Ube Hot Cross Buns bring subtle flavor and color to an Easter classic

If you’re not already familiar with ube, it’s time. The flavorful purple yam lends a delicate flavor to all kinds of treats across a wide swath of Southeast and East Asia. It’s a particular star in many Filipino desserts, for example. Here, the ube lends a mellow sweetness and plushness to the hot cross bun dough, as well as giving it a pop of pastel purple. For this recipe, I used shredded, frozen ube, which I found at my local Asian supermarket. If you prefer a stronger flavor and darker color, feel free to add ube flavoring or extract which can be found at some Asian grocery stores or online. For the pandan topping, you will need a pastry bag for piping. The result is an Easter egg-colored twist on a classic Easter dish.