What Is Mochi Ice Cream?
Mochi ice cream is a small ball of ice cream wrapped in a thin layer of mochi, a soft, chewy dough made from glutinous (sweet) rice flour. You eat it in two or three bites, usually with your fingers, and the fun is the contrast: cold, creamy ice cream inside a soft, stretchy shell.
Where it comes from
Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice cake. Wrapping it around ice cream became popular in Japan and in Japanese-American communities in the 20th century, and mochi ice cream is now sold in grocery freezers, Asian markets, sushi restaurants and many dessert shops.
How it is made
Sweet rice flour, sugar and water are cooked into a smooth dough, dusted with starch so it does not stick, rolled thin and wrapped around pre-scooped frozen balls of ice cream. The finished pieces are frozen again.
Popular flavors
Green tea (matcha), strawberry, mango, red bean, black sesame, vanilla, chocolate, and seasonal flavors like pumpkin or peppermint. Some shops fill mochi with gelato or dairy-free frozen dessert.
How to eat and store it
- Let it sit 2 to 5 minutes after taking it out of the freezer. Straight from the freezer the shell can be hard; slightly softened it turns chewy.
- Keep it frozen in a sealed container. Mochi dries out and gets tough if left open in the freezer.
- Eat in small bites. The chewy texture is easy to underestimate, especially for young children and older adults.
Is mochi gluten-free?
Glutinous rice does not contain gluten; the name refers to its sticky texture. The wrapper is usually gluten-free, but the ice cream inside, the dusting starch or the factory may not be. Check the label if you need to avoid gluten. See is ice cream gluten-free.
Mochi vs. other frozen desserts
Mochi is closer to a filled confection than a scoop. For other unusual formats, see what is rolled ice cream and types of frozen desserts.
Find an ice cream shop near you or browse ice cream styles.