DIY Homemade Japanese Snacks: Recipes to Try at Home

Japanese snacks are known for their unique flavors and creative presentations. I’ve come to appreciate a lot of different Japanese flavors over the years and have learnt to make some of them at home!
While many of these snacks can be purchased at stores, making them at home can be a really fun experience. Here are some DIY Homemade Japanese snack recipes that you can try at home, perfect for enjoying authentic flavors and impressing your friends and family.

1. Dorayaki (どら焼き)

Dorayaki is a popular Japanese snack made with two fluffy pancakes sandwiched with sweet red bean paste. When I first moved to Japan, I would stop by a dorayaki shop in Asakusa every week to get my fix! Over time though, I learned how to make my own and I’d be happy to share it with you today! These fluffy pancakes, filled with sweet red bean paste, are a classic homemade Japanese snack that’s both comforting and satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup water
• Sweet red bean paste (anko)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, and honey until well combined.
2. Sift the flour and baking powder into the egg mixture and mix until smooth.
3. Add water gradually to achieve a pancake batter consistency.
4. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and pour small rounds of batter to form pancakes.
5. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook until golden brown.
6. Let the pancakes cool slightly, then sandwich a generous amount of sweet red bean paste between two pancakes.
7. Serve and enjoy yet another delicious homemade Japanese snack!

Tips:

• For a variation, try filling the pancakes with other sweet fillings like custard or chocolate spread.

2. Senbei (煎餅)

Senbei are traditional Japanese rice crackers that come in various flavors and shapes, often enjoyed as a crunchy snack. When I think of Senbei, I remember Japanese summer festivals where the air was filled with delicious smells including the scent of roasting senbei. The savory, crispy texture is irresistible, making Senbei a must-try for anyone exploring homemade Japanese snacks.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked rice (short-grain or sushi rice)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mirin (optional)
• Nori (seaweed) strips (optional)
• Sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mash the cooked rice until it becomes a sticky, dough-like consistency.
3. Form small, flat discs with the rice and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Brush each rice disc with a mixture of soy sauce and mirin.
5. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top or wrap with a small strip of nori if desired.
6. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the senbei are crispy and golden brown.
7. Let them cool completely before serving.

Tips:

• Experiment with different seasonings like salt, chili powder, or furikake for varied flavors.

3. Onigiri (おにぎり)

Another delicious homemade Japanese snack is Onigiri. Onigiri, or rice balls, are a staple in Japanese cuisine. Onigiri is usually a go to option for me when it comes to lunch. You can fill your Onigiri with many different ingredients like pickled plum, salmon, or tuna. It’s really up to you what filling you want to put in your perfect Ongiri. This simple yet versatile homemade Japanese snack is a testament to the beauty of Japanese food.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked sushi rice
• Fillings of your choice (e.g., umeboshi, tuna salad, grilled salmon)
• Nori sheets, cut into strips
• Salt

Instructions:

1. Wet your hands with water and sprinkle a little salt on them to prevent the rice from sticking.
2. Take a small amount of rice and flatten it into your palm.
3. Place a spoonful of your chosen filling in the center of the rice.
4. Fold the rice over the filling and shape it into a ball or triangle.
5. Wrap a strip of nori around the onigiri.
6. Repeat with the remaining rice and fillings.
7. Serve immediately or store in a covered container to keep the onigiri moist.

Tips:

• Use a mold to shape the onigiri if you find it challenging to form them by hand.
• Try different fillings like pickled vegetables, shrimp, or cheese for variety to make your homemade Japanese snack extra special!

4. Matcha Mochi (抹茶餅)

Matcha mochi is a chewy rice cake flavored with matcha (green tea powder) and often filled with sweet red bean paste. During a tea ceremony in Kyoto, I remember a particularly delicious Matcha Mochi where the slightly bitter flavor of the matcha paired perfectly with the sweetness of the mochi! I find myself thinking about it whenever I’m craving some chewy matcha! So much so, that I decided to make my own at home! Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup glutinous rice flour
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon matcha powder
• Sweet red bean paste (anko) for filling
• Cornstarch or potato starch for dusting

Instructions:

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix the glutinous rice flour, water, sugar, and matcha powder until smooth.
2. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the mixture becomes thick and translucent.
3. Dust a surface with cornstarch and transfer the mochi mixture onto it.
4. Dust your hands with cornstarch and flatten the mochi into a rectangle.
5. Cut the mochi into small squares and place a small amount of red bean paste in the center of each square.
6. Fold the mochi over the filling and pinch the edges to seal.
7. Dust with more cornstarch and serve.

Tips:

• Store any leftover mochi in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a day.

5. Takoyaki (たこ焼き)

Takoyaki are savory ball-shaped snacks filled with diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onions, typically served with takoyaki sauce and bonito flakes. Trying Takoyaki at a street festival in Osaka, the city where this snack originates was one of my core memories! Watching the vendors masterfully flip the batter in the Takoyaki pan was almost as enjoyable as eating Takoyaki itself! You can also make this at home as a delicious homemade Japanese snack too!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups dashi (Japanese soup stock)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup diced octopus (boiled)
• 1/4 cup tempura scraps (tenkasu)
• 2 tablespoons pickled ginger, chopped
• 2 green onions, finely sliced
• Takoyaki sauce
• Bonito flakes and aonori (seaweed flakes) for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix the flour, dashi, and eggs until smooth.
2. Heat a takoyaki pan and oil each well.
3. Pour the batter into the wells, filling them about halfway.
4. Add a piece of octopus, tempura scraps, ginger, and green onions to each well.
5. Fill the wells with more batter to cover the fillings.
6. Cook until the bottom starts to set, then use skewers to turn the takoyaki 90 degrees, allowing the uncooked batter to flow out and form a ball.
7. Continue turning until the takoyaki are evenly browned and cooked through.
8. Serve with takoyaki sauce, bonito flakes, and aonori.

Tips:

• Experiment with different fillings like shrimp, cheese, or vegetables for variety.

Make Your Own Japanese Snacks at Home!

Making homemade Japanese snacks can be a fun and delicious way to experience authentic flavors and share them with loved ones. From the sweet and fluffy dorayaki to the savory and crispy senbei, these DIY recipes allow you to enjoy a taste of Japan in your own kitchen.
I hope that you enjoyed our list of DIY Homemade Japanese Snacks. Please do try out these recipes, and let us know how they turned out!

If you would like to try some authentic Japanese Sweets and Snacks straight from Japan, then try out our Japanese Subscription Box! Every month, we handpick delicious snacks for you to enjoy from Japan!