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

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

FAQs

What flour does Mochinut use? ›

Mochi donuts are a mix between traditional deep-fried donuts and Japanese mochi desserts. Made with either glutinous rice flour or tapioca starch, mochi donuts are much lighter in texture. Although you can call them a cousin of American donuts, mochinuts are simply next level.

Are mochi donuts still good the next day? ›

These are best consumed the day they're made. Mochi tends to harden over time so the donut will get tough over time. If you are eating these the next day simply place the donut in the microwave for 10-20 seconds before consuming. That way it'll soften a little!

What is the difference between mochi and mochi donuts? ›

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.

Are mochi donuts healthy? ›

One of the main ingredients in our mochi donut is rice flour, making them a much healthier alternative than regular donuts. Therefore you can still achieve summer body when eating Mochinut! 😋😋

What makes Mochinut chewy? ›

A combination of American doughnuts and Japanese mochi, Mochi Donuts are made with rice flour. The rice flour makes Mochi Donuts stretchy and chewy.

Can I use rice flour instead of mochi flour? ›

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. However, they only work as replacements in certain dishes.

Who invented mochi donuts? ›

An early iteration can be traced back to Hawaii in the early 1990s. Mochi donuts were popularized by Mister Donut's "Pon de Ring" in the early 2000s. Mochi donuts are commonly formed into a circular shape, consisting of eight small balls that are easy to pull apart.

Do mochi donuts freeze? ›

Although you can technically freeze a baked ube mochi donut, I don't recommend it.

How do you revive mochi donuts? ›

We always recommend eating our mochi donuts fresh! If you have leftovers, we recommend storing in the box at room temperature. You may also reheat in the oven (recommended) at 325F for 3-5 minutes or in the microwave for 10-12 seconds.

Why are my mochi donuts dense? ›

The texture comes down to preference but I found the ratio of mochiko flour to tapioca starch is the reason for the difference. The more tapioca starch in the mix, the lighter the mochi donut. Conversely, the more mochiko in the mix the more dense the mochi 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.

Why are mochi donuts so good? ›

Mochi donuts are a delicious fusion of American donuts and Japanese mochi, a sticky rice cake that is often eaten during special occasions. (We don't wait for special occasions here). Mochi donuts have a unique texture that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and they come in various flavors and shapes.

What are the disadvantages of mochi? ›

But Nikkan Gendai warns that consumption of mochi can also cause problems for people of any age. For one thing, not chewing it thoroughly before swallowing can result in its becoming impacted in the intestine. "The problem occurs within one day of having consumed the mochi," Ishihara said.

What does mochi do to your body? ›

Health benefits of mochi

It is also a good source of Vitamins A, C, E (Alpha Tocopherol), and K, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, and Phosphorus. It's also a very good source of Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Copper, and Manganese.

Is mochi good for diabetics? ›

However, just like rice, mochi is known to raise blood sugar levels. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with diabetes, take extra consideration when eating mochi. Consider eating vegetables and protein from the osechi before eating your ozoni as a tip to monitor your blood sugar levels.

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 is a Mochinut made of? ›

The mochi donuts are made with rice flour, making them flexible and recognizable due to their distinct shape of eight small balls connected as a circle. There are around 25 flavors of the food, but it varies by location.

What is mochi flour made of? ›

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 kind of rice flour is used in mochi? ›

Make sure to get glutinous rice flour (mochigome) instead of regular rice flour. This ingredient is essential for mochi's signature chewy texture. Green tea powder (or matcha) has a complex, earthy flavor that works well with mochi.

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