Easy Dorayaki Recipe To Make Traditional Japanese Pancakes

Dorayaki is among the most famous Japanese sweets. It's Anko (sweet red bean paste) sandwiched between sweet buns. This is a trendy snack and dessert among children and adults alike in Japan. In this article, Kiichin will introduce a step-by-step Japanese Dorayaki recipe, so you can easily enjoy this cake at home.

1. What is Dorayaki?

Dorayaki is a classic Japanese sweet that consists of two fluffy pancakes made with castella batter, sandwiched together with a sweet red bean paste filling called anko. It's a popular treat enjoyed by people of all ages in Japan.

• Dorayaki has been around for centuries, though its current form with two pancakes wasn't invented until 1914.
• The pancakes are slightly sweet and have a light, fluffy texture. The red bean paste adds a touch of sweetness and a smooth, dense counterpoint to the pancakes.
• While red bean paste is the classic filling, dorayaki can also be found with fillings like custard cream, whipped cream, fruit, or even ice cream!

2. Dorayaki ingredients

Japanese red bean pancakes are easy to make and only require simple pancake batter. The main difference between dorayaki and regular pancakes involves appearance and flavor.

Japanese pancakes are small and round - usually no larger than a regular donut. Like regular pancakes, dorayaki is made from common ingredients such as eggs, flour, and sugar. But adding honey and mirin (without any milk) gave the dorayaki an earthy flavor, suppleness, and moisture.

These are the Dorayaki ingredients you need:

• Flour: The recommended flour is Japanese soft wheat flour (kakariki-ko). Pancake batter made with soft flour produces light and fluffy pancakes with a soft texture. If you can't find soft Japanese flour, cake flour or pastry flour works equally well because its protein level is similar to that of soft Japanese flour.
• Baking powder: A raising agent (leavening agent) for the batter to give these pancakes a fluffy crumb.
• Honey: Adding moisture, flavor, and sugar gives these cookies their caramel color when cooked.
• Mirin: Also known as sweet sake, mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine that adds a mild sweetness to the flavor of pancakes. You can easily purchase mirin in the Asian aisles of your local supermarket or local Asian food stores.
• Water: Water helps thin pancake batter to ideal consistency. Depending on the type of flour used, the amount of water may vary because different flours have different absorption properties.
• Egg: This recipe uses large eggs weighing 60 – 63 grams (2 2-0.25 ounces) in shell.
• Sugar: Use regular granulated sugar.
• Vanilla extract: It's not traditionally included as an ingredient in most dorayaki recipes, but you can add a little to give the pancakes a warm marshmallow flavor. This is optional and can be omitted.
• Red bean paste (anko): These are beans made from red or azuki beans (also called adzuki beans or aduki beans). Japanese red bean powder can be easily found in Japanese and Asian supermarkets.

3. Prepare to make dorayaki pancake at home

Step 1: Flour mixture:

Sift flour and baking powder into a large bowl and sift twice. This loosens the dough and distributes the baking powder evenly.

You may also look for how to make Japanese milk bread.

Step 2: Honey mixture:

In a separate bowl, combine honey, water, mirin, and vanilla extract (if using) and stir until well mixed.

Note: Depending on the type of dough used, you may need to add a little more water after the dough has rested.

Make honey mixture.

Step 3: Egg mixture

In a separate mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs to dissolve the yolks. Add sugar and continue beating by hand until the sugar dissolves and the egg mixture turns pale, about 2 - 3 minutes.

Then stir honey mixture into egg mixture.

Step 4: Add flour mixture

Pour flour mixture, mix or stir until dough is smooth and lump-free. The dough should be slightly thick and not too runny. It should be able to flow out of the whisk or spoon smoothly.

Step 5: The rest

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in the refrigerator to let the batter rest for about 30 minutes.

Once proofed, the pancake batter will be noticeably thicker because the batter has absorbed the liquid.

If necessary, thin the batter by adding a little water, one teaspoon, until it has the ideal consistency of pancake batter.

Explore more about Japanese festival food.

4. How to make Dorayaki at home: A step-by-step guide for perfect taste

Step 1: Grease the pan

• Heat a non-stick pan until moderately hot.
• Lightly grease the pan with a bit of vegetable oil using a silicone or pastry brush. It is essential to use oil sparingly.
• Wipe off any streaks of excess oil with a paper towel - this is key to evenly browning pancakes and avoiding streaks on the cooked surface.

Step 2: Pour in the batter

• At 20 cm above the pan, pour it until it forms a 7 – 8 cm thick pancake.

Shop now: Akagawa Stainless Steel Round Cake Pan - Durable and Versatile Baking Essential

Step 3: Cover

Cover with a heatproof lid until bubbles begin forming on the cake's surface, about 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Step 4: Flip

• When a ring of bubbles appears on the surface of the dough, get ready to flip the cake.
• Gently but quickly flip the cake.
• Make sure the pancakes are about an inch or two away from the surface of the pan. Otherwise, the edges of the pancakes may fold in on themselves.

Step 5: Brown below

Cook for 20 – 25 seconds or until the underside is light brown. The edges of the pancake will be a bit sticky due to the sugar content – this is OK!

People also search for simple Japanese cheesecake recipe.

Step 6: Pair the pancakes

• Arrange the cooked cakes in pairs, with the lighter sides together.
• Cover with a damp cloth on a plate or container until the remaining dough is finished cooking.

Step 7: Complete and the dorayaki is ready to serve

• Using a metal spoon or cookie scoop, spoon a generous amount of sweet azuki beans into the center of the pancake.
• Spread the azuki bean paste with the back of a spoon. Pour more bean paste into the center and spread to the edges, leaving the edges a little clean.
• (Optional: Top the beans with a little whipped cream and sugar).
• Cover the patch with another pancake-like pancake and press the edges together to seal.

5. Tips to make Dorayaki pancake perfect

• Don't heat the pan too much: Start by heating the pan on low to medium heat. If it's too hot, your first few pancakes might cook too quickly and burn.
• Use oil sparingly: You don't always need to grease the pan, just when necessary.
• Wipe off extra oil: After greasing the pan, use a paper towel to remove any extra oil. This helps your pancakes cook evenly and prevents oily spots.
• Use a spoon or scoop: To make pancakes the same size, use a spoon or ice cream scoop with the same amount of batter each time.
• Don't crowd the pan: Leave enough space between pancakes so you can flip them easily without them sticking together.
• Flip at the right time: Flip the pancake when bubbles form on the surface and the center looks moist but firm. It should come off the pan easily when lifted with a spoon.
• Choose a good pan: Use a non-stick pan for best results.

You should choose the pan carefully.

Make homemade cakes easier and more precise with our collection Cake Pans & Molds.

• Mix and match sizes: If your pancakes aren't all the same size, it's okay. Match them up based on color and size when you sandwich them together.
• Keep them moist: Cover the pancakes with a tea towel while cooking the rest to keep them from drying out. After assembling them, wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.
• Storing dorayaki: They're best eaten fresh, but you can store them at room temperature for up to 2 days. After that, keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to a month, still wrapped tightly.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, making Dorayaki at home is surprisingly simple and rewarding. With just a few essential Japanese Dorayaki recipes, ingredients, and easy-to-follow steps, you can create these delightful Japanese treats and impress your friends and family. So, grab your favorite filling, whip up a batch of Dorayaki, and enjoy the delicious taste of Japan!

Follow Kiichin for more updates on food, kitchenware, and recipes from the heart of Japan.