10 Best Japanese Cake Recipes To Make at Home (2024)

One of the most famous Japanese cake recipes is the cotton cheesecake.

But between matcha rolls and strawberry cakes, there’s so much more to explore.

10 Best Japanese Cake Recipes To Make at Home (1)

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Although dessert after a meal isn’t standard in Japan, they still love their sweet treats and desserts.

And candy is super popular, too, from crunchy wafers to hard suckers.

I love exploring new cultures through food, and these Japanese cake recipes are some of my faves.

This list is short but sweet (pun intended), and I just know you’ll fall in love at first bite.

Easy Japanese Cotton Cheesecake and More!

1. Japanese Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry shortcake was one of my favorite desserts growing up. (Who am I kidding? It still is today!)

However, this Japanese version is different from the one I’m used to eating.

Fortunately, it’s just as incredible.

It’s light, fluffy, and not overly sweet. Additionally, it’s a beautiful, elegant cake that’s perfect for special occasions.

It features soft cake layers separated by cream frosting and strawberries.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve had it before or are trying it for the first time – it’s sure to become a fast favorite.

2. Japanese Castella Cake (Wagashi Sponge Cake)

This tender sponge cake is delightful and, well, spongy! In fact, it’s downright squeezable!

It has a warm, honeyed taste and is unbelievably light.

You can make it with just seven ingredients in a little over an hour, and it tastes marvelous with hot or green tea.

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

3. Japanese Cake Roll

Soft, pillowy cake rolls are surprisingly popular in Japan. Maybe it’s their fun shape or the artistry that goes into making them.

Whatever the reason, this one won’t be the last you see on this list.

This cake roll is a simple vanilla dessert. It’s sweet but not too sweet and refined but not hard to make.

If you want an easy introduction to cake rolls, try this recipe.

4. Matcha Swiss Roll

This strange green Swiss roll looks like something Dr. Seuss would dream up. It’s totally real, though!

It gets its attractive green color from the matcha powder.That also gives it its unique, hard-to-match flavor.

It’s a light cake that won’t weigh you down. It also won’t leave you feeling like you’ve inhaled a sugar factory.

It’s an excellent choice for those who don’t like super sweet desserts.

5. Matcha Mille Crepe Cake

This matcha Mille crepe cake looks incredible.

That green color pops at any angle, and you know it’s bursting with fabulous green tea goodness.

It features several super-thin layers of matcha crepes. You’ll separate them with loads of whipped cream between each one.

Don’t let the garden-fresh green fool you, though. This cake is pretty decadent.

And while it looks pretty straightforward, those crepes take a while to make!

6. Chocolate Cake Roll

Eating this airy, pillow-soft cake roll is like eating a chocolate cloud. Each bite practically melts on your tongue.

It’s also a fantastic way to get your chocolate fix. You’ll get all the rich cocoa flavor you love, but it’s not too sweet.

Just be careful that you don’t overdo it. Since it isn’t too sweet, eating the whole thing yourself is easy.

7. Japanese Fruit Roll Cake

Imagine a fruit cake but in spongy cake roll form. That’s precisely what this Japanese fruit roll cake is.

It’s a sweet vanilla cake filled with whipped cream and your favorite fruits and berries.

The recipe recommends kiwis, clementines, and strawberries.However, you can experiment with whatever fruits you like.

Blackberries and raspberries taste lovely in the mix, as do apples and blueberries.

8. Matcha Pound Cake

The deep green swirl of this matcha pound cake is beautiful and appealing. It’s so pretty, you might not want to eat it!

Who am I kidding? It’s too good to pass up. Just be sure you get a picture first!

It’s spectacularly delicious and makes a terrific brunch cake, especially on a hot summer day.

9. Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese cheesecake is wiggly, jiggly, and full of mild but sweet flavors.

It’s also impossibly easy to make, and you probably have everything you need to make it right now.

It has a sweet and tangy cream cheese taste. However, it looks nothing like American cheesecakes.

Personally, I think the Japanese version is much more elegant.It’s lighter, too, so you can enjoy more than one slice!

Try it the next time you want to wow your guests with something new.

10. Japanese Chiffon Cake

Japanese chiffon cake may be the most unique-looking cake on the list. It also has one of the most uniquely flavored.

You’ll make it with vanilla, matcha, and Hojicha tea. The result is honestly a little hard to describe.

Just try it for yourself, and let me know what you think!

10 Best Japanese Cake Recipes To Make at Home (2)

10 Best Japanese Cakes To Make at Home

One of the most famous Japanese cake recipes is the cotton cheesecake. But between matcha rolls and strawberry cakes, there’s so much more to explore.

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a delicious Japanese cake recipe in 30 minutes or less!
10 Best Japanese Cake Recipes To Make at Home (3)

Did you like the recipe?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 4

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Thanks!

Share on social media:

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Related posts

27 Best Japanese Street Foods to Try at Home23 Easy Cherry Cake Recipes to Make at Home20 Easy Japanese Breakfast Recipes10 Authentic Japanese Shrimp Recipes25 Authentic Japanese Noodle Recipes17 Easy Donburi (Japanese Rice Bowl) Recipes

10 Best Japanese Cake Recipes To Make at Home (2024)

FAQs

What is the Japanese tradition cake? ›

What is kagami mochi? If you have visited Japan in winter, you will likely have come across these iconic seasonal mochi. Made from sweet rice cakes, kagami mochi is a traditional dessert used to celebrate Japanese New Year.

What is the secret ingredient in cake? ›

Vinegar is a secret ingredient that can make your cakes light and fluffy.” One of the great things about using vinegar in cakes is that it's versatile. You can incorporate it into various cake recipes, from classic chocolate cakes to fruity variations.

Why isn't my Japanese cheesecake jiggly? ›

There's not enough batter in the tin, make sure you use the appropriate amount of batter for your cake (adjust this ingredients listed accordingly), I would recommend using at least a 3″ tall tin. If the batter is spread too thin, it may not rise as wished and will not jiggle!

What is a kawaii cake? ›

As the country that invented kawaii, Japanese cakes and sweets often come in adorable little animals or famous anime characters. In Japan, kawaii sweets fill the shelves of pastry shops and specialty sweet shops.

What is moon cake in Japanese? ›

Japan. Mooncakes in Japan are known as geppei (月餅), a transliteration of the Chinese name. Their designs are based on the Cantonese mooncake, are associated with Chinese culture and are sold all year round, mainly in Japan's Chinatowns.

Why is it called Devil's cake? ›

There are a few theories as to how it got its name. One, it's the decadent counterpart to angel food cake. Two, it's sinfully delicious. Finally, devil's food cake came about during a time when food that was spicy, rich, or dark was described as deviled, like deviled ham and deviled eggs.

What is the main ingredient that makes a cake moist? ›

One common ingredient swap that is known to help make cakes remarkably moist is using milk instead of water. Try switching out any water in your recipe for full-fat milk or buttermilk for a moist, decadent texture. Another ingredient that can enhance the moisture of your cake is mayonnaise.

What makes a cake moist and fluffy? ›

Seven Bakery Secrets to Incredibly Moist Cakes Every Time
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

Why does my Japanese cheesecake taste like egg? ›

Why does my Japanese cheesecake taste eggy? Because Japanese cheesecakes are made with so many eggs, it naturally will taste a bit eggier than a classic cheesecake. However, if you let the cheesecake cool completely or even after a couple hours of chilling, you will barely taste any egginess.

Why did my Japanese cake not rise? ›

If your cake is not rising, your oven temperature is too low. Raise by 10 degrees. After 25 minutes, your cake should rise. If it has not risen yet, allow it to stay at the same temperature and give it time to rise (or you may have to raise the temperature).

Why does my Japanese cheesecake taste eggy? ›

You're never going to be able to make it taste less eggy unless you use a lot less eggs, and then you will have lost what makes a Japanese cheesecake the fluffly jiggly thing it is. How do you make cheesecakes light and fluffy? It depends on how light and fluffy you want it to be.

What are popular Japanese cake flavors? ›

There is always a great range of delicious flavours, some of which seem particularly Japanese such as matcha (green powdered tea), sakura (cherry blossom), peach and sesame but you might also be entertained by some of the more unusual flavours such as cream cheese, miso, wasabi and red bean!

What is the name of the Japanese cake? ›

Mochi comes in a range of varieties, such as daif*cku, a rice cake filled with red bean paste; sakura mochi, a rice cake wrapped in a salted cherry blossom leaf; and kusamochi, a rice cake flavored with Japanese mugwort.

Why is Baumkuchen so popular in Japan? ›

Baumkuchen in Japan is popular because it fits well with Japanese cuisine. It has a moderately sweet taste that doesn't overwhelm the palate and has a light and slightly chewy texture. The original flavor is also neutral enough to easily fit with additional flavorings like milk, green tea, or chocolate.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5920

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.