Mochi Muffin Recipe

Mochi muffins are a cultural mix of Japanese cakes and American muffins – somewhere between a dessert and extremely rich breakfast treat.

These soft and chewy delights have a unique texture and sweet flavor that are different than most regular muffins and yet something that will appeal to most anyone. 

Butter mochi muffins are a naturally gluten-free treat that whole family can enjoy no matter their gluten preference.

Mochiko Flour

There is no way to make these muffins without using mochiko flour, otherwise know as glutinous rice flour. Don’t try to substitute regular rice flour, it won’t work. The starchy rice that makes up mochi flour is what provides the dense and chewy texture. 

I live in a small town and simply couldn’t find it in any of my local grocery stores. If you live in a bigger city, maybe you could or certainly Asian grocery stores would carry it (assuming you have one in your area). I ended up ordering a few bags online. 

​Glutinous simply refers to the sticky nature of this particular kind of rice – it does not actually contain gluten. You can feel good about serving it to friends and family who avoid eating gluten.

​Simple Ingredients

The rest of the ingredients are quite simple in nature and likely already in your pantry. Here are a few notes to keep in mind:

Sugar – the original recipe below uses a mixture of dark brown sugar and regular granulated sugar. You could easily substitute light brown sugar if its all you have on hand. 

Coconut milk – for the best results, use full fat coconut milk that comes in a can. Don’t use the stuff in the carton sold alongside the various nut milks, etc. it simply won’t provide the same flavor or texture.

Melted butter – butter definitely adds richness and flavor to the muffins. I didn’t test it but I imagine you could use melted coconut oil or even vegetable oil instead with good results. I used salted butter because I always have it on hand. If you use unsalted butter, add 1/2 teaspoon salt to the dry mixture.

Muffin Size

​I baked these in standard muffin pans and they are perfect in that size. Rich but not so overwhelming as to be able to not finish off one muffin at a meal.

However, you could make them in a mini muffin pan to serve a crowd or simply have smaller treats. Mini muffins would be great for pot lucks or even bake sales.

I would not suggest baking them in the large / oversize pans as they are just a bit too rich for that size in my opinion.

Optional Additions

These are rather simple in nature but they are incredibly flavorful and rich as written, however there are some options to switch it up.

Consider adding more white sesame seeds into the mochi muffin batter not just on top.

Add up to 1/4 cup of black sesame seeds for an amazing color contrast and crunch to the baked muffins.

Stir in 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips for an even sweeter treat. Next time, I know I’m going to try that.

A couple teaspoons of matcha powder will provide a great color and be a more traditional take.

How to Serve

These are a rich muffin full of nutty flavor. Serve them with your favorite beverage and some fresh fruit for a very filling breakfast.

They make perfect lunch box treats alongside salads or fruit for a sweet mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

If you’d like to serve them as a kind of light dessert, top them with a little bit of powdered sugar or even a dollop of whipped cream.

How to Store

Keep any leftover muffins in an airtight container where they should last up to 4 days when kept at room temperature. 

For longer term storage, these muffins freeze delightfully. Simply put the baked and cooled muffins into freezer bags and freeze.

Use up any frozen muffins within six months.  Thaw muffins at room temperature prior to serving.