In many parts of Asia, dessert isn't a guaranteed end to a meal like in the West. Instead, sweet treats often show up as midday snacks, something to enjoy with tea, or even as a light bite in place of lunch. One common feature of Asian desserts is that they tend to be less sweet than their Western counterparts. You'll also find some unexpected ingredients woven into sweets, like herbaceous matcha (green tea) and subtly sweet azuki beans. Here are a few of my favorite Asian dessert recipes.
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1. Red Bean Paste
Red beans in dessert?! It may sound odd if you're more used to beans in savory dishes, but it's not all that different from using rice to make pudding or making cinnamon rolls with bread flour. For centuries, Asian cuisine dessert recipes have featured red beans, and they can be found in traditional sweets ranging from China (mooncakes and sesame balls), to Vietnam (red beans and coconut milk), to the Philippines (Halo Halo). In Japan, they're known as adzuki, and they're cooked until they form a sweet sticky paste called anko. This forms the basis for many Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) treats.
Red Bean Paste Recipe
2. Red Bean Soup (Oshiruko)
This Japanese take on red bean soup features a chewy, toasted pillow of mochi(rice cake) bobbing in the warm, sweet soup. While there are versions of this dish across Asia, at its core, there's always the sweet, silky richness of the red beans enriching the broth and making this Asian dessert recipe addictively good.
Red Bean Soup Recipe
3. Strawberry Mochi
Japan is famous for its exquisite strawberries, and Strawberry Daifuku Mochi is one of my favorite ways to showcase these ruby gems. Each berry gets wrapped in a layer of sweet red bean paste, then tucked into a pillowy blanket of soft, milky mochi. The result is a gorgeous little bundle that looks fancy enough to gift, but takes only about 30 minutes to make. In my recipe, I show you two ways to wrap them, so even if you’re not confident in your mochi-folding skills, you’ll still end up with a dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Strawberry Mochi Recipe
4. Taiyaki
Taiyaki (literally "grilled sea bream") may not sound very dessert-like, but don't worry, it contains no fish. This iconic Japanese street food gets its name from its shape, symbolizing luck and prosperity. It's usually filled with sweet red bean paste, but you'll also find versions stuffed with custard, Nutella, or even sweet potato. You do need a mold to make them, but don't worry, these Asian pastries are easy to make once you know a few tricks.
Taiyaki Recipe
5. Sata Andagi (Okinawan Donuts)
Okinawan Donuts, or Sata Andagi, may look like your average donut hole, but crack open a golden orb, and you'll be treated to a pillowy center studded with kokutou. This Okinawan unrefined sugar tastes of molasses, but can also have caramel, vanilla, and licorice notes, adding complexity that sets these donuts apart from your typical Asian pastry.
Sata Andagi Recipe
6. Matcha Ice Cream
Matcha has gone global, and it's easy to see why. This emerald green tea adds a bittersweet, grassy depth to everything from lattes and cheesecake. If you're new to using matcha in desserts, this Matcha Ice Cream recipe is the simplest way to enjoy this verdant flavor, and it doesn't even require an ice cream maker.
Matcha Ice Cream Recipe
7. Chocolate Filled Mochi
Mochi is one of those Asian desserts that’s captured hearts worldwide, and its soft, stretchy texture makes it a satisfyingly blank canvas for wrapping just about anything. In this version, I go a little off-script: the mochi dough is flavored with cocoa powder, and the filling is a silky chocolate ganache. The result is rich, chewy, and deeply satisfying, like a truffle wrapped in a tender, cocoa-scented shell.
Chocolate Mochi Recipe
8. Butter Mochi
Butter mochi is one of those easy Asian dessert recipes you can whip up anytime a craving strikes. Originally developed as a high-energy snack for hunters, it's now beloved for its chewy, tender texture and rich, buttery flavor, a combo that's hard to resist. It's also one of the simplest types of mochi to make. Just spread the warm batter into a pan, let it set, and slice it into squares. No shaping or filling required.
Butter Mochi Recipe
9. Coffee Jelly
This playful dessert uses agar agar, a seaweed-based gelling agent that's a common ingredient in Asian cuisine dessert recipes. This means that coffee jelly is vegan if you top it with plant-based cream. It's essentially a cup of coffee with cream, but the experience of eating the bouncy, coffee-flavored cubes enrobed with rich cream makes this dessert a delightful sensory treat!
Coffee Jelly Recipe
I hope I've gotten your mouth watering with these delicious, easy Asian dessert recipes. Have you tried any of them yet? I'd love to know which one's your favorite!
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