Name: Dorayaki
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 120g Cake flour (1 cup); 1 tsp Baking powder; 2 Large eggs; 1 tbsp Honey; 65g Granulated sugar (1/3 cup); 2 tbsp Whole milk; 2 tbsp Water; 100g Red beans, aka adzuki beans (1/2 cup); 60g Brown sugar (1/3 cup)

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Honey-scented Japanese-style pancakes filled with red bean paste, dorayaki is a traditional Japanese dessert that is loved by all!

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What is dorayaki?
Tips on making the perfect dorayaki pancake
How to customize dorayaki
Ingredients
Frequently Asked Questions
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

What is dorayaki?

Dorayaki (どら焼き) is a traditional Japanese snack made up of sweet red bean paste aka anko, sandwiched in between two soft honey pancakes.

This is a snack that is still widely loved by Japanese children and adults, while also gaining love from other parts of the world! However, the most well-known lover of dorayaki has to be none other than the famous cartoon character Doraemon!

While the traditional version is filled with a sweet red bean aka adzuki bean paste, the newer version uses all kinds of fillings, ranging from custard cream and fresh fruit to ice cream!

Personally, I love ice cream in my dorayaki! The sweet and creamy frozen treat in those soft honey pancakes is pretty much a better ice cream sandwich 😉

Japanese sweet red bean pancakes dorayaki

Tips on making the perfect dorayaki pancake

The trademark of a good dorayaki is the perfectly even golden brown surface of the pancake. While you might look at this and think it's impossible to achieve, with a couple of tips you'll be surprised at how perfect your pancakes are turning out.

Use a non-stick pan

One of the most important tips is to use a good quality nonstick pan, this ensures that the pancakes don't stick to spots on your pan, causing it to tear or darken.

Wipe your pan with a paper towel and a splash of vegetable oil

The trick to that perfectly even surface is to use a minimal amount of oil. You might notice that American-style pancakes have a splotchy kind of surface, this is from the bubbling of the butter that is used to fry the pancakes.

By only using a little oil you are preventing this from happening. If you are noticing streaks on your pancakes it's most likely because there is still excess oil on your pan.

Pour your batter onto your pan from a jug

After trying a couple of different methods I found that using a jug makes the roundest and most evenly shaped pancakes. Simply pour the batter directly onto the pan to form a small round pancake.

You can also use a ladle to pour it into the pan if you don't have a jug.

How to customize dorayaki

There are so many different ways to customize your dorayaki. Here are just a couple of my absolute favorite ways to eat dorayaki.

Fresh fruits: Fresh fruits are the best way to eat dorayaki, whether that be strawberries with your red bean paste or mixed fruits with whipped cream.
Ice cream: Ice cream and pancakes are always a good idea. Personally, I love a scoop of matcha ice cream with red bean paste in my dorayaki. The combination of frozen and creamy with soft and sweet is perfection.

Your favorite spread: If you prefer a sweeter filling try filling these with your favorite kind of spread. Think chocolate, Nutella, Biscoff, peanut butter, jam... the options are endless
Custard cream: Custard cream is a popular variation of these, particularly with kids. It's sweet creamy and delicious! Make your own and fill these up for a totally different dessert.
Chestnuts: Chestnut cream or paste is another popular traditional Japanese take on this dessert!

Ingredients

Pancake Batter

Cake flour: You can use all-purpose flour if you don't have any cake flour on hand. However, cake flour gives these a softer, more tender texture
Baking powder: Baking powder helps these rise to that soft, fluffy consistency
Eggs: Egg help bind the batter together. Make sure you use large eggs.

Honey: Honey gives these pancakes their characteristic flavor! The resulting pancakes are sweet and fragrant.
Granulated sugar: Sugar gives the pancakes sweetness as well as a soft texture.
Milk: Milk gives the pancakes moisture and flavor.
Water: Water helps the pancakes stay moist and fluffy.

Red Bean Paste

Red beans: Make sure you use adzuki beans, not regular red beans!
Brown sugar: The brown sugar gives the red bean paste sweetness while also thickening up the red bean mixture. You can increase or decrease the amount of brown sugar according to your personal preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do these last?

These last up to 2 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge. However, they taste best the day they are made!

Eat them fresh if you can, otherwise, you can heat them up in short bursts in the microwave. This will bring them back to a softer texture.

How should I store dorayaki?

Dorayaki will begin to dry out if you leave them outside. I highly recommend wrapping them in cling wrap and placing them in an airtight container until you are ready to eat them.

What is the difference between dorayaki and pancakes?

There are a couple of differences between dorayaki and regular pancakes. The biggest is the flavor, dorayaki is traditionally made with honey and mirin for a sweet, slightly floral flavor.

The other difference is the appearance! Dorayaki are known for their super smooth surface, in comparison to American-style pancakes which are typically a little splotchy as they are fried in butter.

Let's Get Cooking

If you liked this recipe make sure to leave me a comment and rating down below, I would love to know how you went. Also don't forget to tag me on Instagram @catherine.desserts so I can see and share your desserts.

Follow me on facebook, pinterest, youtube and tiktok for more of my baking creations and updates! Until next time... happy caking!

Dorayaki (Japanese Red Bean Pancake)

What is dorayaki?