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 kind of cake is popular in Japan? ›

Japanese Roll Cake

These log-shaped cakes are hugely popular in Japan, and some cake shops specialize exclusively in roll cakes. Popular roll-cake flavors include, chocolate, white cake, and green tea.

What is a famous Japanese sponge cake? ›

Castella, or Kasutera (カステラ), is a beloved Japanese honey sponge cake known for its sweet taste and airy texture. More delicate and bouncy than a regular sponge cake, castella is famous for its fine and moist crumb.

What is Japanese cake called? ›

Castella. Castella is a Japanese sponge cake inspired by pastries introduced by Portuguese missionaries to Japan in the 16th century. A simple cake of eggs, flour, and sugar, castella is light and firm with a gentle sweetness.

Why isn't my Japanese cheesecake jiggly? ›

Your butter, cream cheese, eggs and milk HAVE to be at room temperature. If they are cold, you will have a grainy batter and not get that air-like texture to your cheesecake. Keep all your ingredients out at least 1 hour before you start so they can get to room temperature.

What is the national sweet of Japan? ›

Namagashi (lit. raw sweets) are traditional Japanese sweets that are most often associated with wagashi. They are made of rice flour and a sweet bean paste filling, and are delicately shaped by hand to reflect the season. Namagashi are served at the tea ceremony.

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 is Moshi cake? ›

Mochi (もち, 餅) [motɕi] is a Japanese rice cake made of mochigome (もち米), a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The steamed rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.

What is a small Japanese cake called? ›

"Bento" in the japanese language means lunchbox. As Bento cakes are very small in size, typically a size of a small lunch box, they are called Bento cakes.

What are the flavors of Japanese cake? ›

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 soft cake? ›

A favourite dessert among the Japanese today is the castella, a sponge cake with a finer, more compact texture than traditional butter pound cakes. It is often served as a snack for afternoon tea because of its moist texture.

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 does my Japanese cheesecake crack on top? ›

Baking. A bain-marie or hot water bath is essential for baking the cake. The hot water bath stabilizes the temperature in the oven and prevents it from being overly hot and dry. Hot and dry oven means cracked cheesecake.

Why does my Japanese sponge cake sink? ›

Adding too much baking powder or baking soda can make a cake sink. When too much amount of leavening agents are added, there can be too many air bubbles develop in the batter and the cake may rise too much without enough support, then it sinks.

What cake originated in Japan? ›

raindrop cake, delicate gelatinous dessert of Japanese origin that is made of spring water or mineral water and agar powder and that derives its name from its large raindrop shape. It is virtually calorie-free and has a fresh, subtle taste.

Is cheesecake popular in Japan? ›

Cheesecake is now a global phenomenon, enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures. In the United States, people prefer to have their cheesecake with toppings, such as strawberries, blueberries, or chocolate sauce. In Japan, green tea-flavored cheesecake is popular.

Why is Baumkuchen so popular in Japan? ›

The distinctive concentric rings of the baumkuchen are seen as a symbol of prosperity and longevity, and this makes the baumkuchen a popular favorite at celebrations and festive occasions. Baumkuchen was first introduced to Japan by German baker Karl Juchheim nearly a century ago.

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