Gyūhi Soft Rice Cake

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Vanilla: Extract Easy

A silky, chewy rice cake dough made with rice flour, sugar and water, cooked in the microwave, dusted with starch and cut into squares. Makes 20 pieces in about 18 minutes.

Prep 10 min

Cook 8 min

Total 18 min

Yield 20 pieces

Diet Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pieces

¾ cup (100 g)glutinous rice flour (shiratamako or mochiko)
6 tbsp (80 g)granulated sugar
¾ cup (200 ml)water
½ tsp (3 ml)vanilla extract
⅓ cup (40 g)potato starch or cornstarch, for dusting

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Instructions

Whisk the rice flour, sugar and water in a large microwave-safe bowl until completely smooth.
Cover loosely and microwave on high 2 minutes. Stir well with a wet spatula.
Cover and microwave 1 minute more, stir, and repeat once more for a total of 4 minutes, until the dough is translucent and no white spots remain.
Stir in the vanilla.
Dust a tray generously with starch. Scrape the hot dough onto it, dust the top, and let it cool 10 minutes.
With a starch-dusted knife or scissors, cut into 20 squares and toss each in starch.

Tips

Use a wet spatula to prevent sticking.
Do not add too much starch; brush off the excess before serving.
Gyūhi sets firm in the refrigerator, so keep it at room temperature.
Good with green tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make gyūhi soft rice cake?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 8 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 20 pieces.

How should I store gyūhi soft rice cake?

Eat within 1 day at room temperature; it hardens when chilled.

Can I make gyūhi soft rice cake ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 0.5 tsp vanilla extract (3 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Serve it with green tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 20 servings this recipe makes.

34 Calories / serving

0.1g Fat

8.0g Carbs

0.3g Protein

4.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (20 servings): ~680 cal · 2g fat · 160g carbs · 6g protein · 80g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.