Here’s my quick, easy Orange Mochi that uses sweet rice flour and fresh mandarins. Pop the mochiko batter in the microwave to make the perfect mochi, and wrap the layer around a mandarin orange. Yes, it’s that easy to make. You can create this delicious Japanese dessert with just five easy-to-find ingredients and a few minutes of your time! It’s quick, simple, and sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Experience the sunny burst of flavor and playful chewiness with this unique mochi recipe. Brighten your day with this delightful treat, perfect for sharing joy with friends and family or simply treating yourself to a sweet, citrusy delight.
I come from a long line of mochi enthusiasts in our family! As a kid, homemade mochi was a big hit – we couldn’t get enough of this sweet rice treat.
When my husband tried mochi for the first time while we were dating, he wasn’t too keen on its texture. But over the years, it’s grown on him. Winning him over to the mochi side has been quite the journey!
Initially, I was all set to whip up some orange mochi with a layer of sweet lima bean paste. But my husband convinced me otherwise. And you know what? He had a point – the lima bean paste didn’t add much to the orange mochi. Plus, considering all the hard work that goes into making it, I was more than happy to skip that step.
Let me tackle a few questions you might have about this recipe!
What is Orange Mochi?
Orange mochi is a delightful fusion of the chewy texture of mochi with the refreshing citrus flavor of oranges. I’m wrapping a whole mandarin in sweet mochi dough in this recipe. However, you can make your orange mochi in two ways. If you prefer, you can incorporate orange juice into your mochi instead of water.
What are the differences between Mochi and Daifuku?
Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice pounded into a thick, chewy paste. It is commonly used in Japanese cuisine for various sweets and dishes. Its sweetness comes solely from glutinous rice’s natural sugars and starch. However, the mochi dough is frequently infused with multiple ingredients, some of which alter its flavor, sweetness, and color.
Daifuku is a traditional Japanese sweet consisting of a small, round, glutinous rice cake stuffed with sweet filling, typically sweetened red bean paste known as “anko.” It can also be filled with other ingredients such as fruit, custard, or chocolate. To prevent sticking, Daifuku mochi is often dusted with cornstarch or kinako (roasted soybean flour). It’s a popular treat enjoyed during special occasions and celebrations in Japan.
Essentially, daifuku is a type of mochi, but not all mochi qualifies as daifuku!
How to Make Orange Mochi
For this recipe, the mochi has no added orange flavoring. I made them with water and another batch with orange juice (without pulp). The one with orange juice flavors the mochi dough and makes it a bit more citrusy, tangy, and less sweet.
So, you can make whatever version you prefer.
Ingredients:
- Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour: This flour, made explicitly from sweet rice, creates the chewy texture characteristic of mochi.
- Sugar: Sweetens the mochi dough, balancing the citrus flavor.
- Orange Juice: Infuses the mochi with a tangy orange flavor, adding brightness to the treat.
- Orange Food Dye: Enhances the vibrant orange color of the mochi, making it visually appealing.
- Drops of Vinegar: Vinegar to mochi dough helps balance the sweetness by adding a subtle tanginess. It also aids in tenderizing the dough and contributes to its elasticity, resulting in a smoother and more manageable texture.
- Mandarin or Clementine Oranges: Provides the juicy, citrusy filling for the mochi, adding freshness.
- Cornstarch: Prevents the mochi from sticking and ensures a smooth texture when handling and serving.
Directions for Orange Mochi
Step 1 – Prep Your Counter and Mandarin Oranges
Clean your counter and sprinkle it with Mochiko flour or cornstarch.
Also, sprinkle a container or plate with Mochiko flour or cornstarch.
Wash and peel oranges. Make sure they are thoroughly dry before using them for mochi.
Step 2 – Measure and Mix Sugar and Flour
Measure out the Mochiko flour and sugar and mix in a medium-sized bowl.
Step 3 – Add Orange Juice (or Water) Vinegar, and Food Coloring
Add orange juice and a drop of vinegar, which helps keep the mochi pliable after it’s cooked. Finally, add the food dye to a spoon and add it to the mochi dough. I place it in a spoon first to control the color’s intensity.
Add the water, vinegar, and food coloring to the rice flour.
Step 4 – Microwave the Mochi
Cover the bowl with a microwaveable plate or wrap.
Place the mochi mixture in the microwave and cook on a high setting for a minute. Not all microwaves have the same strength, so your cooking time might be less or more. Please adjust accordingly. I have a powerful microwave.
Take out of the oven and stir. Cover again and cook another minute.
Repeat this until you cook it for about 2-4 minutes.
You’ll notice that the mochi will start to bake on the sides of the bowl. As you continue, the whole mixture will bake. If, after 2 minutes, everything is cooked except the middle, that’s ok. It’s done.
If the dough falls apart when you place it on your counter, it may not be fully cooked. Try cooking it for an additional 30 seconds to see if it becomes more solid and thoroughly cooked.
Step 5 – Molding Mochi
Form dough into a small pancake about 5 inches or wider.
Place one orange in the middle of your round pancake and place the orange upside down. Next, bring up the sides of the mochi and pinch them in the middle. Make sure that all edges get pinched together so there are no holes.
If there’s excess mochi dough on the bottom, simply pinch it off. Then, dust the cut mochi with mochiko flour to prevent stickiness.
Roll mochi in a ball in your hand. Place seams side down on a plate sprinkled with Mochiko flour or cornstarch.
Orange Mochi Recipe
Ingredients
Mandarin Oranges
- 5 mandarin or clementine oranges Peel and horoughly dry
Mochi
- ¾ cup Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour I use the brand, Koda Farms Mochiko Flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup orange juice No pulp
- 2 drops white vinegar It keeps the mochi pliable
- drops orange food coloring
- cornstarch or mochiko flour This is used to dust the surface and your hands while forming the mochi
Instructions
Oranges
- Peel oranges and make sure the mandarins are dry thoroughly before placing them in the mochi.
Prep Counter
- Clean your counter and sprinkle it with Mochiko flour or cornstarch. Also, sprinkle a container or plate with Mochiko flour or cornstarch.
Mochi
- Measure out the Mochiko flour and sugar and mix in a medium size bowl.
- Add the orange juice, vinegar, and food coloring to the rice flour. Mix thoroughly with a whisk.
- Cover the bowl with a microwaveable plate or wrap.
- Place the mochi mixture in the microwave and cook on a high setting for a minute. Not all microwaves have the same strength, so your cook time might be less or more. Please adjust accordingly. I have a powerful microwave.
- After a minute of cooking, take it out of the oven and stir. Cover again and cook another minute.Repeat this until you cook it for about 2-4 minutes, and make sure to stir the mochi each time.
Forming Mochi
- On your prepped countertop, form dough into a small pancake about 5 inches or more in diameter. Be careful; the dough is super hot. Also, the mochi will be sticky, so dust your hands and the mochi with cornstarch or mochiko flour.
- Place one mandarin orange in the middle of your round pancake, and place the orange upside down. Next, bring up the sides of the mochi and pinch the dough together. Make sure that all edges get pinched together so there are no holes.If there's excess mochi dough on the bottom, simply pinch it off. Then, dust the cut mochi with mochiko flour to prevent stickiness.
- Roll mochi in a ball in your hand. Place the seam side down on a plate sprinkled with Mochiko flour or cornstarch.
Nutrition
Important Notes About Making Mochi and More
Powdered Sugar
I noticed on a few websites people used powdered sugar instead of cornstarch to keep their mochi from sticking. Well, the thing about any sugars is they break down and melt. So, if you add it to your mochi, you are left with wet mochi! So, please use cornstarch, mochiko, or even potato flour to keep your mochi from sticking.
Making Mochi in The Microwave
Now that I’m making my mochi in the microwave, it is much easier to handle and form the balls. But watch the dough while cooking since each microwave setting can vary.
Where Do I Find Mochiko Flour
If you don’t have a place to buy Mochiko flour, here is the link to buy it online.
h
Sugar Amount
You might think there is a lot of sugar in the mochi. But I believe you need it to form the dough. We have always made it where the sugar is almost equal to the amount of sweet rice flour.
Do I Want the Mandarins Small?
Opt for the smallest Mandarins or Clementines you can find, as smaller ones work best. Keep in mind that once you wrap them in mochi dough, they will expand, so starting with smaller oranges is ideal.
How Do You Store Mochi?
I found I can leave it out in a Tupperware container for about two days, but then it needs to be wrapped in plastic and placed in the refrigerator. It is a dessert you’ll want to eat in the first couple of days. So, the fresher mochi, the better it tastes. The mochi will get hard after a couple of days in the refrigerator. So, my brothers will pop them in the microwave for a couple of seconds to soften the mochi.
Is Mochi Dangerous to Eat?
When I was a little girl, I would try to swallow a big bite of sticky mochi, and of course, I choked. So, take small bites since they can be sticky down your throat. I guess every year, Japan has emergency cases of choking on mochi.
I
More Mochi Recipes
I
I found orange mochi down in San Jose, and that’s where I first tried this delightful treat! It has such a unique taste that’s really worth experiencing. I hope you get the chance to make it yourself and enjoy it as much as I did!
Cheers,
Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com
- Flower Cookies Recipe - May 16, 2025
- Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe - May 15, 2025
- My Favorite Easy Dinner Ideas - May 10, 2025
Leave a Reply