Skip to main content

Black Sesame Mochi Cake With Black Sesame Caramel

Image may contain Plant
Photo by Laura Murray, Food styling by Yekaterina Boystova

Attention, lovers of squishy and chewy foods! This moody-glam dessert was inspired by Hawaiian butter mochi—a super simple one-bowl cake made with eggs, coconut milk, evaporated milk, butter, and, last but not least, glutinous sweet rice flour, which creates its characteristic bounce. We traded out the coconut for intense black sesame flavor and color used three ways: in the sugary pan lining, in the cake batter itself, and in the glazy caramel sauce that goes on top.Koda Farms Mochikois our preferred brand of glutinous rice flour, but Bob’s Red Mill sweet white rice flour will also work.

Ingredients

Makes one 8" or 9" cake

¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
¾ cup (3.6 oz.) black sesame seeds
1¼ cups sugar, divided
2 cups (254 g) glutinous sweet rice flour (preferablyKoda Farms Mochiko)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup plus 5 Tbsp. heavy cream
Pinch of cream of tartar
Toasted white sesame seeds (for sprinkling)
  1. Step 1

    Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°. Generously grease an 8" or 9" round pan with butter. Line bottom with parchment and grease parchment with butter.

    Step 2

    Toast black sesame seeds in a dry large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and just starting to crackle, 2–3 minutes. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Pulse, scraping down sides as needed, until seeds are finely chopped but haven't formed a paste. This could take as long as 2–3 minutes in a food processor, or 1–2 minutes in a high-speed blender.

    Step 3

    Scoop out ¼ cup ground sesame seeds; set aside. Add ¾ cup sugar to food processor and pulse until sugar is a uniform gray and no lumps of sesame remain. Transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle some sesame sugar all over sides and bottom of prepared pan (as if you were flouring it). Tap pan so sesame sugar coats sides and bottom in a thin layer; this will form a crust, which will help the cake release. Tap out any excess back into bowl. Add flour, baking powder, and ½ tsp. salt to bowl and whisk to combine.

    Step 4

    Whisk eggs and ¼ cup melted butter in a medium bowl until creamy and emulsified, about 30 seconds. Whisk in milk, vanilla, and ½ cup cream. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients and stir to combine.

    Step 5

    Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean and cake is risen and springy with a firm golden brown crust, 45–55 minutes (the smaller your pan, the longer it will take).

    Step 6

    Run a knife or offset spatula around edge of pan. Let cake cool in pan 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. Invert again onto another wire rack and let cool completely.

    Step 7

    Vigorously whisk reserved ¼ cup ground sesame seeds with remaining 5 Tbsp. cream and ½ tsp. salt in a medium bowl until smooth.

    Step 8

    Bring cream of tartar, remaining ½ cup sugar, and 3 Tbsp. water to a boil in large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is the color of light honey, 3–4 minutes.

    Step 9

    Immediately remove caramel from heat. Vigorously whisk in cream mixture until combined. Immediately pour onto center of cooled cake and spread to the edges. Garnish circumference of cake with white sesame seeds.

    Photo by Laura Murray, Food styling by Yekaterina Boystova
Sign InorSubscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Black Sesame Mochi Cake With Black Sesame Caramel?

Leave a Review

Read More
Coconut and Cardamom Cake
Aromatic and flavorful, this tender butter cake features both coconut and cardamom for a floral, tropical take on classic yellow cake.
Angel Food Cake
The best angel food cake you’ve ever tasted is fewer than 10 ingredients away.
Coconut Tahini Crispy Rice Treats
A play on the familiar crispy rice treats, this sweet and chewy dessert with savory, nutty undertones was inspired by a cup of tahini-tinged hot chocolate.
Fluffy and Fabulous Coconut Cake
This version of the classic Southern coconut cake keeps things simple with a fuss-free white cake enrobed in frosting with a layer of shredded coconut.
Red Curry Pork and Rice Cake Stir-Fry
Spice up your weeknight stir-fry game with tender ground meat, chewy rice cakes, and crunchy bell peppers in a bold red curry sauce.
Jersey Lightning
The Jersey Lightning is so easy and so excellent. Whatever you call it, a manhattan simply made with apple brandy is a wonderful thing.
Irish Soda Bread With Raisins
This easy Irish soda bread recipe gets a little tang from buttermilk and pops of concentrated sweetness from dried fruit.