Saka Manju (Sake-Leavened Steamed Buns)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pastries doughnuts Medium

Pillowy steamed buns filled with sweet red bean paste, leavened with a fermented rice-and-koji starter. This is our home adaptation using amazake as the koji source. Makes 12 buns in about 32 hr 40 min.

Prep 40 min

Cook 960 min

Cooling 16 hr

Total 32 hr 40 min

Yield 12 buns

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

buns

7 tbsp (100 ml)koji amazake (sweet fermented rice drink)
6 tbsp (50 g)all-purpose flour, for the starter
¼ oz (1 g)instant yeast
1 ⅔ cups (200 g)all-purpose flour, for the dough
3 tbsp (40 g)granulated sugar
2 ½ tbsp (40 ml)water
1 pinchfine sea salt
8 ½ oz (240 g)sweet red bean paste, smooth, rolled into 12 balls

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Instructions

Mix the amazake, 50 g flour and yeast in a clean jar, cover loosely and leave at 75 to 80 F (24 to 27 C) for 12 to 16 hours, until bubbly and smelling sweetly of sake.
In a bowl, stir the starter with the remaining flour, sugar, water and salt until a shaggy dough forms, then knead 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Cover and rise 90 minutes in a warm spot until puffy and about 1.5 times its size.
Divide into 12 pieces (about 28 g each). Flatten each, wrap around a red bean ball and pinch to seal.
Set each bun on a square of parchment and rest 30 minutes.
Steam over boiling water on medium-high for 12 minutes without lifting the lid, then rest 2 minutes before opening.
Serve warm.

Tips

Use a little less water if the amazake is thin; the dough should be soft but not sticky.
Wrap the steamer lid in a towel to stop drips from marking the buns.
Steam the buns on parchment squares, not directly on the rack.
Keep face and hands clear of rising steam when opening the steamer.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make saka manju (sake-leavened steamed buns)?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 16 hours of cooking, plus 16 hours to chill. The recipe makes 12 buns.

How should I store saka manju (sake-leavened steamed buns)?

Keep covered at room temperature for 1 day or freeze for 1 month; re-steam 5 minutes.

Can I make saka manju (sake-leavened steamed buns) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

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

Saka manju are koji or sake-starter leavened steamed buns made in parts of eastern Japan, with Uenohara in Yamanashi a well-known home of them. Serve it with sencha green tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

161 Calories / serving

0.4g Fat

35.4g Carbs

3.6g Protein

11.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~1932 cal · 5g fat · 425g carbs · 43g protein · 137g sugar

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