Halloween Mochi Recipes

EASY MOCHI

Steps:

• Wrap red bean paste in aluminum foil and place in the freezer for at least 3 hours. Mix sweet rice flour and green tea powder thoroughly in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl. Stir in water, then sugar. Mix until smooth. Cover bowl with plastic wrap.
• Cook the rice flour mixture in the microwave for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Meanwhile, remove red bean paste from the freezer and divide paste into 8 equal balls. Set aside. Stir rice flour mixture and heat for another 15 to 30 seconds.
• Dust work surface with cornstarch. While the mochi is still hot from the microwave, begin rolling balls the size of about 2 tablespoons. Flatten the mochi ball and place 1 frozen red bean paste ball in the center. Pinch the mochi over the red bean paste until the paste is completely covered. Sprinkle with additional cornstarch and place mochi seam side down in a paper muffin liner to prevent sticking. Repeat until all the mochi and red bean paste is used.

HALLOWEEN MOCHI

Steps:

• Mix Mochiko, orange juice and sugar in a bowl just until combined.
• Lightly spray 8x8" pan with cooking spray.
• Pour batter into pan and cover with plastic wrap.
• Microwave on high for 6 minutes; if microwave does not rotate, turn pan after 3 minutes.
• Carefully remove plastic wrap; Mochi is done when center is firm.
• Let cool completely. (I suggest even putting it into the fridge for 10 minutes).
• Divide mochi into 20 (or so) pieces; wrap a kiss in the mochi (wet hands between making each treat so that the mochi doesn't stick to fingers).
• Roll mochi in cocoa (will only last 2-3 days).

JAPANESE PEANUT BUTTER DELIGHT (MOCHI)

Steps:

• Preheat oven: 350 degrees.
• Grease a 9×13 inch pyrex with butter. Get a large mixing bowl and stir together the dry ingredients.
• In a blender, add the milk and vanilla. Stir in the peanut butter and blend until you get peanut butter milk.
• Add the peanut butter milk to the dry mixture and mix thoroughly. Pour into the pan. Cover tightly with foil. Place the pan in the center of the over and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and cool for several hours.
• When cool, use a plastic knife to cut the peanut butter mochi. Roll each piece around in some potato starch to keep from sticking to each other.

MOCHI

Steps:

• In a bowl (I use a souffle-size bowl, around 2 cups) stir together the rice flour and sugar.
• While mixing with a spoon or small stiff spatula, pour in the boiling water.
• Stir in clockwise direction until the lumps disappear, and the batter is slightly elasticky, about 2 minutes (note: it will become difficult to stir, but try your best anyway!).
• Cover the container with plastic wrap, and microwave on HIGH for 2-4 minutes, depending on your microwave.
• Meanwhile, grease a ziploc bag well.
• Invert the bag (oil side out), and remove the mochi from the bowl into the bag (you can let it cool a bit before you do this, but the more you cool it, the harder the bowl will become to clean =/). Don't burn yourself!
• While the mochi is still warm, start kneading. To knead: Stretch and flatten the dough inside the bag with the palm of your hand, then pick up the bag at one corner, shake it so that it rolls into a ball again, then repeat. You can also knead it by placing the mochi into a greased bowl, and knead it as you would a normal dough. Knead for about 7~10 minutes, or to the consistency (chewiness) you want.
• To prepare the coating: Process the peanuts in a blender or food processor, and spread the powder out in a plate. Do not add sugar to the coating! Because the sugar will dissolve with the moisture in the mochi, making it super sticky.
• Pull off a teaspoonful-sized mochi ball with your hand, and coat in peanut powder. Alternatively, if you prepared it inside a bag, cut off a 1/4" corner, and squeeze from the bag. Separate the balls with greased scissors, or with chopsticks =P.
• Enjoy!
• Variations: Instead of using a coating, you could also wrap sweet red bean paste inside the mochi for daifukus =).

SIMPLE MOCHI

Steps:

• Mix mochiko and sugar in a bowl.
• Add water and mix thoroughly. (will be watery).
• Put in a microwaveable dish. Cover with plastic wrap.
• Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Take off plastic wrap. Cool for a few minutes, if you want. Cut. Serve.
• Opt. Dust with katakuriko or kinako to prevent mochi from sticking everywhere. If you don't have these, you can just put the mochi on cellophane.
• Variations for Filling: You can add red bean paste, ice cream, chocolate, etc. in the middle if you want BEFORE you dust. add a teaspoon of filling and pinch edges closed.
• Variations for Dough: Add a few drops of food coloring into batter for color variation. A few drops of flavoring (strawberry, grape, orange, blueberry, etc.) may also be added. >> For chocolate flavor, stir about 1/4 cup melted chocolate chips into mochi batter before cooking.