Mochi!! This popular Japanese dessert has a soft, tender, and chewy mochi rice cake enclosing a creamy, sweet filling. In this post, you’ll learn everything about mochi! With some simple tips, you can even make this delicious snack at your own home and customize it with your favorite fillings.

What is Mochi?

Mochi is a chewy, sweet, and traditional Japanese snack, also known as rice cakes or Daifuku. It’s a type of wagashi (Japanese sweets) that’s quite popular and delightful. Rice cakes are now a regular part of the diet in Japan. They are traditionally made in a pounding ritual known as Mochitsuki.

What is Mochi Made Of?

Mochi consists mochi wrap (a Japanese rice cake made with glutinous rice flour) on the outside, and a sweet filling on the inside. Here are key mochi ingredients:

• Glutinous Rice Flour – The key to the best mochi is using Shiratamako or Mochiko (sweet rice flour). Note that they are different from the regular glutinous rice flour. You can find them in most Japanese grocery stores, or order them online from Amazon.
• Sugar – Regular granulated sugar is usually used.
• Cornstarch – This ingredient doesn’t go into the mochi, but you’ll need a generous amount to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands.
• Red Bean Paste or other sweet fillings 
• Water

What is Mochi Filled With?

Traditional mochi is filled with anko (sweet red bean paste). You can also find other filling variations such as ichigo (strawberry), mango, and ice cream.

What Does Mochi Taste Like?

The mochi is perfectly soft and chewy, with a nice rice flavor. The red bean paste is creamy and deliciously sweetened. Traditionally mochi is served with green tea.

What is Mochi Ice Cream?

Mochi ice cream has become a new trend, thanks to its unique chewy, sticky, and soft texture. Invented by Japanese-American businesswoman and community activist Frances Hashimoto, this special dessert is made from mochi cake wrapper with an ice cream filling.

Best Mochi Recipes

Mochi Donuts

Sticky, soft, chewy, and incredibly addictive! These mochi donuts taste like other Japanese mochi balls on the inside while crispy on the outside. This foolproof recipe will satisfy those sweet tooth cravings.

Mochi Ice Cream

Sweet and creamy ice cream is wrapped in smooth and pillowy mochi dough! It will float into your mouth and disappear! 

Hawaiian Butter Mochi

This classic Hawaiian mochi cake is soft, chewy, and buttery. It’s a tropical treat made with mochiko glutinous rice flour and coconut cream. These mochi cake bites are incredibly easy to make. 

Green Tea Matcha Mochi

This homemade mochi is soft, chewy, and sweet with delicious matcha flavor and beautiful green color. It’s easy to make and you can customize the filling with red bean paste, strawberry, or ice cream.

Strawberry Red Bean Mochi

If you are looking for an indulgent and fruity mochi recipe, try strawberry mochi. The fresh, juicy strawberry and sweet red bean paste are covered with chewy and soft mochi cake. This beautiful Japanese strawberry ichigo daifuku takes less than 20 minutes to make, and you can easily customize it for ice cream mochi or red bean-filled mochi balls!

Asian Mango Mochi

A slightly different than other mochi recipes on the list, this mango mochi recipe is made with regular glutinous flour. Tangy and sweet mango filling is covered with soft and chewy mochi cake. It’s rolled into mango mochi balls with a delicious shredded coconut coating, perfect for a hot summer day!

Daifuku Mochi

This is one of the most traditional mochi recipes with a soft, chewy mochi rice cake and a creamy, sweet red bean paste filling. Pure dessert bliss! 

Chocolate Chip Mochi Cookies

Mochi cookies — who can resist? Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, with a sweet, stretchy mochi center and rich chocolate flavor in every bite. These mochi-stuffed chocolate chip cookies are surprisingly easy to make and can be customized with flavors like matcha or peanut butter for a fun twist.

How to Make Mochi

1. Place a large sheet of parchment paper on the working surface, and dust it generously with cornstarch. Set aside.
2. Whisk together mochiko and sugar in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add water and whisk until smooth and mochiko is completely dissolved.
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap loosely. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Take it out and mix it with a wet spatula. Place the plastic wrap back and microwave for 30 more seconds until the dough has changed from white to slightly translucent.
4. Transfer the mochi dough onto the parchment paper. Sprinkle more cornstarch onto the dough. Roll out your dough into a thin piece.
5. Cut the dough into circles using a cookie cutter. 
6. scoop out your favorite filling on top of a mochi wrapper.
7. Pinch the four corners of the mochi wrapper, and then pinch the remaining corners together.
8. Add cornstarch to the sealed area to prevent it from sticking. Set aside and continue to make the rest of the mochi balls. Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Is Mochi Healthy?

Like most desserts, mochi is not exactly a healthy food, as it’s high in sugar and calories. But it can be part of a healthy and well-balanced diet if you use some healthier fillings or consume it in moderation.

Where to Buy Mochi Ice Cream?

You can order them in many Japanese restaurants or buy them at local grocery stores such as Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Whole Foods. It’s usually stored in the freezer section.