such as dairy milk, oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, plus more to taste
- 1 tablespoon honey, sugar, or maple syrup, optional
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon fine salt
Optional Creamy Add-Ins
- ½ cup vanilla ice cream
- ½ frozen banana, sliced
- ¼ cup plain or vanilla yogurt
- 2 tablespoons coconut cream
- 1 tablespoon ube halaya, for stronger ube flavor
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, optional
Optional Toppings
- 2 tablespoons whipped cream
- 1 tablespoon toasted coconut flakes
- 1 tablespoon ube halaya
- 1 teaspoon sweetened condensed milk for drizzling
- 1 teaspoon coconut cream for drizzling
- 1 teaspoon purple sprinkles, optional
- 1 pinch toasted sesame seeds, optional
Pro Tips
Use chilled cooked ube for the smoothest shake. Warm ube can melt the ice too quickly and make the drink thinner than you want.
Blend the liquid ingredients first if your blender is not very strong. This helps the coconut milk, milk, and sweetener move easily before the thicker ube and ice are added.
Taste before adding extra sugar. Ube halaya, condensed milk, and vanilla ice cream can already be sweet, so it is best to adjust after blending.
Use canned coconut milk for a richer shake. Carton coconut milk can work, but it usually makes the drink lighter and less creamy.
Add more milk a little at a time if the shake is too thick. Ube can be dense, so a small splash of milk helps loosen the texture without watering it down too much.
Serve the shake right after blending. It tastes best when cold, creamy, and freshly mixed, especially if you add toppings like whipped cream or toasted coconut.
Tools You’ll Need
- High-speed blender
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Spoon for scooping ube
- Small bowl for toppings
- Serving glasses
- Straws or long spoons
- Ice cream scoop, optional
- Can opener
- Small skillet for toasting coconut, optional
Substitutions and Variations
Use Ube Halaya
If you do not have cooked mashed ube, use ¾ cup ube halaya instead. Since ube halaya is already sweet, reduce the condensed milk and taste before adding more sweetener.
Make It Dairy-Free
Use coconut condensed milk or maple syrup instead of sweetened condensed milk, and choose oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, or extra coconut milk. Skip the ice cream or use a dairy-free vanilla ice cream.
Make It Extra Creamy
Add ½ cup vanilla ice cream, 2 tablespoons coconut cream, or ¼ cup yogurt before blending. These make the shake thicker and give it a dessert-like texture.
Add More Coconut Flavor
Use coconut cream in place of some of the coconut milk and top the shake with toasted coconut flakes. You can also add a tiny splash of coconut extract if you like a stronger coconut taste.
Make It Lighter
Use light coconut milk, skip the ice cream, and sweeten lightly with honey or maple syrup. Add extra ice for a colder, thinner shake that still keeps the ube flavor.
Make Ahead Tips
Ube Coconut Shake tastes best right after blending, but you can prepare the ingredients ahead to make it quick and easy. I like to cook and mash the ube in advance, then chill it in the refrigerator so it is ready when someone asks for a cold treat.
Cooked mashed ube can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it in 1-cup portions, then thaw it in the refrigerator before using it in the shake.
If you are using ube halaya, keep it chilled and ready to scoop. Since it is already sweet and thick, it blends best when paired with cold coconut milk and a little extra milk to loosen the texture.
You can also pre-measure toppings like toasted coconut flakes, sprinkles, or extra ube halaya. Wait to blend the shake and add whipped cream until just before serving so the drink stays cold, smooth, and fresh.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ube
Make sure you have 1 cup cooked mashed ube that is fully chilled. If the ube has been refrigerated and feels very firm, stir it with a spoon to loosen it before adding it to the blender.
Chilled ube helps keep the shake thick and cold. Warm ube can melt the ice and make the drink thinner than expected.
Step 2: Add the Coconut Milk
Pour 1 cup chilled canned coconut milk into the blender. Use full-fat coconut milk for the creamiest shake, or light coconut milk if you want it less rich.
Give the can a good stir before measuring because coconut milk can separate. Mixing it first helps the shake blend evenly and taste smooth.
Step 3: Add the Milk
Pour in ½ cup milk of choice, such as dairy milk, oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk. This helps thin the coconut milk just enough so the blender can move smoothly.
If you like a thicker shake, start with a little less milk. You can always add more after blending if the texture is too thick.
Step 4: Add the Sweetener
Add 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk to the blender. If you want a dairy-free version, use coconut condensed milk, maple syrup, honey, or sugar instead.
Do not add too much sweetener at first. Ube halaya, vanilla ice cream, and some milks can already make the shake sweet, so it is better to taste and adjust later.
Step 5: Add Vanilla and Salt
Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and ⅛ teaspoon fine salt. The vanilla brings out the soft, dessert-like flavor of the ube, while the salt helps balance the sweetness.
A tiny bit of salt can make the whole shake taste rounder. It will not make the drink salty, but it keeps the flavor from tasting flat.
Step 6: Add the Ice
Add 1 cup ice cubes to the blender. The ice makes the shake cold, refreshing, and thick enough to feel like a treat.
If your blender is not very strong, use smaller ice cubes or crushed ice. This makes blending easier and helps the shake turn smooth faster.
Step 7: Add Optional Creamy Ingredients
For a thicker shake, add ½ cup vanilla ice cream, ½ frozen banana, ¼ cup plain or vanilla yogurt, or 2 tablespoons coconut cream. For a stronger ube flavor, add 1 tablespoon ube halaya.
Choose one or two add-ins the first time you make it. Too many extras can make the shake very thick and may cover the gentle ube flavor.
Step 8: Blend Until Smooth
Place the lid on the blender and blend on high for 45 to 60 seconds. The shake should look creamy, smooth, and evenly purple.
Stop and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula if needed. Blend again for 10 to 20 seconds if you still see small bits of ube or ice.
Step 9: Adjust the Texture
If the shake is too thick, add a splash of milk and blend again. If it is too thin, add more ice, a little extra chilled ube, or a few spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream.
The texture should be thick but still drinkable through a straw. For a spoonable dessert shake, keep it thicker and serve it with long spoons.
Step 10: Taste and Sweeten
Taste the shake before pouring it into glasses. Add 1 tablespoon honey, sugar, maple syrup, or a little more sweetened condensed milk if you want it sweeter.
Blend again for a few seconds after adding more sweetener. This helps the flavor spread evenly through the whole shake.
Step 11: Pour into Glasses
Pour the Ube Coconut Shake into 2 large glasses or 3 smaller cups. Use a rubber spatula to scrape out the blender so you do not waste the thick shake left around the sides.
Serve it right away while it is cold and creamy. The shake will slowly thin as the ice melts, so fresh is best.
Step 12: Add Toppings
Top each glass with whipped cream, toasted coconut flakes, ube halaya, a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk, or coconut cream. Add purple sprinkles or a tiny pinch of toasted sesame seeds if you want a fun finish.
Keep toppings simple for younger kids so the shake is easy to drink. A little whipped cream and toasted coconut are usually enough to make it feel special.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Ube Coconut Shake as a cold afternoon treat on warm days. It is creamy and refreshing, but still filling enough to feel like more than a simple drink.
Pair it with buttered toast, sweet rolls, or a small pastry for a cozy snack. The coconut and ube flavors work well with soft breads and lightly sweet baked goods.
For dessert, serve it in small glasses after dinner. The color makes it feel fun, and smaller portions are usually enough because the shake is rich and creamy.
You can also serve it with fresh fruit like mango, banana, strawberries, or pineapple. The fruit adds brightness and makes the shake feel a little lighter.
For birthdays or family gatherings, pour the shake into clear glasses and top it with whipped cream and toasted coconut. It looks pretty without needing much decorating.
If you want it as a breakfast-style smoothie, add yogurt or protein powder and keep the sweetener lighter. It will still taste creamy and sweet, but it will feel a little more filling.
Leftovers and Storage
Ube Coconut Shake is best enjoyed right after blending because the ice gives it the freshest texture. As it sits, the ice melts and the shake can become thinner.
If you have leftovers, pour them into a covered jar and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Shake or stir very well before drinking because the ube and coconut milk may settle.
The texture will not be as thick after storage, but the flavor will still be good. You can blend leftovers with a few fresh ice cubes to make the shake cold and creamy again.
You can also freeze leftover shake in popsicle molds. This is a fun way to turn extra shake into a cold snack for kids or a simple dessert later.
Avoid freezing it in one large container unless you plan to thaw and re-blend it. The texture can become icy, but blending it again with a splash of milk can help smooth it out.
Nutrition and Benefits
- Ube Adds Color and Flavor: Ube gives this shake its beautiful purple color and gentle sweet flavor. It makes the drink feel fun and special without needing artificial color.
- Coconut Milk Makes It Creamy: Coconut milk gives the shake a rich, smooth texture. It also pairs naturally with ube and helps the drink taste like a dessert.
- Easy to Adjust Sweetness: You can use sweetened condensed milk, honey, maple syrup, or sugar depending on what you like. Tasting before adding more keeps the shake balanced.
- Can Be Made Dairy-Free: With coconut condensed milk, dairy-free ice cream, and plant-based milk, this shake can be made without dairy. It still turns out creamy and satisfying.
- Family-Friendly Treat: This shake is colorful, mild, and easy to serve in smaller cups. It works well for snacks, dessert, birthdays, or warm-weather treats.
Recipe FAQ
Can I use ube halaya instead of cooked ube?
Yes, ube halaya works very well in this shake. Use about ¾ cup ube halaya in place of 1 cup cooked mashed ube. Since ube halaya is sweet, reduce the condensed milk and taste before adding more.
Where can I find ube?
Ube can often be found at Asian grocery stores, either fresh, frozen, powdered, or prepared as ube halaya. Frozen grated ube is very convenient for shakes. Ube halaya is the easiest option because it is already cooked and sweetened.
Can I make this shake dairy-free?
Yes, use coconut condensed milk, maple syrup, or sugar instead of regular sweetened condensed milk. Choose almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or extra coconut milk as the liquid. Use dairy-free vanilla ice cream if you want it extra creamy.
Why is my shake too thick?
Ube is naturally dense, and coconut milk can also be thick when chilled. Add milk a little at a time and blend again until the shake is drinkable. Start with small splashes so it does not become too thin.
Why is my shake not purple enough?
The color depends on the type of ube you use. Ube halaya and frozen ube often give a stronger purple color than some fresh ube. You can add an extra spoonful of ube halaya for deeper color and flavor.
Can I make this without a high-speed blender?
Yes, but it helps to use soft chilled ube and smaller ice cubes. Blend the coconut milk, milk, and sweetener first, then add the ube and ice. Stop and scrape the sides as needed until smooth.
Can I turn this into a smoothie bowl?
Yes, use less milk and add extra frozen banana, ice, or chilled ube for a thicker texture. Spoon it into a bowl and top with toasted coconut, granola, sliced banana, or a drizzle of coconut cream. Serve it right away while thick and cold.
A Creamy Purple Treat for Warm Days
Ube Coconut Shake is a sweet, creamy drink that feels fun, comforting, and easy to make at home. The chilled ube, coconut milk, vanilla, and ice blend into a smooth shake with a beautiful color and gentle flavor.
It is a lovely treat for family snacks, simple desserts, birthdays, or warm afternoons when everyone wants something cold. With easy ingredients and flexible add-ins, this is a recipe worth making again whenever you want a colorful homemade drink.
