Sakura Rice Cakes (桜餅)

Sakura Mochi (桜餅) is a type of wagashi (Japanese confectionery) made of sweet pink mochi (sweet rice or sometimes called glutinous rice). It’s usually filled with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a salty pickled cherry leaf.

Sakura means cherry blossoms in Japanese and both flower and leaves are used in Japanese cooking, especially with making sweets. Sakura mochi is usually eaten on Girl’s Day (known as Hinamatsuri) on March 3rd and enjoyed throughout the spring season in Japan.

Ingredients:

• Glutinous rice.
• Water.
• Red food.
• Granulated sugar.
• Red bean paste.
• Sakura leaves.