From mochi and taiyaki to matcha cookies and Japanese cheesecake, these are our most-loved Japanese desserts of all time. They’re easy, scrumptious, and enjoyable to make. You could discover a new favourite, so attempt as many as you want!
Fast Overview
Japan is known for its stunning desserts. Many come from centuries-old sweet-making traditions, whereas others are fashionable creations influenced by Western baking. From conventional wagashi to mild and ethereal truffles, every dessert captures the distinctive appeal of Japanese flavors.
On this submit, I’ve gathered 23 of essentially the most common Japanese desserts you possibly can simply make at house.
Nami’s Fast Information to Japanese Desserts
Right here’s a easy information that will help you discover Japanese sweets:
- Signature flavors:
- matcha (inexperienced tea)
- azuki (candy pink bean paste)
- black sesame
- hojicha (roasted inexperienced tea)
- yuzu
- seasonal Japanese components like sakura, plum, and candy potato
- Wagashi: These conventional sweets have deep cultural roots in tea ceremony. They give attention to pure sweetness, seasonal magnificence, and considerate presentation.
- Fashionable Japanese desserts: They mix Western methods with Japanese flavors and lighter sweetness. They’re delicate, elegant, and wonderful to serve.
- Textures: Japanese desserts usually have enjoyable and distinctive textures. Suppose tender and chewy mochi, ethereal and jiggly truffles, or crisp and delicate cookies.
- Balanced sweetness: Most Japanese desserts are gently candy. This lets the pure flavors shine with out feeling overly heavy.
Whenever you attempt a recipe, come again and inform me your favourite. I all the time love listening to from you!
Japanese Cheesecake
Jiggly and fluffy Japanese Cheesecake is a crowd-pleasing dessert that everybody loves! I will information you thru every step of this recipe and share my finest suggestions so you possibly can whip up a creamy, dreamy soufflé cheesecake that is as mild and ethereal as a cloud.
Japanese Castella Cake
Initially launched by Portuguese merchants, Castella is a tender, bouncy sponge cake sweetened with honey. It’s a specialty of Nagasaki and a must-try if you happen to take pleasure in easy, elegant truffles. The feel is moist and fine-crumbed, and it is beautiful with tea or espresso.
Black Sesame Cookies
Give your icebox cookies a Japanese twist with these sesame cookies. Flavored with black sesame, they’re candy, nutty, and evenly savory suddenly. They’ll absolutely stand out amongst your vacation sweets and baked items.
Matcha Swiss Roll (Roll Cake)
Matcha Swiss Roll is a fluffy sponge cake with a swirl of contemporary matcha cream filling. Gentle, creamy, and mildly candy, it‘s a scrumptious afternoon snack or post-dinner dessert to take pleasure in with espresso or tea. With its festive vibrant shade from the inexperienced tea powder, this roll cake can be an prompt favourite for any celebration, too.
Dorayaki (Japanese Crimson Bean Pancake)
A basic Japanese confection, Dorayaki is a honey pancake sandwich stuffed with candy pink bean paste (anko). It‘s a wildly common snack and dessert amongst kids and adults alike in Japan.
How you can Make Mochi with a Stand Mixer
Make contemporary Home made Mochi (Japanese rice truffles) utilizing a stand mixer and an electrical rice cooker! Stuff the mochi along with your favourite dessert filling, dip it in a savory or candy coating, or take pleasure in it in pink bean soup or Japanese New Yr soup (ozoni).
Chocolate Chiffon Cake
This basic Chocolate Chiffon Cake is ethereal, mild, and spongy with a wealthy chocolate taste and delicate sweetness. Extraordinarily common in Japan, chiffon truffles are present in cafes and pastry outlets throughout the nation. This showstopper recipe will quickly be your favourite dessert, too.
Chocolate Gateau (Chocolate Cake)
Moist and wealthy Chocolate Gateau recipe is a basic dessert present in cafes and pastry outlets throughout Japan. Topped with strawberries and contemporary whipped cream, this decadent cake is an attractive and chic candy deal with to make at house for any festive event.
Fundamental Dango Recipe
Japanese rice dumplings, also referred to as Dango, are a conventional Japanese candy bought at avenue stalls and wagashi outlets. They’re chewy and candy and include many flavors like candy soy glaze and pink bean paste.
Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
Moist, ethereal, and light-weight, Japanese Strawberry Shortcake is among the many hottest truffles in Japan. This elegant and basic dessert is ideal for any celebration. Right here, I share tips on how to maintain the sponge cake moist and enhance it with berries and contemporary whipped cream.
Matcha Cookies
Nothing says festive like these matcha inexperienced tea cookies. The earthy, distinctive taste of matcha pairs completely with wealthy, buttery sweetness. Make an enormous batch in your cookie alternate, and don’t overlook to avoid wasting for afternoon tea!
Taiyaki (Japanese Fish Formed Waffle)
A basic avenue vendor snack in Japan, Taiyaki is a heat, fish-shaped cake with candy pink bean filling. This waffle-like Japanese deal with could be very common at avenue festivals and festivals. On this recipe, I‘ll present you how one can make contemporary, scorching Taiyaki at house.
Miso Butter Cookies
Crisp, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth, these Miso Butter Cookies take advantage of insanely scrumptious afternoon deal with! They hit the best notes with a critical depth of taste. You want solely 7 pantry components!
Nama Chocolate
Silky-smooth Nama Chocolate made with contemporary cream merely melts in your mouth. Wealthy, moist, and decadent, these sweets are a beloved present from Japan. With my copycat recipe of the well-known ROYCE® chocolate, you possibly can simply recreate this particular deal with at house.
Baked Cheese Tarts
These Baked Cheese Tarts (additionally known as Hokkaido Cheese Tarts) are severely the most effective! I’ll present you tips on how to make the heavenly cream cheese filling and a flaky, tender short-crust pastry. They’re scrumptious heat, cooled, or chilled.
Japanese Fruit Roll Cake
Matcha Mille Crepe Cake
Matcha Mille Crepe Cake is a Japanese twist on the French basic of paper-thin crepes layered with contemporary whipped cream. Gentle and creamy, it‘s a no-bake cake that‘s subtly candy and barely earthy from the inexperienced tea powder. This elegant dessert will wow your company at any celebration!
Purin (Japanese Custard Pudding)
Topped with a deliciously bittersweet caramel sauce, Purin (Japanese Custard Pudding) is a well-liked do-it-yourself dessert. This recipe is Japan‘s tackle crème caramel—additionally known as flan or caramel pudding. Comply with my suggestions for a foolproof caramel and a silky {smooth} custard.
Pon de Ring Donut
Make your personal Pon de Ring Donut at house similar to Japan’s Mister Donut with my copycat recipe! They’re tender, ethereal, bouncy, and chewy suddenly with a novel mochi-like texture. Take pleasure in them with both a basic or matcha glaze.
Daifuku Mochi
A well-liked Japanese candy deal with, Daifuku is a small, spherical mochi stuffed with candy pink bean paste. This recipe reveals how one can make this scrumptious snack at house with a fast steam on the stovetop or within the microwave.
Anmitsu (Japanese Kanten Jelly Dessert)
Have fun summer time with this cool and pleasant Japanese dessert known as Anmitsu! It is a Japanese wagashi dessert with kanten jelly, fruits, mochi, pink bean paste, inexperienced tea ice cream, and a great drizzle of candy black sugar syrup.
Simple Japanese Espresso Jelly
In case you like espresso, then you definately‘ll love my simple recipe for chilled Japanese Espresso Jelly. You solely want 4 components to make this basic deal with to chill down on a scorching summer time day. High it with contemporary whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk for a contact of silky richness.
Manju
Encased in a tender wheat dough, stuffed with candy pink bean paste, and steamed to perfection, Manju is a basic Japanese confectionery (wagashi). Whenever you crave for a enjoyable, candy deal with, these dumplings will hit the spot! Take pleasure in with a scorching cup of inexperienced tea.
Editor’s Word: This submit was initially revealed on November 16, 2022, and republished on December 9, 2026.
