How to make Marbled Ube Banana Bread (With Fresh Ube) – Ube Series, Part 3 💜🍌

Yield: 1 standard 9×5″ loaf or 3 mini loaves
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55–65 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour 20 minutes
Level: Easy, pantry-friendly, and pretty enough to flex

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Welcome back to my ube era 🎉

If you’ve been following along, you already know we’re deep into a delicious obsession — and yes, I’m calling it a series because it deserves the respect. 👏

Part 1 was my silky Ube Flan. Part 2? A chewy, bouncy Ube Bánh Bò Hấp. And now, for Part 3, we’re taking it back to basics — with a not-so-basic twist.

We’re making:
Moist. Marbled. Ube. Banana. Bread.

Say it with me: moist marbled ube banana bread. 💅

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Why Banana Bread Deserves a Comeback

Banana bread is one of those classic comfort desserts that gets overshadowed by flashier treats. But let me tell you: when done right? It hits.

• ✅ It’s soft, cozy, and satisfying
• ✅ You usually already have the ingredients
• ✅ It ages beautifully (better on Day 2, like a fine wine)
• ✅ You can dress it up or keep it simple

And we’re making it a little extra today by marbling in fresh ube. I mean, if you’re gonna make banana bread — might as well give it main character energy.

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What Makes This Banana Bread Different?

✨ It’s MOIST. Like, actually. No dry crumbly sad slices here.

✨ It’s MARBLED. The ube swirl isn’t just pretty — it adds depth, color, and a gentle earthiness that balances the banana.

✨ It uses fresh ube. Not ube jam, not extract only — the real, steamed root blended into coconut milk for maximum moisture and flavor.

✨ It’s easy. One bowl, one swirl, and a bake time you can nap through.

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Don’t Have Fresh Ube? Let’s Talk Options

Fresh ube is the star here, but if you can’t find it, don’t stress. You can still:

• Use frozen grated ube (just steam & mash first)
• Use ube halaya (reduce sugar slightly)
• Use ube powder (rehydrate in hot water or milk)
• Use just extract (flavor will be lighter, but it’ll still be cute)

Will it taste the same? Not 100%. But it’ll still be purple, delicious, and worth the effort.

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Ingredients You’ll Need 📝

🟣 Wet Ingredients

• 2 large ripe bananas, mashed (~1 cup)
• ½ cup steamed, mashed fresh ube
• ½ cup full-fat coconut milk
• ¼ cup neutral oil (canola, avocado, grapeseed)
• ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs (room temp)
• 1 tsp ube extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

🔸 Dry Ingredients

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cinnamon (optional — but it adds cozy vibes)

✨ Topping Ideas (Optional but Cute)

• Banana slices
• Turbinado sugar
• Toasted coconut flakes
• Crushed walnuts or pecans

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Let’s Bake It 🔥

✅ Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Preheat to 350°F (175°C).
Line a standard 9×5” loaf pan with parchment and grease the sides. (Mini loaves also work — just reduce bake time.)

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✅ Step 2: Prep the Ube

Blend the mashed ube (cooked), coconut milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla and ube extract (optional) until it’s silky smooth. You’re aiming for:

• No chunks
• No grainy bits
• A thick smoothie-like consistency

This makes sure the ube mixes evenly and gives you those ✨clean marbled swirls✨.

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✅ Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together:

• Mashed bananas
• Oil
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Brown sugar
• Eggs
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Mix until everything’s smooth and dreamy.

💡 Pro tip: You can add 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup here for even more softness on day 2.

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✅ Step 4: Add the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together:

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Cinnamon (optional but I highly recommend)

Fold the dry mix into the wet batter gently until just combined. Don’t overmix — we want tender, fluffy vibes. Scoop 1 cup of batter and combine with the ube mixture.

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✅ Step 5: Swirl & Bake

Scoop the batter in a checkerboard layout. 1 scoop regular batter, 1 scoop ube, alternate until there’s no more batter. Swirl 3-4 times.

Add any toppings if you’re feeling fancy — banana slices, turbinado sugar, coconut, nuts… she’s customizable.

Bake for 55–65 minutes, tenting with foil around the 40-minute mark if the top is browning too quickly.

✅ Toothpick test: Should come out with moist crumbs (not wet batter).

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✅ Step 6: Cool & Store

Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.

Once cool, wrap tightly in foil or cling wrap to lock in moisture. Especially important in dry climates (OC, I’m looking at you).

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Texture Goals 🎯

• Moist and soft — not dry, not dense
• Light crumb with tender bite
• Swirled streaks of ube you can actually taste
• Banana and coconut notes playing backup to the star: ube

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Storage + Serving

Room Temp: 2–3 days wrapped tightly
Fridge: Up to 5 days (microwave 10–15 sec to refresh)
Freezer: Slice and wrap individually. Thaw overnight or microwave straight from frozen

Serve with:

• Coffee ☕
• Milk tea 🧋
• Vanilla ice cream 🍨
• Or just by itself while you watch Netflix and feel accomplished

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Let’s Talk Variations 👩‍🍳

🟪 Make It All Ube

Use more ube and skip banana if you want a pure ube loaf. Add more sugar and coconut milk to balance it out.

🍫 Add Chocolate Chips

Self-explanatory. But wow.

🍞 Make It Muffins

Portion into muffin tins and bake for 20–25 mins at 350°F.

🌱 Make It Vegan

Sub eggs with flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 6 tbsp water), yogurt with plant-based yogurt, and you’re golden.

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Common Banana Bread Questions, Answered:

Q: Can I skip the ube extract?
A: Yep! You’ll lose some color and a bit of flavor, but fresh ube still brings the magic.

Q: What if I only have one banana?
A: Use it! Reduce the flour by ¼ cup or increase the sour cream slightly to balance.

Q: My bread looks done outside but raw in the middle??
A: Try tenting with foil earlier and extending the bake time. Also, check your oven temp — some run hot or cool.

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Behind the Loaf: Why This Recipe Works 💡

This banana bread nails the balance between science and indulgence:

• Banana = natural sweetness + structure
• Fresh ube + coconut milk = moisture bomb + flavor
• Oil + sour cream = richness + tenderness
• Brown sugar = deeper flavor + color
• Baking soda + baking powder = even rise and fluffy texture

And marbling? It’s not just for looks. It creates pockets of concentrated ube flavor in every bite. Trust me, you’ll taste the difference.

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Final Thoughts: Banana Bread, But Make It Purple 💜🍌

Banana bread will always have a special place in my heart. But this version? She’s got flair. She’s soft, swirled, and subtly tropical — like banana bread went on a beach vacation and came back glowing.

If you’ve never added ube to your baked goods before, this is a beginner-friendly way to start. No scary techniques, no mixers needed, and it always turns out cute.

So whether you’re team banana, team ube, or just here for the marbled moment — I hope this recipe brings some joy to your kitchen.

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📸 Tag me @Jenhdao if you make it!

Ube Series Part 3 is officially complete, but let’s be real… we’re probably just getting started 😏

Missed Parts 1 and 2?

• Ube Flan Recipe
• Ube Bánh Bò Hấp Recipe