mini-mochi

Odango: Japanese Mini-Mochi Rice Dumplings

In this week's blog, I ask you to imagine that you're delivering a sealed, confidential letter from the castle of the Shogun in Edo (the ancient name for Tokyo) to a princess living in the Imperial palace in Kyoto. As you experience the adventure, you'll visit a roadside café to quiet the noises from your grumbling stomach. At the café you'll be presented with knowledge about the ancient odango  treat – that regained popularity in Japan in 1999 when a song about the snack catapulted to number one.

The treat endures to this day and remains one of this Ninja Baker's favorites. Perhaps it will soon be your favorite Japanese treat, too. Or maybe you’ll love the Ninja Baker’s modernized cake pop odango. Instructions follow.

For recipes and a taste of a trip to Kyoto, read on!