They're typically not overly sweet — at least compared to some traditional American desserts — and many of them are easier to make than you think.
Japanese desserts are classic, versatile, and contain some of the most universally accessible recipes out there. (In fact, you may have already tried your hand at a few of these!)
They're typically not overly sweet — at least compared to some traditional American desserts — and many of them are easier to make than you think. From taiyaki and mille crepe cakes to purin and kasutera sponge cake, here are all the classic Japanese dessert recipes you should try at home. If I missed your favorite, leave it in the comments!
1. Matcha Roll Cake
No coffee break is complete without a slice of this matcha roll cake, which is light and delicate, and melts in your mouth. Don't be alarmed if you finish the entire roll in a day.
Recipe:Matcha Roll Cake
2. Taiyaki
You might be aware of this dessert from its popular pairing with ice cream. Turns out, the fish-shaped pastry was served without ice cream for a very long time before the ice cream hybrid went viral. To make this recipe (which, to be clear, tastes nothing like fish), you'll need to get a taiyaki pan. Just consider it an investment into the funnest snack/party favor you'll want to show off for years to come.
Recipe:Taiyaki
3. Fluffy Japanese Pancakes
If you're looking for the jiggliest, fluffiest pancakes in the world, you've come to the right place. You'll want a hand mixer to beat the egg whites into stiff peaks, but other than that, this recipe — and the best Sunday brunch ever — is yours for the taking.
Recipe:Fluffy Japanese Pancakes
4. Dark Chocolate Terrine
Chocolate terrine is by origin a French flourless chocolate dessert that's become popular in the Japanese food world. This recipe uses mascarpone cheese in lieu of the usual cream. Since chocolate is the overpowering flavor, try to find an especially high-quality kind.
Recipe:Dark Chocolate Terrine
5. Matcha Mille Crepe Cake
Don't worry: You won't need to make a thousand layers for this mille crepe cake. But you willneed a lot of patience and an entire afternoon to carefully create and stack the layers of this gorgeous matcha dessert.
Recipe:Matcha Mille Crepe Cake
7. Kabocha Shiruko
This sweet porridge is made using kabocha, coconut milk, and condensed milk, and is swimming with firm but chewy rice dumplings (also known as shiratama). It's a comforting and not-too-sweet dessert that people of all ages can love.
Recipe:Kabocha Shiruko
9. Kasutera Sponge Cake
Also known as Castella, this moist sponge cake is an essential pastry found in most East Asian bakeries, but especially Japanese ones. It's lightly sweetened with honey and sugar, and has a soft, pillowy texture you could really sink into.
Recipe:Kasutera Sponge Cake
10. Green Tea Mochi
Highly chewy and sticky, these mochi rice balls are fun to eat and even easier to make. Just mix together glutinous rice flour with sugar, green tea powder, and water to get the dough started. Then, flatten it out into equal circular shapes. Fill it with red bean paste, and pinch the ball closed to finish. Ta-da!
Recipe:Green Tea Mochi
11. Chakin Shibori Sweet Potato With Cinnamon
You'll need Japanese sweet potatoes for this dessert, but the result is a delicious, crumbly, dense dessert that you'd never guess uses potatoes as its base.
12. Strawberry Shiratama Dango
Shiratama dango is a mochi dessert usually served in a bowl and drizzled with condensed milk or served with ice cream for flavor. Like most mochi recipes, it's straightforward to make, so don't be shy.
Recipe:Strawberry Shiratama Dango
13. Chocolate Cake Roll
As you might've realized, you can personalize Swiss cake rolls however you want, whether it's with matcha flavor, or, as in this version, double chocolate flavor.
Recipe:Chocolate Cake Roll
14. Matcha Pound Cake (Vegan)
Fun fact: Pound cake named as such because the original recipe called for one pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. This recipe is vegan and replaces the butter and eggs for sesame oil and baking powder, but you'll still get the same soft, sweet bread you can enjoy all day long. And by the way, you can browse through all of Chef Ja Cooks' recipes for vegan takes to tons of classic Japanese recipes.
Recipe:Matcha Pound Cake (Vegan)
15. Sweet Potato Yaki Mochi
These panfried sweet potato mochi totally redefine how to incorporate sweet potato into desserts, proving once again what a versatile vegetable it is. Oh potato, what can'tyou do?
Recipe:Sweet Potato Yaki Mochi
A classic Japanese shortcake is made with airy sponge cake that pairs perfectly with fluffy whipped cream that just barely weighs down the cake. Use the freshest, ripest strawberries for the best result.
Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake
17. Sweet Black Sesame Soup
This might not be a soup in the traditional sense, but it does have all the makings of a nutty, sweet, and filling dessert. For an extra lil' something, feel free to top it with a few chewy mochi.
Recipe:Sweet Black Sesame Soup
18. Shokupan (Milk Bread)
This is the pillow soft, not-too-sweet bread to end them all. And like most good breads, you'll need to commit at least a day to getting the perfect bread. But if you're a true bread aficionado, have you ever known a good bread that's not worth the wait?
Recipe:Shokupan (Milk Bread)
19. Matcha Tiramisu
You won't need any lady fingers for this tiramisu, but you will need a ready-made chocolate sponge cake that you can either buy or make at home.
Recipe:Matcha Tiramisu
20. Candied Sweet Potatoes
Japanese sweet potatoes have such a caramelly taste that they're perfect on their own. This recipe levels them up with a glaze made of sugar and soy sauce.
Recipe:Candied Sweet Potatoes
23. Coffee Jelly
This refreshing treat can be purchased in many Japanese shops or whipped up at home with just a few ingredients. It's the perfect pick-me-up after a summer meal in the backyard.
Recipe:Coffee Jelly
24. Fluffy Cheesecake
Unlike a dense American cheesecake, a Japanese cheesecake is known for its jiggly and airy texture, achieved by whipping eggsand baking it in the oven using a water bath. Serve with powdered sugar or some fresh berries on the side.
Recipe:Fluffy Cheesecake
25. Mitarashi Dango
"Dango" come in several varieties, but always involve sweet rice dumplings. In this variation, they're served in a skewer and coated with a sweet soy glaze.
Recipe:Mitarashi Dango
