Attractive and delicious Japanese sweets

The reputation of Japanese food, from delicious sushi to ramen and tempura, is complicated all over the world, but the sweets of Japan have not lacked anything from this country’s food and have been able to fascinate tourists with their high variety. These attractive sweets are usually served as dessert and after meals. Japan has countless flavors to offer. So, if you have chosen this country as your next destination, be sure to try the popular Japanese sweets.

The most delicious Japanese sweets

If we want to be honest, there is no doubt that sweets and desserts can be considered an integral part of tourist attractions in Japan. According to the experience of tourists, it is impossible not to fall in love with Japanese sweets after trying them. So, join us and get to know the famous sweets of Japan.

Cobbler

There is no better way to start your introduction to Japanese sweets than mochi. This Japanese rice cake made from mochigum (Japanese glutinous rice) is an important festival food that has been prepared in Japan for hundreds of years.

Mochi is one of the key dishes at seasonal festivals such as Japanese New Year, but it can also be enjoyed year-round. Known for its super sticky consistency, this sweet is made by pounding glutinous rice into a paste and then molding it into a desired shape. Mochi can be eaten alone, although it is often made with wagashi and mochi ice cream.

Traditionally, mochi is made by two people working in tandem to pound and knead the sticky sweet rice flour dough using a kina (wooden mallet). This painstaking process is very fascinating to watch and if you are lucky you can see it in some parts of Japan.

If you visit Nara, we recommend going to the Nakatanido Pavilion. Because its owner – Mitsuo Nakatani – is known as the fastest mochi maker in Japan.

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Crepe is one of the most famous sweets in Japan

Japanese pancake or crepe has various cooking recipes according to the chef’s taste. Strawberry crepe pancakes, street crepes (fruits + cream + syrup of your choice), matcha crepes, banana caramel crepes, green tea azuki crepes with whipped cream and pecans, and mochi crepes are all in the Japanese crepe category. . These types of sweets are very popular in Tokyo and are prepared with pancake batter and heating it in thin pancake layers.

According to your taste, you can use fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, bananas and kiwis to prepare crepes.

Street crepes are more popular than other crepes as a delicious snack and are usually served with hot and delicious Japanese tea. In your tour of the streets of Tokyo, you will definitely see stalls for cooking crepes.

Yatsuhashi

Yatsuhashi 八ツ橋) is a Japanese sweet made from rice flour, sugar and cinnamon. This very attractive candy is also known as Tokyo’s most famous candy and you can see it in various packages in souvenir shops. Souvenir shops at Tokyo Airport also offer Yatsuhashi to tourists.

It is very easy to prepare Yatsu Hashi as one of the most famous sweets in Japan. This sweet is prepared from glutinous rice flour, sugar and cinnamon and baked in the oven. Hard Yatsuhashi crackers are shaped like a Japanese harp, koto, or bamboo stalk that has been cut lengthwise.

In Japan, Yatsu Hashi is served as a healthy and energetic snack. You can order this delicious dessert from street food stalls or in Japanese restaurants.

Dorayaki Japanese sweets

It’s time for a famous Japanese dessert. Dorayaki! Doriaki pastry is a rich and high-calorie food that is filled with two small pancakes and made with red bean paste.

Since doryaki is very heavy in terms of food and of course sweet, it is usually served as a snack.

Dora means gong in Japanese. Aside from the similarity in shape, legend has it that the first dorayaki were made by farmers who used gongs to make pancakes. With this description, we can introduce doryaki as one of the traditional Japanese sweets.

The original dorayaki consisted of only one layer. Its current form was invented in 1914 by Usagiya in Tokyo’s Ueno district. During your trip to Japan, you must try doryaki and you can even buy this sweet as a souvenir in beautiful and sturdy packaging.

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Dango sweets

These sweet skewered rice dumplings can be found at street stalls, local sweet shops, or festivals all over Japan. Dango is similar to the famous mochi or glutinous rice balls that are chewy and sweet. They come in various flavors such as sweet soy sauce glaze and red bean paste.

You can buy your favorite dango depending on how and what the dango sweets are made of and what flavor you like. Mitarashi dango (glazed with soy sauce), anko dango (coated with sweet red bean paste), and hanami dango (tricolor dango) are the most famous dango flavors.

The city of Osaka offers Japan’s most famous dango in its pastry stalls. Dango, as the name suggests, is covered in a savory miso glaze. Tourists can regain energy after a tour of Osaka by eating dango as one of the most delicious sweets in Japan.

raindrop cake

Drop cake is a beautiful and delicate cake that has captivated not only Japanese people but also tourists since its discovery. This cake, which was made in 2014 by Kinseiken Seika, is a spherical jelly-based dessert that looks exactly like a raindrop.

The iconic appearance of the candy is achieved by combining mineral water and agar agar. Since the basis of the cake is water, its calories are almost zero and suitable for people who are on a diet.

As a low-calorie and popular dish, this trendy Japanese dessert can be easily prepared at home with just a few ingredients. An interesting point is that raindrop cake, inspired by a traditional dessert called miso shingen mochi, was introduced to the United States by chef Darren Wong at Smorgasburg in New York as one of the most attractive sweets in Japan. Since then, in addition to Japan, the raindrop cake has gained many fans among Americans.

Oshiroku, Japanese dessert

A slightly sweet Japanese dessert! Oshiroku is a kind of sweet soup with a mild aroma of red beans, whose taste and aroma enchants the soul. Of course, the accompaniment of mochi toast makes everything even better! This dish is one of those Japanese sweets that has a nostalgic taste for the residents of this country. Therefore, its taste cannot be ignored.

Although Oshiroku has a warm nature and is known as a hearty dessert for cold winter days, its taste can be enjoyed all year round.

As for how to prepare oshiroku, it can be said that it is made from sweet azuki beans (red beans) and topped with toasted mochi (rice cakes) or shiratama dango (sticky rice flour dumplings). Oshiroku can be easily made with canned anko (red bean paste), canned red beans, and packaged mochi from grocery stores.

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Sushi sweets

Japanese sweet sushi has many flavors, but the most famous one is banana sushi. Inspired by traditional Japanese sweets, banana, chocolate and pistachio are combined in this dessert to create a heavenly dessert. According to some, the sweetness of sushi may not be as delicious as wagashi, but it certainly has a unique and heavenly taste. Chocolate banana slices coated with chopped pistachios give banana sushi a super sweet, chocolatey and crunchy taste.

Another positive point is that it only takes 3 ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare this sweet sushi. Even the busiest moms and dads can make this fun and addictive treat anytime. If you are interested in sushi, we suggest you order banana sushi as a dessert and experience a different taste of Japanese desserts.

Daifuku is one of the most famous sweets in Japan

Daifukumochi (or simply Daifuku) is another popular type of wagashi sweet made with mochi. This sweet consists of a ball or mochi butter, which is made from red bean paste and filled with ingredients such as strawberries.

Aside from sweet bean paste, daifuku can be made with various fillings and ingredients such as apricots, chestnuts, mugs, and ice cream. A tastier version filled with a whole strawberry is known as ichigo daifuku.

Imagawayaki sweets

According to the Japanese, no Japanese can get enough of the delicious imagawaaki sweets. In fact, Imagawayaki is a popular street food in Japan. These pancake-like desserts are filled with sweet red beans and baked in disc-shaped cast iron molds until crispy.

Also known as kaitenyaki or obaniyaki, imagawayaki are traditionally filled with red bean paste, but can be made with other fillings such as vanilla custard, chocolate, and green tea. They can even be made with savory fillings like curry and cheese.

If you’ve been to Taiwan, then Imagawaki should be familiar to you. They are known as wheel cakes in Taiwan and are sold in Taiwanese night markets. Imagawayaki is also known as the most famous sweets in Japan.

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Tokyo banana

Tokyo Banana (東京ばな奈, also pronounced 東京バナナ) or 東京ばなな) is a Japanese banana-shaped sponge cake filled with whipped cream. This candy is the official souvenir of Tokyo and is produced and sold by Grapestone (ja).

This Tokyo sweet has different flavors and is usually packed in plastic. The original flavor is known as Tokyo Banana Mitsukta (見ぃてさたっ) and is filled with banana custard cream. They also use strained banana puree for cream filling. After baking, steam the sponge cake until it has a soft texture.

Tokyo Mitsukta bananas are produced at MASDAC Corporation’s factory in Tokurozawa, Saitama. Tokyo Banana Cookies are sold in stores in Tokyo and several major airports in Japan.

Senbi Japanese sweets

Senbi (煎餅) is a type of Japanese rice cracker. This delicious pastry is made in different shapes, sizes and flavors and has its own fans. As one of the most traditional sweets in Japan, senbei is often served with green tea and as a snack. Some also treat their guests with this sweet in evening parties.

There are many different types of traditional Japanese senbei. They can be baked or fried. In addition to rice, wheat flour or starch can be used to prepare Sanbi. Some also use other ingredients besides grains such as sakana senbi (sanbi fish), renkun senbi (lotus root) and hone senbi (senbi bone).

Pancake souffle is one of the most attractive sweets in Japan

If you like thick fluffy pancakes, then you will love souffle pancakes. They are one of the most delicious sweets in Japan, made by adding extra egg whites, so they are taller and fluffier.

Japanese pancakes are prepared by mixing meringue mixture into pancake batter and then baking it in metal rings at low temperature. This is exactly the same trick that gives the pancakes more height.

Japanese pancakes are usually topped with a milky cream sauce, but they can be served with a variety of toppings such as powdered sugar, sweet syrup, fresh fruit, whipped cream, and ice cream.

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Tocorotene

Tokoroten is a type of dessert among Japanese sweets that is made from agarophytes. This type of sweet has been served by the Japanese for more than a thousand years. It is believed that the Tokoroten was introduced to Japan via China during the Nara period. This sweet was traditionally prepared by boiling Tangosa (Gelidium amansii) and then stirring it a lot to form a jelly.

Today, tokoroten is a popular snack during the summer in Edo (Tokyo).

final word

If you are planning to travel to Japan and want to experience the real taste of this country’s delicious food, we suggest that you definitely try Japanese sweets and desserts after your meal. The Japanese give special importance to food and health, so Japanese sweets and desserts are prepared with the best and healthiest ingredients. In this article, you got acquainted with the most delicious Japanese sweets and the ingredients used in them. You can choose your favorite sweet and enjoy its unique taste.