How To Make Mochi

Today, we’re going to learn how to make mocha mochi. For those who are wondering what the heck mochi is, mochi is a traditional dessert made for Japanese New Year but is often eaten all year round (it’s too delicious to only have once a year!).

Mochi is a Japanese rice cake that is chewy and sweet. The process can seem laborious, but we promise it’s easy and definitely worth the effort. In Japan, mochi is traditionally made during the mochitsuki ceremony which is an event that serves as preparation for the new year.

After a taste of this soft and sticky treat, you’ll see what we mean and will be making these little suckers whenever you have free time. Mochi recipe can either be sweet or savory, but today we’re going to make a sweet mocha mochi stuffed with chocolate ganache mochi fillings. Mmm, delicious!

How to Make Mochi | A Step by Step Guide

 

Let’s start making some mochi goodness…

Ingredients

• 1 cup of *sweet* rice flour {not regular rice flour}
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp sifted cocoa
• ½ tsp fine salt
• 1 cup of cold coffee
• Dusting of wheat/cornstarch/sweet rice flour

• ½ cup bittersweet chocolate
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• ¼ tsp fine salt
• 2 tsp rum, bourbon, grand Marnier, etc {optional}

 

Step 1. Prepare the Filling Ingredients

For the chocolate ganache or filling, place your chocolate in a heat-proof bowl then add the hot cream into it.

Step 2. Stir the Filling Ingredients

Slowly stir until it melts the chocolate with the hot cream. Continue stirring until it becomes thick and glossy.

Step 3. Add Some Salt to the Filling

Put a little bit of salt into the chocolate to balance out the sweetness. Plastic wrap the bowl and then put it into the refrigerator so it will set.

Step 4. Prepare the Mochi Ingredients

Now prepare the dry ingredients for the mochi. Get a bowl and put in your sweet rice flour. It is very important that you use sweet rice flour and NOT regular rice flour as the texture and taste will be different. Sweet rice flour is sweet and will give your mochi the light and chewy consistency you’re looking for.

Step 5. Add and Whisk the Dry Ingredients

Add the sugar, followed by your sifted cocoa then whisk these dry ingredients together. Note: You must sift your cocoa in order for the mochi to come out light.

Step 6. Pour the Cold Brew into the Dry Ingredients

Pour the cold brew coffee into the mixture slowly until both wet and dry ingredients are well incorporated. If you don’t want mocha flavored mochi, you can substitute the coffee with regular water.

Step 7. Cover and Microwave the Mochi Ingredients

Cover it with plastic wrap and leave just a little bit of a lip on the side so the steam can escape. Put it in the microwave for about 1½ minutes.

Step 8. Remove from the Microwave then Mix with a Spatula

After 1½ minutes, take off the plastic and you’ll see that the center of the mixture will be loose. Mix the center with the edges of the dough with a spatula.

Step 9.  Scrape the Mochi Then Put It Back in the Microwave

After you’ve mixed your dough together, it should be thick and sticky. Before you put it back in the microwave, scrape down the sides so nothing is left behind!

Leave no mochi behind!

Step 10. Remove from Microwave Then Pound the Dough

After this step, your mochi dough should be done. You have to pound and stretch it now with a wooden pestle or the back of your spatula. Do this for about 3-5 minutes to incorporate more air and make it chewier.

Think of this as if you were kneading bread dough.

Step 11. Sprinkle Flour to Work the Dough

Sprinkle some mochi flour all over your work surface and make sure your hands are nicely floured as well. Put the dough on the floured surface.

Note: If your hands aren’t floured enough, they will stick to your mochi dough.

Step 12. Make a Log Shape out of the Dough

Move the dough around the surface and create a log shape. Roll it out while it’s still warm.

Step 13. Slice the Dough with a Cutter

Get a cutter and go to the center then slice it in half. Now you have two halves, keep on having your pieces until you get quarters.

Step 14. Flatten the Dough Pieces to Add the Ganache Filling

Take a piece of your dough then roll it out to be as flat as possible. Take a spoonful of your chocolate ganache, which should be firm and chilled by now, and put it in the center of your mochi dough.

Step 15. Seal the Ganache

Gather the edges of your dough and seal it around the chocolate ganache. Continue until all the dough pieces are used up.

Step 16. Behold! The Center of Your Mochi

There you have it! A mocha mochi rice cake! The center of your mochi should look like this. Delicious, right?

 

Watch the full tutorial of this recipe from The Squishy Monster below:

Too many steps to complete? That’s what I thought too at first. On a positive note, your time and effort are all worth it as soon as you sink your teeth in. It’s absolutely tasty you might regret why you didn’t make enough of this dessert.

Do you think making mochi is all worth your time? Let us know in the comments section below!

Up Next: How To Be A Master Chef In 10 Days – Delicious Desserts

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2015 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.