Easy Sakura Mochi Recipe

Easy Sakura Mochi with chewy and sticky rice cake on the outside, and sweet red bean paste filling on the inside! It’s rolled into beautiful pink mochi balls and covered with an edible pickled cherry blossom leaf. This Japanese dessert recipe is quick to make at home and perfect for celebrating the spring season or other special occasions.

Prep Time20

Cook Time6

Total Time26

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: Sakura Mochi

Servings: mochi balls

Author: Izzy

Ingredients

3/4 cup glutinous rice sweet rice
3/4 cup water
red food coloring I used dragonfruit powder, but you can use any red food coloring
3/4 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons red bean paste* see how to make homemade red bean paste in the recipe note
6 pickled sakura leaves (optional)

Instructions

Soak the glutinous rice with water overnight (or at least 1 hour if you’re in a hurry).
In the meantime, soak pickled sakura leaves for 15-30 minutes to remove the salt.
Roll red bean paste into 6 small balls and set aside.
Drain the rice, and add water and food coloring. Mix well.
Transfer the mixture to a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 6 minutes. (Mix once after 3 minutes).
Remove the plastic wrap and add sugar. Mix well.
(Optional) If you prefer the extra sticky texture, you can pound the rice until it’s partly broken and very sticky.
Divide the rice into 6 equal portions.
Place a piece of plastic wrap on the working surface, and add 1 portion of the rice on top. Spread it out into a round thin layer.
Place a red bean paste ball in the center of the sticky rice.
Roll the rice over to cover the red bean paste completely.
Tighten the plastic wrap and make it into an oval shape.
Remove the plastic wrap and cover the mochi ball with a sakura leaf. Then repeat for the rest.

Notes

Plan ahead of time. It’s best to soak the sweet rice overnight, or at least 1 hour if you’re in a rush.
Add the food coloring gradually until it reaches the color you like.
To make homemade red bean paste, you’ll need:
- 1/3 cup red beans
- 1/3 cup sugar
- water

Add rinsed red beans and water to a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the water to boil and then discard the water. Add more water and bring to boil again, and cover with a lid. Turn down the heat to medium-low, and let it simmer for 1 hour until you can easily mash the beans with your fingers. Drain the azuki beans and put them back into the pot. Turn the heat to medium-low, and add sugar. Stirring constantly until it reaches your desired consistency.

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