Imagawayaki (Japanese Red Bean Griddle Cakes)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Breakfast Pancakes waffles french toast Medium

Imagawayaki (Japanese Red Bean Griddle Cakes)

Imagawayaki are thick, soft, honey-scented round pancakes cooked in a mold and filled with sweet red bean paste. The outside is lightly crisp and the inside plush. Makes 8 cakes in about 1 hr 5 min.

Prep 25 min

Cook 25 min

Cooling 15 min

Total 1 hr 5 min

Servings 8

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2 (100 g)eggs
2 tbsp (25 g)granulated sugar
2 tbsp (40 g)honey
1 ¼ cups (300 ml)whole milk
2 cups (250 g)all-purpose flour, sifted
2 tsp (8 g)baking powder
14 oz (400 g)sweet red bean paste (anko), rolled into 8 balls
1 tbsp (15 ml)neutral oil, for greasing

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Instructions

Whisk the eggs and sugar, then add the honey and milk and whisk until smooth.
Sift in the flour and baking powder and mix until just combined. Rest the batter at least 15 minutes.
Divide the bean paste into 8 equal balls and flatten each into a disc slightly smaller than the cake mold.
Heat an imagawayaki pan, or a pan with 3-inch (7.5 cm) greased ring molds, over low heat to about 350 F (175 C). Brush the wells lightly with oil and wipe out the excess.
Fill each well halfway with batter and cook 1 to 2 minutes until the edges set and bubbles appear.
Place a bean disc in the center of each, then cover with a bit more batter so the filling is sealed.
Cook about 2 minutes, flip, and cook another 2 to 3 minutes until golden on both sides and the batter is set through.
Cool slightly on a rack; serve warm.

Tips

Keep the heat low and steady so the outsides brown without scorching before the batter cooks.
Rest the batter for a tender, even crumb.
Custard cream or sweet potato paste both work in place of red bean.
Good with hot green tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make imagawayaki (japanese red bean griddle cakes)?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 15 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 8 cakes (8 servings).

How should I store imagawayaki (japanese red bean griddle cakes)?

Eat the same day. Refrigerate leftovers up to 2 days and reheat 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave or 5 minutes in a low oven.

Can I make imagawayaki (japanese red bean griddle cakes) ahead?

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

A thick, round griddle cake filled with sweet red bean paste, sold as a street and festival sweet in Japan. Serve it with hot green tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

304 Calories / serving

3.1g Fat

60.4g Carbs

8.8g Protein

29.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2432 cal · 25g fat · 483g carbs · 70g protein · 234g sugar

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