12+ Mochi Flavors & Easy Recipes for Mochi Ice Cream and More

One of my favorite desserts to make has to be mochi. Originating from Japan, mochi is made from sweet glutinous rice flour and has a chewy, bouncy texture you seldom find in Western desserts. Unlike what many people think, however, making mochi is actually quite easy and almost foolproof.

Here are 12+ different homemade mochi recipes and mochi flavors that you can make from scratch. Each recipe only requires 5 ingredients or less, takes only minutes to make. In fact, the first 10 are all made in the microwave!

Keep reading to find out which mochi flavor is your favorite!

1. Strawberry Mochi

Strawberry has to be one of my favorite mochi flavors. The addition of fresh strawberries brings with it all the best sweet and tart flavors. By blending the strawberries and mixing the puree into the dough, each bite of mochi is filled with strawberry goodness! You can fill these strawberry mochi bites with sweetened white or red bean paste for an extra kick of natural sweetness. 

Not only is this cute treat filled with strawberry flavor, but it’s also incredibly easy and only takes 3 ingredients to make! No need for a billion ingredients and hard work to make this spectacular strawberry mochi.

2. Applesauce Mochi

Yes, you read that correctly. Applesauce mochi! I love using applesauce in my recipes to bring a natural sweetness to my desserts. This pantry staple cuts down the sugar needed for most mochi recipes, so you can enjoy mochi without all the added sugar. Applesauce also helps seal in the mochi’s moisture, giving it a softer texture. 

Applesauce mochi has a subtle, lovely flavor that isn’t overwhelmingly sweet. If you want to switch up this recipe a little, sprinkle in some cinnamon or cardamom powder!

3. Sweet Potato

The only thing that can make mochi even more delicious is ice cream! This healthy sweet potato mochi ice cream is the perfect treat during those hot summer days. Mochi is delicious, but the dough doesn’t have many health benefits. By adding in some mashed sweet potatoes, you add in a ton of fiber and nutrients. 

Sweet potato and ice cream may sound like a strange combination. But, the creaminess of the ice cream mellows out the natural sweet flavors from the sweet potato. Give it a try and see just how well they complement each other.

4. Banana Chocolate

Looking for a healthy mochi ice cream recipe that is perfect for kids? Look no further! This chocolate and banana flavor mochi ice cream is low in sugar, but still sweet enough to satisfy any child’s sweet tooth. The ripe bananas in this recipe provide a natural sweetness to the mochi, so you don’t have to worry about your kids eating too much sugar. All this is made even better by adding chocolate! Chocolate and banana are a match made in heaven.

Make sure to let the mochi ice cream defrost a bit to get the perfect soft and chewy texture.

5. Tofu

Here’s a mochi flavor you don’t hear about often. Tofu mochi. Most mochi recipes add in some type of fruit puree, but have you ever tried one with tofu? Tofu is a fantastic replacement for the water in the mochi recipe. Mochi is awesome, but is high in refined carbs. Adding in tofu increases the protein and fiber content without ruining the flavor! 

With the sweetened bean paste filling, you won’t miss out on that classic mochi flavor. So, grab some silken tofu, and try this healthy mochi recipe. You’ll see just how delicious tofu mochi is!

6. Pumpkin

Some of the mochi recipes on this list use applesauce instead of sugar, and this pumpkin mochi recipe is similar. Instead of using applesauce or sugar, all the sweetness comes from the pumpkin puree. Pumpkin is full of vitamins, so you can eat your mochi knowing there are nutritional benefits in each bite. 

To up the “fall” vibes of the pumpkin mochi, add in some cinnamon or nutmeg to up the flavor and turn it into a pumpkin spice mochi recipe. Mochi is a versatile ingredient, so spice it up how you like.

7. Black Sesame

Black sesame is an underrated dessert ingredient in my opinion. It has a nutty, slightly savory flavor, and gives a gorgeous charcoal color to desserts. In only 10 minutes you can make this unique vegan and gluten-free mochi ice cream. 

The subtle savory flavor notes of the black sesame blend beautifully with the sweet ice cream. It is the perfect mochi to cool down during the summer. Try something a bit outside of the norm, and make this incredible black sesame mochi ice cream recipe!

8. Green Tea / Matcha (with a Twist)

Matcha is a classic mochi flavor, and is instantly recognizable with its bright green color. Its earthy taste mellows out the sweet ice cream, making it a great option for those who love treats that aren’t too sweet. 

By using unsweetened applesauce, the matcha mochi has way less sugar than the typical matcha mochi. Just because you’re cutting down on sugar, doesn’t mean you have to give up dessert! If you want this matcha mochi ice cream to be vegan, switch out the ice cream for a dairy free version. 

9. Purple Sweet Potato Mochi

This bright purple sweet potato mochi recipe is vegan, gluten-free and easy to make. What can be better than that? Oh yeah, it’s healthy too! Purple sweet potato is high in potassium and Vitamin C, so you get a little health boost with each bite. The natural sweetness from the sweet potato cuts out the need for additional sugars, so you can have a sweet treat without all the guilt. That’s why it’s one of my favorite mochi flavors.

The almond milk makes the mochi dough taste creamier, but feel free to switch it out with water. It will still be a perfect, subtly sweet mochi.

10. Almond Milk

Mochi is a delicious sweet treat that everyone should be able to enjoy! That is why I created this vegan almond milk mochi. By using sweetened vanilla almond milk, you get a sweet and flavorful mochi. I like to eat this almond milk mochi as is, but there are many ways to change it up to fit your tastes. 

Add in some different flavors like espresso powder, cocoa, or cinnamon. The possibilities are endless, so experiment and see what vegan almond milk creations you can make.

11. Blueberry Mochi Ice Cream

Here’s the most gorgeous blueberry mochi ice cream recipe that’s bursting with our favorite summer flavor and made using fresh ripe blueberries and filled with vegan ice cream. The outer mochi only takes about 10 minutes to make, since it’s prepped in the microwave. Once that’s done all you need is ice cream or frozen yogurt filling of choice. It’s an instant family favorite.

12. Brown Rice Mochi

If you were wondering…

Here’s the step by step guide to making brown rice mochi at home (**Unlike the previous 10 mochi recipes which are prepared in the microwave, you’ll need a mochi maker for this recipe)

13. Wild Black Rice Mochi

It’s mochi, but with a wild black twist! Made with glutinous wild black rice, this is one mochi that is chock full of antioxidants and good-for-you nutrients, slightly nutty than your average white mochi and gorgeously purple.

Just like the brown rice mochi, you’ll need a mochi maker for this one.

14. Mugwort Mochi

Mugwort is a popular herb used in Korean cooking and commonly added to mochi to add an earthy, herbaceous sweet note. Here’s how you can make mugwort mochi (쑥 모찌) using a mochi maker at home, below

And the list goes on~~

Keep visiting to see more mochi flavor ideas on allpurposeveggies

You can see all my mochi recipes here

Feel free to also check out my post on 10+ Mochi Filling Ideas, below!