7 Japanese Matcha Desserts to Try

Looking for a Japanese matcha dessert but torn between a rice sweet and a cake to slice? Mochi, yatsuhashi, and zenzai call for different methods and ways of serving; three cakes and a shaved-ice dessert round out the choice. If you'd rather have a drink or a savory dish, the rest of our matcha recipes offers more options.

Start with texture. Mochi is eaten by hand, while zenzai is served warm and eaten with a spoon. Choose a cake when you want a dessert to share.

Which Japanese matcha desserts can you make?

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  For a hand-held sweet, matcha mochi encloses anko in soft glutinous rice dough.
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  Folded around anko, matcha yatsuhashi makes sixteen soft triangles.
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  Eaten warm with a spoon, matcha zenzai keeps the mochi distinct in azuki soup.
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  To share a tall, light cake, matcha chiffon cake cuts into eight slices.
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  When you want layers visible at the cut, matcha mille-crepe cake stacks twelve crepes before chilling.
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  Without an oven, matcha steamed cake gives you a soft crumb to share.
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  For a frozen dessert eaten with a spoon, matcha ujikintoki serves sweetened azuki over crushed ice.

Filled mochi, folded yatsuhashi, and zenzai each involve a different method. The matcha cakes in this selection are adaptations; we don't give them the same history as the rice sweets.