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)

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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.

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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)

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

FAQs

What is the Japanese most famous cake? ›

The list of wagashi could be endless, so we have selected some of the most representative ones to introduce you to them:
  • Daif*cku. This is one of the most popular sweets. ...
  • Dango. This dessert can be found in almost any food stall in Japan. ...
  • Dorayaki. ...
  • Namagashi. ...
  • Taiyaki. ...
  • Cheesecake. ...
  • Baumkuchen. ...
  • Swiss Cake.

What is Japanese cake called? ›

A favourite dessert among the Japanese today is the castella, a sponge cake with a finer, more compact texture than traditional butter pound cakes.

What are the flavors of Japanese cakes? ›

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!

Why are Japanese cakes so soft? ›

As the cake bakes for longer than the typical cake, the water bath is crucial. Additionally, the water bath insulates the cake and allows it to cook at a consist temperature. These factors are important for achieving the fluffy and moist texture for the cake. Be sure to fold the egg whites into the batter.

What is a kawaii cake? ›

So cute! 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 are the 5 flavors in Japanese? ›

Salty, sweet, sour and bitter are familiar terms to describe taste. Yet a fifth, umami, is less well-known but just as prevalent. Umami, a word that literally translates as “delicious,” has been part of the Japanese culinary lexicon for thousands of years.

What is the Japanese signature dessert? ›

10 Classic Japanese Desserts You Need To Try
  • Purin. Also known as creme caramel or custard pudding, purin (as in, “pudding”) is the Japanese solution to the classic gelatin, caramel-flavored dessert snack. ...
  • Japanese cheesecake. ...
  • Mille Crepe Cake. ...
  • Swiss Roll. ...
  • Castella Cake. ...
  • Dorayaki. ...
  • Mizu Yokan. ...
  • Mitarashi Kushi Dango.
Apr 21, 2022

What type of cake is a tradition in Japan? ›

Introduction to Castella

Not just any ordinary sponge cake, Nagasaki castella cakes are special. Nagasaki castella is made using a traditional recipe consisting of eggs, flour, sugar, and syrups.

Does Japanese fluffy cake need to be refrigerated? ›

How long will they last? Our Japanese Cheesecakes can stay in room temperature for up to 12 hours. We recommend putting them in the fridge as soon as possible, and they can last refrigerated for up to 3 days.

What is Japanese wobbly cake called? ›

As there are a few varieties of cheesecakes in Japan, we call this cheese soufflé or soufflé cheesecake. Outside of Japan, however, it becomes synonymous with the generic “Japanese cheesecake”. Because of its unique texture, it is also called jiggly cake or Japanese cotton cheesecake.

Why is my Japanese cheesecake not fluffy? ›

Why is my cheesecake not fluffy? The airy texture comes from the folding of whipped egg whites through the batter. However, if the egg whites are not folded properly it can result in a dense cake. If you under-mix the egg whites into the batter you will have a cake with a dense bottom and light top.

What is hiyoko cake? ›

Hiyoko cakes are a specialty of the f*ckuoka region in the northern part of Japan's Kyushu Island. Their super-cute shape makes them one of Japan's most loved sweet treats—not bad for something invented while their creator was asleep.

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