Best Mochi Waffle Recipe (Crispy and Gluten-free)

Mochi waffles, also known as moffles or mochiko waffles, are a lovely Japanese snack. It's a gluten-free Asian dessert that you can eat plain or customised to make a chocolate or ube version.

We experimented with various methods of making the batter to get the right texture we wanted. So, if you're interested in trying out the best mochi waffle recipe, give ours a go. Put on your favourite apron and get ready to make this tasty Japanese snack! 

Jump to:

• What are mochi waffles made of?
• Mochi waffle calories
• Mochi waffle ingredients
• Ube Mochi Waffle
• Chocolate Mochi Waffle
• How to make vegan mochi waffle
• How to make mochi bubble waffle
• Cooking Tips 
• Can I freeze the mochi waffle?
• Mochi Waffle Recipe (Plain, Ube or Chocolate)

What are mochi waffles made of?

This Japanese dessert is made from soft glutinous rice flour compressed in a waffle maker or pan. The final result is soft and chewy; you can infuse it with ube or chocolate! You can even try making a pandan mochi waffle. 

Pandan combines pandan extract and other ingredients such as flour, coconut milk and tapioca starch. This mixture gives the snack a pretty green colour and a sweet fragrance.

Apart from all these flavours, you can also make mochi waffle ice cream just by adding ice cream to the snack. However, check out our mochi ice cream recipe if you want a simple cold treat! 

Mochi waffle calories

This delicious dessert is about 450 calories per serving. If you add toppings such as bananas and ice cream, the calories can quickly add up to become over 800 calories! However, don't let it scare you from enjoying yourself! 

Mochi waffle ingredients

The mochi waffle ingredients you'll need are: 

• Milk
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Sugar
• Mochiko flour
• Baking powder
• Cornstarch 
• Vegetable oil

Please note that you will need help from a snack maker with a waffle iron to make the perfect moffle. However, the required ingredients for this Japanese dessert are pretty easily accessible! 

Milk

You can use non-dairy alternatives such as almond or coconut milk for a gluten-free version. Use buttermilk or add a teaspoon of vinegar to regular milk. This mixture yields a fragrant batter which is chewy and thick. 

Mochiko flour

This flour is made from short-grain glutinous rice and contains no gluten. It's also vegan, so it is the best for making these Japanese waffles.

If you cannot find this specific type of glutinous rice flour in your regular grocery store, try substituting it with almond or buckwheat flour. You might not get the same results, but it will taste close to the original. 

Baking powder

We recommend mixing baking powder with the batter for a lighter and more airy outcome. Adding these ingredients will help the batter rise smoothly, rendering your final product more soft and fluffy.

Cornstarch

The addition of cornstarch makes crispy mochi waffles, so you'll need some cornstarch in your mixture. 

Ube Mochi Waffle

To make this variation, you'll need to add ube powder or ube paste. Ube paste is better if you want to achieve a more intense flavour. Ube is a root vegetable well known for its sweet, nutty flavour and bright purple colouring. 

An ube mochi waffle recipe requires you to mix an additional ½ teaspoon of ube powder or paste with ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract and a tablespoon of milk to the plain moffle recipe.

You can also buy ube mochi waffle and pancake mix available in most retail stores, but do not use regular pancake mix since it will not yield the same results. Similarly, you could also try our ube mochi recipe for a different take on these fantastic flavours! 

Chocolate Mochi Waffle

To make a chocolate mochi version, add real chocolate from melted chocolate chips and not chocolate powder to your basic moffle recipe. Using real chocolate gives the snack a richer cocoa flavour.

To make this snack, use this chocolate mochi waffle recipe: 

Mix ¼ cup (34 grams) of melted chocolate chips with ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and ¾ cup of milk. Then, add the mixture to your mochiko batter in the pan. 

How to make vegan mochi waffle

Vegan mochi waffles just need an alternative to eggs and milk. Since mochiko is made from rice, it is a vegan option.

In order to replace the eggs, add two teaspoons of baking powder and 40 ml of vegetable oil. These two ingredients give the final product a brown, crispy texture without the eggs.

Similarly, instead of regular dairy, use 260 ml of coconut milk. Finally, cook for about 6-7 minutes or longer, depending on how crispy you like. 

How to make mochi bubble waffle

A mochi bubble waffle recipe is similar to a regular recipe, but you'll need a bubble waffle maker. When using one, you'll need to ensure it's on medium heat for three minutes before adding the batter. Additionally, the batter needs to cover the bubbles entirely before you start to cook until a crispy brown colour. 

Cooking Tips 

For a crispy mochi waffle recipe, you'll need to follow these tips: 

Why is it not crispy?

You probably have too much moisture if your mochi waffle turns too tender. You might have added too much milk, especially if you have used buttermilk. As a result, you'll get a heavy batter, and the snack is less crispy.

To solve this, you can avoid buttermilk and use regular milk, giving the snack a lighter texture. Additionally, you can add 5 minutes to your usual cooking time on the griddle. 

Undercooked centre

You've added too much water for those who have an undercooked moffle. You'll need to either leave your snack cooking for a few minutes longer or add more batter to the pan. That way, the middle will not turn out raw and undercooked. 

Overspilling on the waffle machine

To avoid overspilling the batter, you'll want to fill the machine precisely as per the instructions. Then, pour the batter into the middle and let it naturally fill the edges. Many models now have an overspill design, so it should be easy to clean up.

If you bought one without an overspill design and need to clean excess batter in between cooking, place a wet two or three-ply paper towel and close the grid. You also want to use the pan at its hottest. This is so that the pan's temperature is hot enough throughout and cooks the batter without overspills. Also, ensure that you heat the pan before placing your mochi waffle batter in it to cook perfectly. 

Can I freeze the mochi waffle?

Yes, you can freeze these mochi delights for later. The batter can be sealed in an airtight container and kept in the freezer for up to a month. Then, when you are ready, a quick microwave heating will ensure that you can cook up this snack at your own convenience.

If you want to save your already cooked treat for a later date, just pop it in a freezer bag so you can reheat them in a toaster when you want a quick bite. 

We hope you've enjoyed creating this delightful Asian snack! If you want more of these convenient, easy-to-create desserts, follow us on Instagram @honestfoodtalks for regular updates on your favourite Asian snacks and desserts!