Ube Crunch (Dump) Cake

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This recipe, an ube crunch, is a version inspired by pumpkin crunch cake. Pumpkin crunch is a popular dessert in Hawaii. Instead of pumpkin puree, I used ube halaya and replaced the pecans with chopped nuts I had in my kitchen. It is buttery, creamy, and has tropical flavors thanks to the ube's unique taste and a bit of coconut milk!

Update Disclosure: This post has been updated for one or more of the following reasons: easier reading, updated photos, clearer instructions, and just plain ol' improvements to the recipe (as noted).

Jump to:

• What is Ube Crunch?
• Ingredients
• Substitutes
• Recipe Tips
• How to Make Ube Crunch 
• Let it Sit in the Fridge
• Ube Crunch Cake
• Have You Tried This Recipe?

What is Ube Crunch?

A dump cake is basically a recipe that requires you to 'dump' the cake ingredients together in a large baking dish. The idea is to mix it all up before placing the baking dish in the oven. The finished product would be a solid cake.

Ube crunch is a type of dump cake made with a few ingredients such as ube halaya, extract, heavy cream, coconut milk, a box of cake mix, butter, and nuts. It involves two more steps than your typical dump cake to achieve the pretty, aesthetic layers. But it is totally worth it! The crunch comes from the streusel-like crust of nuts and baked cake batter crisped by melted butter. The middle layer is a soft filling with ube halaya (ube jam), sugar, heavy cream, eggs, and coconut milk. After the cake cools, you flip it over and top it with whipped cream!

Ingredients

Here are the essential ingredients you will need:

• Ube Halaya
• Heavy Cream
• Coconut Milk
• Ube Extract
• Granulated Sugar
• Eggs
• Cake Mix
• Butter
• Chopped Nuts (your choice!)

Substitutes

• Homemade Cake Mix: You can make your cake mix from scratch! If you don't have cake mix ready at home, you can check out this pumpkin crunch with homemade cake mix recipe.

• Heavy Cream: You can use regular whole milk instead of the heavy cream that you add to the filling batter.

Recipe Tips

• Look at Sugar Content: Since ube halaya is a premade jam, it will already contain sugar. Unfortunately, I am not able to define how much sugar every brand contains, so I start this ube crunch recipe with about half a cup of added white sugar.
  • Taste test your ube halaya to check whether you should add more sugar. If you are using unsweetened ube puree, use 200 grams of sugar or about one cup.

• Be Gentle with the Cake Mix: When you add the cake mix on top of the batter, be careful not to break the surface area. This way, you can make sure you have a clearly defined layer of filling and crust.

• Go Nuts: I use a variety of nuts to add to the cake mixture which includes hazelnuts and walnuts. But pecans and macadamia nuts would add some tasty flavor to the cake as well.

How to Make Ube Crunch 

This is a one bowl type of recipe - yay, less dishes! Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F) and then check out the simple steps below:

1. Add the ube halaya, coconut milk, heavy cream, eggs, sugar, ube extract, and coconut milk and whisk all the ingredients together.
2. Butter and line a baking dish with parchment paper and pour in the ube batter.
3. Gently top with cake mix, add melted butter, then top with nuts.
4. Bake for one hour and then let it sit on the counter to cool completely.
5. Flip the ube crunch upside down on a plate and release from the baking dish.
6. Make a whipped cream topping and spread on top.

Let it Sit in the Fridge

These get better in the fridge! Once the cake has cooled completely, let it sit in the fridge for a day before cutting and serving. The pieces become more solid making it easier to handle. The flavors are more pronounced and rich!