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The dessert, From around the world

Mochi ice cream

Mochi ice cream is a Japanese dessert made of soft rice dough wrapped around a scoop of ice cream, here in three flavors, vanilla, strawberry, and green tea, for 6 people. It takes 50 minutes of active work spread over two days, with the ice cream scoops frozen the night before and the dough made the same day. The difficulty is medium, the cost is €1.80 per person, and success comes down to working quickly so the ice cream doesn't melt while you wrap it.

To change things up, I'm making mochi ice cream, soft rice dough wrapped around a scoop of ice cream.

Mochi ice cream
For
6 people
Work
50 min
Total time
2 h 40
Prep
Prepared the day before
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.80
Calories per person
280 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Under a thin layer of slightly sweet, soft rice dough hides a scoop of cold ice cream. The contrast between the chewy, almost sticky exterior and the frozen center is what makes mochi so fun to eat. With three flavors, vanilla, strawberry, and green tea, the plate looks as good as it tastes.

This is a dessert that stands out for a summer dinner with friends, or to impress guests who've never tried it before. Kids love it too, drawn to the chewy texture and bright colors. Serve it after a light meal, like a composed salad or a light braise, it brings a cool, refreshing finish to the table.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 1 step
  2. The same day 3 steps, 3 min
  3. Before the guests arrive Nothing to do
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

The night before, shape the eighteen ice cream scoops and let them firm up in the freezer overnight. The same day, make the rice dough, roll it out, cut the circles, and wrap each scoop before putting everything back in the freezer. Right before serving, pull the mochi out five minutes ahead so they're soft to bite into without melting.

The ingredients

6 people

Pantry

  • Glutinous rice flour 150 g
  • Granulated sugaroften in the pantry 50 g
  • Wateroften in the pantry 20 cl
  • Cornstarchoften in the pantry 100 g

Frozen foods

  • Vanilla ice cream 20 cl
  • Strawberry ice cream 20 cl
  • Green tea ice cream 20 cl

Allergens Lactose

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Scoop eighteen small balls of ice cream onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze overnight.

    Use a small ice cream scoop, the balls come out small and evenly sized.

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Mix the glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water in a bowl, cover, and microwave, stirring halfway through, until the dough turns translucent and stretchy. 3 min

    Regular rice flour won't work here, look for glutinous rice flour at an Asian grocery store.

  2. Spread the warm dough on parchment paper dusted with cornstarch and let it cool slightly, then cut out eighteen circles.

    Dust your fingers heavily, the dough sticks like chewing gum.

  3. Place a scoop of ice cream in the center of each circle, fold the dough around it to seal, and put the mochi back in the freezer.

    Work with just a few scoops at a time, keep the rest in the freezer.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Take the mochi out of the freezer five minutes before serving and arrange them on a plate.

    They should be soft to bite into, if left out too long the ice cream melts and they collapse.

Our tips to get it right

  • Keep extra ice cream scoops in the freezer while you shape the others, the warmth of your hands is enough to soften them if they sit too long on the counter.
  • Pick firm ice cream straight from the freezer right before scooping, anything too soft spreads out and becomes hard to wrap neatly.
  • If the dough tears while you stretch it around the ice cream, pinch the hole closed with a bit of cornstarch on your fingers rather than adding fresh dough, which won't stick well.

The variations

  • Swap the three flavors for whatever you have on hand, mango, chocolate, or pistachio all work well as long as the ice cream is firm.
  • For a quicker version, use ready-made mochi dough from an Asian grocery store and skip the microwave cooking step.
  • For kids, shape smaller mochi with a teaspoon of ice cream, they're bite-sized and you'll end up with more on the plate.

What to serve it with

  • Hot Japanese green tea
  • Fresh diced fruit
  • Crunchy almond cookies

Storage

Mochi keep for two weeks in the freezer in an airtight container, kept separate so they don't stick together. They can't be refrozen once thawed. Just take them out five minutes before serving, no need to warm them up.

Questions about this recipe

Can I use regular rice flour instead of glutinous rice flour?

No, regular rice flour won't give you the stretchy texture you're after. Look for glutinous rice flour, also called mochiko, at an Asian grocery store or the international aisle of some supermarkets.

How do I keep the dough from sticking to everything while I work?

Dust your hands, the counter, and the dough itself generously with cornstarch. Glutinous rice dough is naturally very sticky, a bit like warm chewing gum.

Can I make the mochi several days ahead?

Yes, it's actually recommended. Once shaped, they freeze well for up to two weeks in an airtight container, so you can get them done well before the party.

How should I serve mochi for a dinner with friends?

Arrange them on a large plate or platter, alternating the three colors, vanilla, strawberry, and green tea. You can dust them with a little sifted cornstarch for a cleaner look.

Can some mochi ice cream be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended. The recipe needs 50 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 1 step, the same day, 3 steps, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make some mochi ice cream?

Allow 2 h 40 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 50 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "medium".

How many calories are in some mochi ice cream?

About 280 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does some mochi ice cream cost?

About €1.80 per person, that's €10.80 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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