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 legendary for its lovely desserts. Many come from centuries-old sweet-making traditions, whereas others are trendy creations influenced by Western baking. From conventional wagashi to mild and ethereal muffins, every dessert captures the distinctive allure of Japanese flavors.
On this publish, I’ve gathered 23 of probably the most common Japanese desserts you may simply make at residence.
Nami’s Fast Information to Japanese Desserts
Right here’s a easy information that can assist you discover Japanese sweets:
- Signature flavors:
- matcha (inexperienced tea)
- azuki (candy crimson 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.
- Trendy Japanese desserts: They mix Western strategies with Japanese flavors and lighter sweetness. They’re delicate, elegant, and beautiful to serve.
- Textures: Japanese desserts typically have enjoyable and distinctive textures. Suppose mushy and chewy mochi, ethereal and jiggly muffins, or crisp and delicate cookies.
- Balanced sweetness: Most Japanese desserts are gently candy. This lets the pure flavors shine with out feeling overly heavy.
If you attempt a recipe, come again and inform me your favourite. I at all times love listening to from you!
Japanese Cheesecake
Jiggly and fluffy Japanese Cheesecake is a crowd-pleasing dessert that everybody loves! I am going to information you thru every step of this recipe and share my greatest ideas so you may 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 mushy, bouncy sponge cake sweetened with honey. It’s a specialty of Nagasaki and a must-try should you get pleasure from easy, elegant muffins. The feel is moist and fine-crumbed, and it is pretty 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 calmly savory unexpectedly. They’ll certainly 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 recent matcha cream filling. Mild, creamy, and mildly candy, it‘s a scrumptious afternoon snack or post-dinner dessert to get pleasure from with espresso or tea. With its festive vibrant colour from the inexperienced tea powder, this roll cake might be an prompt favourite for any celebration, too.
Dorayaki (Japanese Pink Bean Pancake)
A traditional Japanese confection, Dorayaki is a honey pancake sandwich crammed with candy crimson bean paste (anko). It‘s a wildly common snack and dessert amongst youngsters and adults alike in Japan.
The best way to Make Mochi with a Stand Mixer
Make recent Home made Mochi (Japanese rice muffins) 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 get pleasure from it in crimson bean soup or Japanese New 12 months soup (ozoni).
Chocolate Chiffon Cake
This traditional Chocolate Chiffon Cake is ethereal, mild, and spongy with a wealthy chocolate taste and delicate sweetness. Extraordinarily common in Japan, chiffon muffins are present in cafes and pastry retailers 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 traditional dessert present in cafes and pastry retailers throughout Japan. Topped with strawberries and recent whipped cream, this decadent cake is a fantastic and chic candy deal with to make at residence for any festive event.
Fundamental Dango Recipe
Japanese rice dumplings, often known as Dango, are a conventional Japanese candy bought at avenue stalls and wagashi retailers. They’re chewy and candy and include many flavors like candy soy glaze and crimson bean paste.
Japanese Strawberry Shortcake
Moist, ethereal, and light-weight, Japanese Strawberry Shortcake is among the many hottest muffins in Japan. This elegant and traditional dessert is ideal for any celebration. Right here, I share how one can preserve the sponge cake moist and adorn it with berries and recent 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 traditional avenue vendor snack in Japan, Taiyaki is a heat, fish-shaped cake with candy crimson bean filling. This waffle-like Japanese deal with may be very common at avenue festivals and festivals. On this recipe, I‘ll present you how one can make recent, scorching Taiyaki at residence.
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 severe depth of taste. You want solely 7 pantry components!
Nama Chocolate
Silky-smooth Nama Chocolate made with recent cream merely melts in your mouth. Wealthy, moist, and decadent, these sweets are a beloved reward from Japan. With my copycat recipe of the well-known ROYCE® chocolate, you may simply recreate this particular deal with at residence.
Baked Cheese Tarts
These Baked Cheese Tarts (additionally referred to as Hokkaido Cheese Tarts) are critically one of the best! I’ll present you how one can 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 traditional of paper-thin crepes layered with recent whipped cream. Mild 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 referred to as flan or caramel pudding. Observe my ideas for a foolproof caramel and a silky {smooth} custard.
Pon de Ring Donut
Make your personal Pon de Ring Donut at residence similar to Japan’s Mister Donut with my copycat recipe! They’re mushy, ethereal, bouncy, and chewy unexpectedly with a singular mochi-like texture. Take pleasure in them with both a traditional or matcha glaze.
Daifuku Mochi
A well-liked Japanese candy deal with, Daifuku is a small, spherical mochi crammed with candy crimson bean paste. This recipe exhibits how one can make this scrumptious snack at residence with a fast steam on the stovetop or within the microwave.
Anmitsu (Japanese Kanten Jelly Dessert)
Have a good time summer season with this cool and pleasant Japanese dessert referred to as Anmitsu! It is a Japanese wagashi dessert with kanten jelly, fruits, mochi, crimson bean paste, inexperienced tea ice cream, and a very good drizzle of candy black sugar syrup.
Simple Japanese Espresso Jelly
Should you like espresso, then you definitely‘ll love my simple recipe for chilled Japanese Espresso Jelly. You solely want 4 components to make this traditional deal with to chill down on a scorching summer season day. Prime it with recent whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk for a contact of silky richness.
Manju
Encased in a mushy wheat dough, crammed with candy crimson bean paste, and steamed to perfection, Manju is a traditional Japanese confectionery (wagashi). If 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 Observe: This publish was initially revealed on November 16, 2022, and republished on December 9, 2026.