This bakery lets you ube back to your roots

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Cake, cupcakes and your own celebrations. This Alameda Island bakery is not only customizing your goodies, but it's opening a world of colorful ube baking.

Baker and owner of Whisk Cake Creations, Henry Awayan, grew up on Alameda and is using these root vegetables to brighten up your party.

"It's been in my life since growing up, especially when we traveled to the Philippines. It's a purple yam and I think the highlight of the ingredient is the purple hue. It's so vibrant. Taste wise, it's kind of a nutty, earthy, vanilla flavor," said Awayan.

Ube is native to the Philippines and has been making itself known around a lot of kitchens. Deserts are the specialty in Awayan's shop, and he has literally written the book on ube recipes, "The Ube Baking Book."

"I've always wanted to do a cookbook. I am Filipino, I know about ube. I learned a lot more about ube doing the book, as with any process you learn. It almost brought me closer to the Filipino culture. We talk about that in the book and use all different forms of ube. People can see the variety of techniques," added Awayan.

Ube chiffon, ube cupcakes and ube Oreo cheesecakes are just some of the menu items that can be customized at the specialty bakery.

Customers are not limited to ube items and can also indulge in all sorts of other baking recipes.

The quaint bakery and the surrounding area are special to the chef.

"This is the neighborhood I grew up in. To have that full circle moment where I find this spot, it's nostalgic," said Awayan.

To learn more visit their website.