Dorayaki Recipe: Fluffy Japanese Pancakes with Sweet Anko 2026

Dorayaki are tender, honey-scented Japanese pancakes sandwiched around a generous layer of sweet red bean paste. They are quick to mix, cook in minutes on a hot griddle, and look like little flying saucers — which is exactly why they are so beloved.

This sweet has earned international fame partly through pop culture. The best-known example is the anime and manga series Doraemon, where the cosmic cat has a special weakness for these little cakes. More recently, films like Sweet Bean have put dorayaki at the heart of the story.

A popular legend about their origin says dorayaki was invented when a samurai forgot his gong — called dora in Japanese — at a house. The owner, unsure what it was, used it to cook pancakes, giving rise to the name and shape of the sweet. Curiously, early dorayaki were open, and the closed two-pancake form only became popular at the beginning of the last century.

The batter is a variation of kasutera sponge cake, also very popular in Japan but baked rather than griddled like the treat we are making now. In fact, that is precisely what yaki, the second part of the name, refers to.

Ingredients for Dorayaki

Makes 3 dorayaki

• 2 large eggs
• 50 g sugar
• 20 g honey
• 100 g pastry flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 or 4 tablespoons water
• A little sunflower oil or butter
• 75 g anko (sweet red bean paste), chocolate cream, or your favorite filling

How to Make Dorayaki Step by Step

1. Mix the eggs, sugar and honey

Start the dorayaki recipe by combining 2 large eggs, 50 g sugar and 20 g honey in a bowl.

2. Beat until foamy

Beat the egg, sugar and honey mixture until foamy. This step is important for achieving an airy texture in the dorayaki. You can do it by hand or with electric beaters to make the task easier.

3. Add the sifted flour with salt and baking powder

Now incorporate 100 g pastry flour, previously sifted, along with ½ teaspoon baking powder and 1 pinch salt. To sift, simply pass everything through a sieve or, failing that, a fine stainless steel strainer.

4. Mix gently, rest 15 minutes and adjust with water

Gently mix the dry ingredients with the wet ones to form a uniform batter. Let the batter rest for 15 minutes and, after resting, adjust the texture by adding a little water — about 3 or 4 tablespoons — so the batter has the right consistency, neither too liquid nor too thick.

5. Brown the dorayaki on a griddle until bubbly

Now cook the dorayaki. Heat a griddle or non-stick skillet over medium-low heat and lightly grease it with sunflower oil or butter. Ideally, remove excess fat by wiping the pan with kitchen paper. Pour a couple of tablespoons of batter per pancake and let them cook until the surface fills with bubbles, which indicates it is time to flip them.

6. Flip and cook half a minute more

Once flipped, cook the dorayaki for half a minute more. Try not to overcook them so they do not dry out and keep their fluffy texture.

7. Spread the filling over half of the pancakes

Once the pancakes are ready, take about 75 g anko, chocolate cream or the filling you have chosen and spread it over 3 of the pancakes. It is important to distribute the filling mainly in the center of each dorayaki.

8. Close with the other half and press the edges

Finally, cover the filled pancakes with the other pancakes and press the edges well to seal the filling inside. It is important that the filling stays in place and does not reach the edges so the dorayaki keep their characteristic flying-saucer shape. Once closed, they are ready to enjoy.

Tips for the Best Dorayaki

Use ready-made filling if you like

The filling can be bought ready-made. Sweet red bean paste is easy to find in Asian supermarkets, though if you want to go all out and make everything from scratch, you can prepare homemade anko.

Keep the heat medium-low

Cooking over medium-low heat gives the pancakes time to rise and turn golden without burning. Wiping away excess oil also helps them brown evenly and keeps the surface smooth.

Rest the batter for a fluffy texture

Letting the batter rest for 15 minutes hydrates the flour and gives a more uniform result. Adjust the consistency with water afterward so it is neither too runny nor too thick.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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