Uirō (Steamed Rice Flour Cake)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Vanilla: Extract Easy

A smooth, springy, lightly sweet block of steamed rice flour, firmer than pudding and chewier than jelly. It is sliced into thin pieces and eaten at room temperature with green tea. Makes 12 slices in about 1 hr 50 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 35 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 1 hr 50 min

Yield 12 slices

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

slices

¾ cup (100 g)non-glutinous rice flour (joshinko)
¾ oz (20 g)potato starch
½ cup (90 g)granulated sugar
1 ⅓ cups (320 ml)water
½ tsp (2 ml)vanilla extract
1 tsp (5 ml)neutral oil, for the pan

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Instructions

Lightly oil a 6-inch (15 cm) square or loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment.
In a bowl, whisk the rice flour, potato starch and sugar. Gradually whisk in the water until completely smooth and lump-free, then stir in the vanilla.
Strain the batter through a fine sieve into the pan and tap to release bubbles.
Cover the pan loosely with foil. Set it in a steamer over boiling water with a cloth under the lid so condensation does not drip.
Steam over medium-high heat for 30 to 35 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean and the top is set and translucent.
Cool the pan on a rack to room temperature, then refrigerate or let rest 1 hour to firm up.
Turn out and slice into 12 pieces with a wet knife.

Tips

Use regular (joshinko) rice flour, not glutinous rice flour, for the springy-but-not-sticky bite.
Wipe the knife between slices.
Do not refrigerate for long; it hardens, so serve at room temperature.
Good with green tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make uirō (steamed rice flour cake)?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes 12 slices.

How should I store uirō (steamed rice flour cake)?

Wrap well and keep at room temperature up to 1 day or refrigerate up to 3 days (bring to room temperature before serving).

Can I make uirō (steamed rice flour cake) ahead?

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

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 0.5 tsp vanilla extract (2 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.

Uirō is a Japanese steamed sweet of rice flour, sugar and water, closely associated with Nagoya. Serve it with green tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

61 Calories / serving

0.1g Fat

14.5g Carbs

0.5g Protein

7.5g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~732 cal · 1g fat · 174g carbs · 6g protein · 90g sugar

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