These dorayaki are a super delicious Japanese treat! They are two pancakes with red bean filling sandwiched in between. The fluffy pancakes go perfectly with the sweet, creamy red bean paste! Plus, these are made with no refined sugar and whole grains!
What are Dorayaki?
Dorayaki are a Japanese street food and is often eaten as dessert! They are made with two fluffy pancakes that almost taste like castella. Also, they have a sweet red bean filling in the middle of the two pancakes. If you have never tried these before, now's the time!
The Red Bean Paste
There are actually two types of red bean paste: "chunky" red bean paste and smooth red bean paste! The chunky kind is made with just red beans and sugar, whereas the smooth one has a ton of oil added to make if super smooth and silky. In these dorayaki, I am using the chunky red bean paste!
This red bean paste is made with only two ingredients: red beans and dates. The type of red bean I use are red adzuki beans, which are the most traditional type of bean to use for red bean paste. You could pretty much use any bean, and it will still turn out great. The dates sweeten up the bean and also adds a ton of fiber and nutrients, making it a far better sweetener than sugar!
The Pancakes
The pancakes for this dorayaki are made mostly of egg, which gives them that castella cake taste! There is unfortunately no substitute for the eggs since the pancakes are made mostly of them!
We will be using white whole wheat flour in these pancakes. White whole wheat flour is a lot lighter than normal whole wheat flour, thus producing a much lighter, fluffier pancake! Whole wheat pastry flour or regular all purpose flour can be used instead. Just don't use whole wheat flour or any gluten free flours such as oat flour since this recipe may be very delicate!
When cooking the pancakes, be sure to use a nonstick pan and grease it very well before cooking the pancakes and in between each "batch" of pancakes being cooked. This batter sticks very easily! Also, be sure to keep the heat on low. Too high heat will not allow for that smooth, shiny top! Many will turn out bad, but don't worry- they still taste great and you can put the ugly ones on the bottom!
Storage
These dorayaki can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. The red bean paste can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
Watch this video to learn How to make Healthy Dorayaki!
Healthy Dorayaki
Prep Time: 1 Hour Cook Time: 10 Min
Total Time: 1 Hour 10 Min
Ingredients
Red Bean Paste:
113 Grams (2/3 cup) red (adzuki) beans
4 cups water
6 large dates*
Dorayaki:
3 Eggs (150 grams)
75 Grams (6 Tbsp) Granulated Sweetener
23 Grams (Heaping Tbsp) Honey
90 Grams (3/4 Cup) White Whole Wheat Flour**
¾ Tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2 tbsp water
Instructions
To make the red bean paste, soak the red beans overnight. Pour it into a pot along with water and dates. Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn the heat down to medium low and bring to a simmer. Cook until the beans are softened, which may take up to an hour. Add more water as needed. Reduce the liquid until it becomes a paste, smashing the beans and the dates.
For the Dorayaki, add the eggs, granulated sweetener, and honey to a bowl. Whisk vigorously so that the sweetener almost dissolves into the eggs. Sift in flour and baking powder. Mix until completely smooth. The batter should be runny.
Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, add in the water and stir until smooth.
Place a tiny bit of oil on a nonstick pan, then use a paper towel to wipe it off. Heat the pan over medium heat and when it is hot, turn it back down to low and add the batter 1 tbsp at a time. Cook for 2 minutes or until bubbly, and flip over and cook 1 minute.
Place a heaping spoonful of red bean paste onto a pancake and smooth it out. Place another pancake on top and seal it tight. These are best eaten a day later for all the flavors to merge. Enjoy!
Notes
*Instead of dates, you can use 100 grams (1/2 Cup) granulated sweetener of choice or 124 grams (1/3 cup) honey/maple syrup. Stir this in AFTER cooking the beans.
** You can also use whole wheat pastry flour or all purpose flour.
Nutrition Info
Serving Size: 1 dorayaki
Calories: 189 kcal
Fats: 2.5 g
Carbohydrates: 49.4 g
Sugars: 15.3 g
Protein: 7.3 g
Sodium: 94 mg
Fiber: 5 g