Mochi Donuts Recipe (Mochisadas) (2024)

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These mochi donuts are the ultimate cultural fusion dish. Chewy mochi center, crunchy, golden brown exterior, all rolled in sweet sugar. The perfect finger food dessert for any occasion.

Mochi Donuts Recipe (Mochisadas) (1)

In typical Hawai’i fashion we have a cultural blend that creates the most delicious treat around. A little bit of Japanese mixed with a little bit of Portuguese and a whole lot of good.

Fry up these little bite sized pieces of goodness and you’ll be sure to attract a crowd. I mean it’s deep fried, so it has to be good right?

Mochi donuts take a blend of Japanese mochi and Portuguese malasadas, or better yet call it a mochisada.

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Japanese mochi is a sweetened rice cake popular for many special occasions in both Japan and Hawai’i.

Malasadas are a Portuguese deep fried donut rolled in granulated sugar and also a popular treat in Hawai’i.

Mix those two together and you’ve got yourself one amazing dessert.

Ingredients for mochi donuts

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  • 2 cups mochiko flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoon butter, unsalted, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg

Let’s talk mochiko flour. Mochicko is a sweet rice flour that can be found in the Asian aisle at most grocery stores. This gives the mochi donut it’s characteristic chewiness. I would not recommend replacing this with traditional flour.

Next the sugar. Traditional malasadas are rolled in granulated sugar. This recipe calls for the same. You could roll the donuts in powdered sugar or even make a yummy glaze if you wish.

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One of the keys to this recipe is baking powder. This is not your typical yeast risen donut dough. It uses the power of leavening with baking powder, which cuts back on the prep time. That’s a win in my books.

And of course you can’t forget to add just a touch of vanilla extract. Try out my homemade vanilla extract recipe here.

What type of oil do I use?

I’d suggest using a neutral flavor oil like vegetable, canola, avocado, etc. The oil is heated to 350F when frying, so you can use most types of oil safely here.

Are mochi donuts gluten free?

Yes! Mochiko is naturally gluten free unlike many other flours. You’ll sometimes see it described as glutinous rice flour, but don’t let that fool you. Glutinous is used to describe the sticky, chewy consistency when cooked.

How to store mochi donuts?

These are best eaten fresh. If you manage to have some leftovers, place in an airtight container and store at room temperature.

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How long do mochi donuts last?

If stored in an airtight container the mochi donuts will keep for 2-3 days.

How to reheat mochi donuts?

As previously mentioned, these are best eaten fresh. If you did not toss the donuts in granulated sugar you can re-fry the donuts to bring back the crispiness. Another option would be to microwave, but this will not yield the original crispiness.

Can you refrigerate/freeze mochi donuts?

I would not recommend refrigerating or freezing already cooked mochi donuts. You can, however, refrigerate or freeze the dough once mixed for future use.

More Recipes for the mochi lovers

  • Chocolate butter mochi
  • Mochi brownies
  • Mochi pancakes
  • Ube mochi
  • Ozoni
  • Mochi
  • Butter mochi

How to make mochi donuts?

For the dry ingredients: To a large bowl add mochiko flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well combined and set aside.

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For the wet ingredients: Heat milk in the microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute. To another bowl add heated milk, butter, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.

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For the dough: Add wet ingredients to the dry and begin mixing. Once the wet ingredients have just begun incorporating with the dry add the egg. Mix until well combined.

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Heat a pot with the cooking oil of your choice to 350F.

Using a small cookie scoop, carefully scoop and drop the dough into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

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Add about 1/2 cup granulated sugar to a small bowl.

Once the donuts have finished frying, remove from oil, and place in the bowl of sugar and toss to coat.

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Remove from sugar and place on a cooling rack to cool slightly and ENJOY!

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Mochi Donuts

Relle Lum

These mochi donuts are the ultimate cultural fusion dish. Chewy mochi center, crunchy, golden brown exterior, all rolled in sweet sugar. The perfect finger food dessert for any occasion.

4.61 from 213 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine Local

Servings 28 pieces

Calories 57 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • For the dry ingredients: To a large bowl add mochiko flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well combined and set aside.

  • For the wet ingredients: Heat milk in microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute. To another bowl add heated milk, butter, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.

  • For the dough: Add wet ingredients to the dry and begin mixing. Once the wet ingredients have just begun incorporating with the dry add the egg. Mix until well combined.

  • Heat a pot with the cooking oil of your choice to 350F.

  • Using a small cookie scoop, carefully scoop and drop the dough into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

  • Add about 1/2 cup granulated sugar to a small bowl.

  • Once the donuts have finished frying, remove from oil, and place in the bowl of sugar and toss to coat.

  • Remove from sugar and place on a cooling rack to cool slightly and ENJOY!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 57kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 43mgSugar: 2g

Keyword asian food, desserts, donut holes, donuts, Hawaii food, keeping it relle, mochi, mochi donuts, mochisada, mochisadas, treats

Did you make this recipe?Share a photo and tag @keeping.it.relle on Instagram so I can see all your delicious creations and Let me know how it was!

© Relle Lum for Keeping It Relle. Please do not copy and paste or screenshot recipes online or on social media. I’d love it if you share a link with a photo instead. Mahalo!

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Mochi Donuts Recipe (Mochisadas) (12)
Mochi Donuts Recipe (Mochisadas) (2024)

FAQs

What is mochi donut dough made of? ›

Mochi donuts are commonly formed into a circular shape, consisting of eight small balls that are easy to pull apart. They are made out of glutinous rice flour or tapioca flour.

What flour does Mochinut use? ›

Made with either gluten-free tapioca flour or glutinous rice flour, Mochinut offers an alternative for those looking to avoid traditional wheat-based donuts. Some recipes are entirely gluten-free, making them accessible to a wider audience without sacrificing taste or texture.

What is the difference between mochi and mochi donut? ›

A: Mochi donut is a cross between your regular donut with Japanese mochi, a chewy rice cake. Our mochi donuts are made with tapioca flour and glutinous rice flour, coated with your favorite toppings. Q: Do you have gluten free or dairy free options?

Why are mochi donuts chewy? ›

They are little balls of dough connected to one another, resembling a unique shape. Also known as “pon de ring donuts,” their unique texture sets them apart from traditional donuts. The addition of sweet rice flour gives the middle a chewy texture, similar to traditional mochi.

Are mochi donuts more healthy? ›

Mochi donuts made with rice flour usually contain half the amount of calories as the standard American donut.

Is mochi healthier than donut? ›

They are a bit healthier than regular donuts, so that's something — (frequently gluten free) and lower in sugar.

What is mochi flour called? ›

Mochiko is a white flour made of glutinous/sweet rice to make chewy, sticky mochi desserts. It's also a gluten-free thickener. Mochiko (もち粉), mochiko sweet rice flour, or mochi flour, is a glutinous rice flour (sweet rice flour) made of glutinous short-grain Japanese rice.

What is a substitute for glutinous rice flour in mochi? ›

This ground rice is used to make the bouncy, delicious mochi and rice cakes we've all come to love. Other rice flours, like plain rice flour and chapssal flour, can provide a similar chewy consistency as glutinous rice flour. So, they work well as substitutes.

What if I use regular rice flour for mochi? ›

Regular rice flour is great for making gluten-free versions of your favorite baked goods, rice noodles, or for frying, but it is not suitable for making mochi.

Is mochi healthier than ice cream? ›

The average mochi ball is about 100 calories. Whereas filling up a bowl of ice cream might equate to over 350 calories, a small 100 calorie snack won't throw off your weight loss goals. A small taste of indulgence will keep you motivated and happy throughout the day.

Do mochi donuts need to be refrigerated? ›

However, you can store mochi donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They are the softest and chewiest on the first day and will slowly dry out. They do not store well in the fridge and should be kept at room temperature to prevent them from getting hard.

What is special about mochi donuts? ›

People love the unique chewy texture. As more Asian pastry shops started offering similar pastries, people started to appreciate and like the chewy texture and unique Asian flavors like matcha and ube. Mochi donuts are an Asian-American creation; they don't even exist in Japan.

Why is tofu used in mochi donuts? ›

Silken tofu gives these strawberry-flavored mochi-tofu doughnuts (inspired by pon de ring doughnuts popularized in Japan) a chewy, springy texture, while mochiko (sweet glutinous rice flour) helps the doughnuts get an airy, crispy crust.

What is the original mochi donut? ›

Mochi donuts first originated in Japan and took the shape of a ring made of donut holes, also known as “pon de rings.”

Why do you have to pound mochi? ›

Everything about the process of mochitsuki, or making mochi, is a race against the cooling of the rice: the usu, or mortar, is kept warm with a towel soaked in hot water, while the wooden hammers known as kine that are used to pound the rice are kept in warm water; the individual grains of rice must be quickly mashed ...

Is Mochi dough made of rice? ›

Mochi (もち, 餅) [motɕi] is a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome (もち米), a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The steamed rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.

What is original mochi made of? ›

Mochi is made of mochigome, a Japanese variety of sweet glutinous rice, that is soaked overnight, steamed, pounded into dough and molded into various shapes. Some sweet mochi confections contain fillings such as bean paste, ice cream or fresh fruit.

Is mochi a raw dough? ›

The cakes, known as mochi, are cute round buns made of soft and chewy rice. The rice is first steamed and then pounded and mashed. The resulting sticky rice mass is then formed into the final mochi shape and baked or boiled.

Are mochi and dough the same thing? ›

The umbrella term “mochi” covers all different styles and flavors of Japanese rice cakes, which is a kind of dough made from pounded steamed rice.

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