30 Most Delicious Japanese Desserts You Can Buy Now

by Teni Wada | LIFESTYLE

If you're looking for something sweet, satisfy your cravings with the rich and delicious flavors of Japanese sweets known as wagashi. We have rounded up a fantastic range of subtly sweet Japanese desserts like dorayaki, daifuku, yokan, and manju, along with flavorful biscuits, cakes, chocolates, and cookies all manufactured by Japan’s top confectionary companies. Irresistible on their own or when paired with coffee and tea, these 30 best Japanese desserts - all availableon Amazon - are certain to delight and surprise your tastebuds.

1. Royce Ganache Champagne Chocolate

When you think of Japanese desserts, does chocolate come to mind? It certainly will after you try these champagne-infused ganache bites from Royce! Headquartered in Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, Royce is one of Japan’s premier chocolate manufacturers and is known primarily for its nama chocolate. These cube-sized pieces of chocolate have a texture resembling velvety chocolate truffle filling and are dusted with fine cocoa powder. Rounding out the sweetness of the creamy chocolate is a subtle but pleasant champagne flavor.

Royce Ganache Champagne Chocolate – Available at Amazon

2. Yoku Moku Cigares

Another uncharacteristically classic treat from Japan are these delicate and buttery pirouettes from Yoku Moku. Named after the Japanese pronunciation of the Swedish town Jokkmokk, Yoku Moku has delighted customers with their tasty confectionaries since 1942. Yoku Moku Cigares are a popular gift that delight even those without a sweet tooth, thanks to the smooth balance of vanilla and butter and crisp but soft cookie texture. .

Yoku Moku Cigares – Available at Amazon

3. Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Honey & Gorgonzola Cheese Cookies

One thing that you’re sure to notice about Japanese cheese-based confectioneries is the emphasis on cheese. Take, for example, these cookies from Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory. Using rich Hokkaido Jersey milk, Spanish rosemary honey, and Gorgonzola cheese, these Honey & Gorgonzola Langue de Chat tea biscuits are a sweet and savory delight that’s almost too good to share!

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Cookies – Available at Amazon

4. Ogura An

Ogura-an is a type of sweet Japanese condiment made with thick, texturized red bean paste and whole red beans simmered in molasses syrup. It’s commonly used as a topping for Ogura toast, a breakfast dish originating in Nagoya during the later years of Japan’s Meiji period (1868-1912). To make Ogura toast, simply heap a generous serving of ogura-an onto a thick slice of toasted bread and garnish with butter. Ogura-an also makes for a tasty topping on hotcakes and ice cream, and it’s a versatile condiment that you can use to create your own fusion desserts!

Ogura An – Available at Amazon

5. Strawberry Mochi

A Japanese dessert that's bound to please a wide audience, strawberry mochi consists of a sticky rice cake filled with red bean paste, strawberry (paste), and coated with plenty of cornstarch. It’s not uncommon to come across strawberry mochi filled with an entire ripe strawberry, especially when strawberries are in season (typically the colder months of the year). The acidity of the strawberry filling acts as the perfect balance to the sweetness of the mochi and pairs well with green tea.

Strawberry Mochi – Available at Amazon

6. Adzuki Yokan

Yokan is a jelly-like confectionary molded into a long rectangle and sliced before eating. It’s made with red beans, sugar, and agar, though you’ll encounter varieties made with chestnuts, matcha, or sweet potatoes. Yokan is semi-perishable and an unopened package of yokan keeps for a long time, making it an unexpected but ideal choice for emergency rations. Adzuki yokan has a high sugar content, so for a bold pairing, serve it with a cup of black coffee.

Adzuki Yokan – Available at Amazon

7. Matcha Pudding Mix

Matcha-fusion desserts carefully balance matcha powder and other ingredients to create a harmony between sweet and bitter, but this matcha pudding mix does all the hard work for you!

Made from tea leaves grown in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, this package of Morihan Japanese Uji Matcha Pudding Mix serves 4. Simply add hot water, cool at room temperature, and freeze for three hours to create a deceptively easy but impressive dessert.

Matcha Pudding Mix – Available at Amazon

8. Hotcake Mix

Create the Japanese cafe experience from the comfort of your home with this Morinaga hotcake Mix. A staple in kitchens across Japan, this is a no-fail way to make light and fluffy hotcakes.

One recipe you ought to try is baking the hotcake batter in an electric rice cooker for a thick and moist cake that can be customized by adding cocoa or matcha powder, fruits, or other ingredients. Add the hotcake mix, milk, eggs and other ingredients in the rice cooker, stir until the batter is smooth and press the Start button.

Hotcake Mix – Available at Amazon

9. Annin Tofu Mix

This Chinese dessert is also a kid-friendly delight that frequently makes appearances in school lunch rooms and kids’ menus at family restaurants. Known as annin tofu, or almond jelly, this pudding-like dessert is very easy to make. Mix the ingredients, bring to a boil, then freeze for one hour before serving. Garnish with mint, peaches, and goji berries.

Annin Tofu Mix – Available at Amazon

10. Kuzu Mochi

Kuzu mochi is a light and refreshing dessert made from arrowroot (kuzu) starch. It is transparent in appearance with a firm, but smooth texture. The natural sweetness of kuzu mochi is elevated when topped with kinako (roasted soy flour) and kuromitsu (a rich syrup made of dark brown sugar). Kuzu mochi is best enjoyed during the summer months when it is chilled before serving.

Kuzu Mochi – Available at Amazon

11. Coffee Warabi Mochi

Warabimochi is a refreshing summer dessert that resembles jelly. It’s typically made with three simple ingredients - water, sugar, and starch – and served with black sugar syrup and kinako (roasted soybean flour). However, this particular warabimochi is coffee-flavored! The pairing is a rich and smooth dessert that can be elevated with a dollop of whipped cream or coffee creamer.

Coffee Warabi Mochi – Available at Amazon

12. Assorted Dorayaki

Fans of Japanese media are no doubt familiar with dorayaki as it’s commonly depicted as a snack eaten with family in TV programs and movies. Best described as a sandwich made out of two small pancakes and red bean paste, dorayaki is a simple but filling dessert that can be consumed on the go. This assorted dorayaki sampler consists of 3 varieties of dorayaki – red bean, chestnut, and matcha – making it ideal for sharing.

Assorted Dorayaki – Available at Amazon

13. Yokan Set

Ideal for gifting or serving guests at home, this gift box consists of 7 different types of yokan, a firm jellied dessert made with sweet red bean paste, agar-agar, and sugar. What makes this particular set attractive is that the yokan are presented in single serve, pre-portioned, pre-packaged cups whereas yokan is known for its long, rectangular shape. This yokan sampler features spring and summer delights such as white peach, grapefruit, and mango, in addition to traditional staples like coffee and chestnut.

Yokan Set – Available at Amazon

14. Wasanbon (Rakugan) Gift Set

Rakugan are sweet and delicate works of art prepared by pressing sugar, soybean flour, and other dry ingredients in wooden molds. They literally melt in your mouth, like a sugar cube, and are made in a fantastic variety of colors and shapes to reflect the beauty of the four seasons or Japanese holidays. These rakugan are made from wasanbon, a high grade of sugar made from sugar cane grown in the Shikoku region.

Wasanbon Gift Set – Available at Amazon

15. Melon Baumkuchen

Baumkuchen is a ring shaped cake first introduced to Japan by the German baker Karl Juchheim. Since its introduction in the early 20th century, baumkuchen have become one of Japan’s most beloved baked goods! Gluten-free confectionery Comel launched this cantaloupe-flavored baumkuchen that uses both rice flour and melons from Yamagata Prefecture for a unique and delightful treat.

Melon Baumkuchen – Available at Amazon

16. Castella

Like baumkuchen, castella is another imported baked good that has become synonymous with Japanese desserts. It’s made using basic ingredients like flour, eggs, honey, and sugar, but the result is anything but basic. The golden brown crust contrasts beautifully with the moist, golden sponge cake beneath. Castella was originally introduced to Japan in the 16th century from an unlikely source – Portugal! Although you’ll encounter castella in cafes and confernieries across Japan, this dessert is closely associated with Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan’s gateway during its period of national isolation.

Castella – Available at Amazon

17. Momiji Manju

Manju are steamed (sometimes grilled or even deep-fried) buns with red bean paste filling. Nearly every region in Japan has their own local spin on this simple dessert. However, perhaps the most recognizable manju of them all comes from Hiroshima Prefecture. Known as momiji manju, these maple leaf shaped buns are a specialty of Itsukushima, a small island in Hiroshima Bay famed for its forests, temples, and large torii gate.

Momiji Manju – Available at Amazon

18. Taiyaki & Odango DIY Kit

Entertain and delight little foodies with this simple taiyaki and odango “cooking” sweet from Kracie! This box set comes with everything you need to recreate the following classic sweet treats using only a microwave and water: taiyaki (sweet fish-shaped cake sold at stalls); mitarashi dango (skewered rice cakes covered in a sweet soy sauce); and ichigo daifuku (strawberry-filled mochi).As a bonus, you can also serve up your creations with a cup of refreshing ramune drink.

Taiyaki & Odango Kit – Available at Amazon

19. Pickled Cherry Blossom Tea

Sakura-cha, or cherry blossom tea, is made with cherry blossoms pickled whole in salt and plum vinegar. When stepped in hot water, the blossoms open majestically, making it a celebratory drink consumed at auspicious celebrations such as weddings. It has a subtle floral scent and mild salty flavor that contrast nicely to red bean paste. Before preparing, gently remove as much salt as possible, taking care not to damage the flower petals.

Pickled Cherry Blossom Tea – Available at Amazon

20. Sayaka-no-mukashi Matcha

Matcha has a grassy, umami taste that makes it the ideal complimentary drink to serve with Japanese sweets. Ippodo Sayaka-no-mukashi is an ideal choice for first time matcha drinkers. Its tin can is an attractive decorative piece in your kitchen, and it also keeps your matcha fresh for up to 2 months after opening. To prepare, simply dissolve matcha powder into hot water. You may also use this matcha powder to prepare matcha lattes or as an ingredient for matcha desserts.

Sayaka-no-mukashi Matcha – Available at Amazon

21. Taiyaki Pan

Taiyaki, a fish-shaped cake originating in 19th century Japan, is a popular street food sold at festivals. It’s served fresh off the grill and is commonly filled with sweet red bean paste, though chocolate cream, custard or savory substitutions can be made. Iwachu is a leading manufacturer of Japanese ironware, and this Iwachu cast iron frying pan is specially designed to give taiyaki its distinctive shape.

Taiyaki Pan – Available at Amazon

22. Bourbon Cookies

Originally founded as Kitanihon Seika in 1924, Bourbon has delighted Japan with a splendid variety of candies, gummies, biscuits and cookies for nearly 100 years. Infact, Bourbon has the largest market share in Japan when it comes to biscuits and cookies! Try a few of the company's greatest hits with this High Selection sampler. Not to be missed are its Rumando, a thin, crisp wafer coated in milk chocolate.

Bourbon Cookies – Available at Amazon

23. Tokyo Banana KitKat

Tokyo Banana is a popular souvenir of Tokyo Prefecture consisting of a sponge cake filled with real banana custard. It originally launched in 1989, and for middle aged adults during that era, the banana was once a luxury. Tokyo Banana KitKat are a creative take on those banana custard sponge cakes and feature the Tokyo Banana logo. Each bar is embossed with a cute banana and is packaged in an equally cute wrapper.

Tokyo Banana KitKat – Available at Amazon

24. Akai Boushi Biscuit Gift Set

Tivoli is a leading Japanese confectionery based in the hot spring resort of Yugawara, Kanagawa Prefecture. Its Akai Boshi label is one of the most widely known gift boxes in Japan, particularly because of the auspicious meaning associated with the color red. As a matter of fact, Akai Boshi means red hat in Japanese, and each tin box produced by Tivoli features a young woman sporting a stylish crimson hat. This sampler contains 16 varieties of tea cookies and chocolates that can be enjoyed with your favorite tea or coffee.

Akai Boushi Biscuit Gift Set – Available at Amazon

25. Kukkia Green Tea Cookie Wafers

Produced by Tivoli, the company behind the Akai Boshi gift boxes, Kukkia is a line of sandwich cookies that come in an assortment of flavors such as matcha, strawberry, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. Kukkia cookie sandwiches have two distinct textures: the top is an unsweetened, crispy wafer featuring the Akai Boshi logo. The bottom, meanwhile, is a thin cookie. The rich matcha filling is blended with vanilla cream and pairs well with coffee.

Kukkia Green Tea Cookie Wafers – Available at Amazon

26. Yuzu Marmalade

Yuzu is a large and fragrant citrus fruit rich in Vitamin C that often finds its way into Japanese dishes as a garnish. However, when turned into a marmalade, yuzu becomes a flavorful multipurpose topping that compliments ice cream, toast, yogurt, hotcakes, shaved ice, cocktails and more. Yuzu marmalade can also be used to make yuzu cha, or citron tea, a comforting beverage on cold winter days. This yuzu marmalade is made with 100% natural ingredients and uses Yuzu from Tokushima Prefecture and sugar grown in Hokkaido Prefecture.

Yuzu Marmalade – Available at Amazon

27. Assorted Kanten Jelly Mix

Kanten fruit jelly is a colorful gelatinous dessert that’s made with seaweed as opposed to gelatin as a solidifying agent. Its texture is firmer than gelatin and it can retain its shape at room temperature longer than gelatin. And, in case you’re wondering, kanten is high in fiber - and low in calories! This package of individually-wrapped kanten bites are ideal for portion-control snacking or serving as a dessert in a bento box. Choose from strawberry, grape, melon, orange, or pineapple.

Assorted Kanten Jelly Mix – Available at Amazon

28. Sweet Potato Mizu Yokan

Mizu Yokan is a summertime dessert often made with water, red beans, sugar and agar solidified in a rectangular shape. However, Kintoki Yokan is made using Naruto kintoki sweet potatoes, a potato variety that has a dry texture similar to chestnuts and is more associated with autumn than summer. The golden color of this mizu yokan comes from the natural color of the Naruto kintoki potato, an autumnal delight from Tokushima Prefecture.

Sweet Potato Mizu Yokan – Available at Amazon

29. Dango Flour

If you’ve ever wanted to make authentic Japanese desserts like dango and kashiwa, from scratch, you’ll need a specific type of rice flour. Joshinko is made from non-glutinous rice and has a chewy, dough-like texture. To elevate your creations, add sweet red bean paste filling to your mochi or cover your dango in a sweet soy sauce glaze.

Dango Flour – Available at Amazon

30. Wagashi Tea Cake Sampler

Dive into the delicious world of manju with this tea cake sampler. Manju are steamed buns filled with sweet bean paste There are 18 individually wrapped manju in this variety pack consisting of 5 different varieties. Each variety – matcha, chestnut, milk, red beans/white kidney beans and soba – has a distinct wrapper, shape, and design.

Wagashi Tea Cake Sampler – Available at Amazon

JO SELECTS offers helpful suggestions, and genuine recommendations for high-quality, authentic Japanese art & design. We know how difficult it is to search for Japanese artists, artisans and designers on the vast internet, so we came up with this lifestyle guide to highlight the most inspiring Japanese artworks, designs and products for your everyday needs.

All product suggestions are independently selected and individually reviewed. We try our best to update information, but all prices and availability are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate, Japan Objects earns from qualifying purchases.