Our most favorite mochi recipe ever! Matcha white chocolate meets mochi for the ultimate treat! It's super chewy, a bit stretchy, and has a rich and melty matcha chocolate filling!
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⭐️ Why You Should Try This Recipe
The matcha filling has the texture of a white chocolate ganache, slightly firm yet tender and creamy, while the mochi is perfectly chewy! I am not taking it lightly when saying this is the best matcha mochi recipe you will ever try!
The filling is so fresh, rich, and has a deep matcha flavor with notes of white chocolate and vanilla! SO GOOD!
Not a fan of matcha? Check out this Chocolate Mochi recipe!
📘 What is Mochi
Mochi is a Japanese sweet that consists of a chewy rice cake filled with a sweet filling. It is often filled with red bean paste, black sesame, fruits, or ganaches.
If you have tried store-bought mochi sold in boxes before, you will be shocked by how fresh and delicious homemade mochi tastes!
🥣 How to Make Vegan Matcha Mochi
Filling
I am sharing two ways to make the matcha ganache. Since vegan white chocolate is not available everywhere, I am sharing another way to prepare the filling using just cacao butter and powdered sugar.
Using White Chocolate
Place chopped vegan white chocolate and cashew cream in a heatproof bowl. Heat in the microwave, stirring every 25-30 seconds, until smooth and creamy. Stir in the matcha powder, and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Check the recipe notes for the full instructions.
Using Cacao Butter
Melt cacao butter in a small saucepan. Next, whisk the cacao butter with powdered sugar, matcha powder, and cashew cream. Refrigerate until set.
This method is actually adapted from my Matcha Nama Chocolate recipe.
Quick tip: Use a high quality matcha if you want the best flavor. I highly recommend using Ceremonial Grade matcha, which is not bitter and will yield a brighter green color, as opposed to culinary grade.
Mochi Dough
While the matcha filling is chilling, let's prepare the dough!
- Combine sweet rice flour, unsweetened almond milk, sugar, and matcha in a small bowl until smooth.
- Steam in a bamboo basket for about 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through streaming.
- Let cool for a few minutes or until just warm and "knead" using a spoon. The dough will be very sticky, that is normal.
- Wrap in plastic film and refrigerate the dough for 30-40 minutes. This step helps the dough slightly firm up and get less sticky.
For a microwave option, check out the recipe notes.
Shaping the Mochi
Finally, it's time to assemble our mochi!
On a surface dusted with cornstarch, place a ball of the mochi dough (I go with about 2 tablespoon of dough, just eyeball it), and flatten it into a round.
Next, place 1 and ½ teaspoon of the matcha ganache filling on top and wrap the dough around it. Pinch to seal and repeat with the remaining dough and filling!
Do not use too much cornstarch, otherwise you might have trouble sealing your mochi.
Once your mochi are shaped, you can dust them with matcha powder. This is totally optional, but it's a nice finishing touch!
💬 FAQ
- Can I make these mochi sugar-free? While I haven't tried, I think this recipe will work with most powdered sweeteners.
- Can I substitute the cacao butter? Yes! Check out the recipe notes to learn how to make the filling using white chocolate. If not vegan, any white chocolate will work.
- Can I substitute the glutinous rice flour? That is not possible, no other flour will give you the same chewy and stretchy texture.
- How long do these mochi keep? It will keep for up to 3 days, but is best served the same day.
- How to store mochi? To prevent mochi from drying too much, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Note: I am giving ingredient amounts in metrics for the filling as it can be hard to measure cacao butter.
I have made this recipe multiple times and everyone loved it! The matcha white chocolate filling slowly melts in your mouth, leaving a delicate green tea flavor! If you like matcha, you are going to LOVE this mochi recipe!
🍵 More Matcha Dessert Recipes
Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!
📖 Recipe
Vegan Matcha Mochi
Ingredients
Cashew Cream
- ½ cup raw cashews soaked overnight
- ½ cup water
Matcha Filling
- 50 g cacao butter
- 45 g powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder use ceremonial grade for the best flavor
- 2 tablespoon cashew cream
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Mochi Dough
- ½ cup sweet rice flour
- 2 tablespoon white sugar
- 6 tablespoon almond milk or other plant-based milk
- 1 and ½ teaspoon oil
- ¼ teaspoon matcha powder
Instructions
Cashew Cream
- Drain the cashews and add them with the water to a high-speed blender. Blend on high for 30-50 seconds, or until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside (do not refrigerate it).
Matcha Filling
- Melt the cacao butter in a small sauce pan. Remove from heat as soon as it is melted. The cacao butter should not be hot. If it's too hot, let it cool for a few minutes, or until room temperature.
- Transfer the melted cacao butter to a small bowl. Add the powdered sugar, matcha, cashew cream, and vanilla. Whisk until fully combined, and keep whisking for 2-3 minutes, or until it has slightly thickened (like a condensed milk consistency).
- Transfer to the refrigerator and refrigerate for about 2 hours, or until set.
Mochi Dough
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sweet rice flour, white sugar, almond milk, oil, and matcha powder.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and place a bamboo steamer basket on top. Transfer the mixture to a container that will fit inside your bamboo steamer.
- Close with the lid and steam for 20 minutes. Halfway through steaming, stir using a spoon (you will see some liquid and pieces of dough, that is normal, just give it a good stir).
- After 20 minutes, let the dough cool for 15-20 minutes, or until just warm. Transfer to a bowl and stir well using a wooden spoon until the dough is smooth.
- Wrap the sticky dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 45 minutes.
- To shape: Scoop out 1.5 teaspoon balls of the matcha filling and carefully roll into balls, set aside. Dust a working surface with cornstarch. Take a small amount of mochi dough (about 2 tablespoons) and flatten it into a round on the dusted surface.
- Place a ball of the filling on the center of the dough and wrap the dough around the filling. Pinch the edges to seal. Transfer to a plate with the sealed face facing down. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough.
- Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate for a couple of hours. Mochi is best served the same day but will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Notes
- For the filling: if you have access to vegan white chocolate: Finely chop 100g of white chocolate and transfer to a heatproof bowl. Add 3 tablespoon of cashew cream. Heat in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in the matcha powder and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firmer.
- To make the dough in a microwave: Whisk together the sweet rice flour, white sugar, almond milk, oil, and matcha powder in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the microwave for 1 minute on high heat. Stir the mixture using a rubber spatula and microwave again for 1 minute, or until it forms a soft and sticky dough.
I would like to make a non vegan recipe. Is it ok to omit cashew nut cream? Or otherwise, what can I substitute that with?
Yes, but in this case I recommend checking the recipe notes to make the filling using white chocolate. Simply substitute the cashew cream for regular dairy cream.
Hi Thomas,
Made just the dough earlier today to be filled with anko and was wondering what was done incorrectly as dough did not come out chewy. It came out very soft and just breaks apart very easily. Never made mochi before so the best comparison I have is mochi from Trader Joe's grocery store. I used unrefined sugar as don't use white refined ones. Would you happen to have an idea what went wrong? 🙂 Thank you
Hi Regina,
I would assume you didn't steam the mixture long enough. After steaming, it should be very thick and sticky.
Also, did you use the right kind of rice flour? It should be sweet rice flour also known as glutinous rice flour.
Hi Thomas,
Yes, I used mochiko flour. It did not turn out to very thick and sticky. Could i steam the same dough more the next day or better to start a new batch? (It tastes pretty good and quite raw..:))
Hi Regina,
I would recommend starting over. Good luck on your next batch 🙂
Hi Thomas,
I was also wondering: could I substitute plant based milk for water? I did not have all ingredients based on your recipe so made mochi using a different recipe using 1 cup Mochiko,
3/4 cup water,
2 cups sugar and arrowroot powder for dusting. Tye dough came out really good just very sweet. So looking forward to making your recipe.
Thank you
Hi Regina,
Some recipes call for a lot of sugar in the dough, it helps keeping the mochi tender for a longer period of time, but it's usually way too sweet. I recommend lowering the sugar content next time, your mochi will still keep well for 2-3 days.
Thank you. Will be doing it in the next couple days. Very excited! 🙂
Hi Thomas,
Made your mochi dough without matcha powder and filled with sweet bean paste. Came out really nice. Thank you for the recipe... 🙂
Awesome! You are welcome 😉
Thanks for your feedback!
🙂