Japanese Dessert - Vegan Dorayaki (Red Bean Pancake Sandwich)

The Dorayaki consists of two pancakes held together with a thick layer of Adzuki bean paste, also known as red bean paste; it’s a traditional Japanese snack that has been around for generations and is much loved by children and adults alike.

There are two components to making vegan Dorayaki. One is the vegan Adzuki bean paste, also known as red bean paste, and the other is the vegan pancake.

Let’s begin by first making the red bean paste. The red beans are now well-cooked. We will now stir in 150 grams of vegan rock sugar. Mix gently till the sugar is completely dissolved. You can also make the red bean paste a day ahead, this will allow the red beans to absorb the rich flavor of the sugar, and it will taste better. Our red bean paste is now ready, so pour it into a bowl and let it cool.

Next, we will prepare the batter for the pancakes. We will sift all the dry ingredients to remove any lumps so that the surface of the pancake will be fine and smooth. We use a large mixing bowl and sift 150 grams of cake flour. Continue to sift 45 grams of bread flour, 5 grams of corn starch, and 8 grams of baking powder. Our dry ingredients are ready. Next, we will prepare the wet ingredients with a blender. Add 260 milliliters of soymilk, a quarter teaspoon of salt, 30 grams of rock sugar syrup, 30 grams of raw vegan sugar, 30 milliliters of vegetable oil, 25 grams of cashew nuts, and 30 grams of brown sugar.

Blend till the ingredients are thoroughly mixed into a smooth liquid. Next, gradually pour the blended liquid and gently stir into the flour mixture, so our pancakes will be soft, light, and fluffy. The batter is now a smooth and velvety consistency and has no more lumps. We will add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and gently stir it in. Cover the bowl with a cloth, and leave the batter to rest for 10 minutes to allow the ingredients to blend together.

Let’s start to make pancakes. Preheat a non-stick plate or pan at medium-low heat. To test the temperature, place a small amount of the batter on it. When small bubbles start to appear on the surface of the pancake after about two minutes, and the edge turns golden brown, it means the temperature is just right. These are our finished Dorayaki pancakes. We will spread the red bean paste on them.

Making vegan Dorayaki is fun, and it is a snack with unlimited creative possibilities. You can also use other fillings such as green bean paste, sweet potatoes, chestnut pastes, or even vegan ice cream or vegan whipped cream and strawberries. It is a snack that you and your kids will enjoy making together.