What are the 10 most original Japanese Cookies? (2023 edition)
Let’s be real, everyone loves cookies. I mean, they are the perfect type of snacks for munching on when you are bored. Have you been craving something extra sweet and out of the ordinary? Well, Japanese cookies definitely have what you are looking for. The Japanese are famous for the astounding miracles they can perform to the eyes, nose and tongue with their very delicious desserts, dishes, and beverages. From the unique flavors and tastes to the creative designs, cookies from Japan leave you with only one thought: “I need more”. In this article, you will learn about the best and most original Japanese cookies you don't want to miss out on.
- Hato Sabure
- Yoku Moku Cigare
- Meiji Kinoko No Yama
- Shiroi Koibito
- Meiji Hello Panda Cookies
- Manju cookies
- Mochi Cookies
- Matcha Green Tea Cookies
- Kinako Sugar Cookies
- Mochi Matcha Chocolate Chips Cookie
WHAT MAKES JAPANESE COOKIES SPECIAL?
Japanese cookies are known far and wide for their special flavors and ingredients. Also, they are known for the special designs they come with. Add in fun textures and flavor, and it’s easy to understand why people come back for more. Some ingredients used in Japanese cookies have been part and parcel of Japanese cuisine for centuries. Some of these flavors, which include nutty, sweet, and salty, can be mixed together to create a unique taste.
Also, cookies can be seasonal. For every festive period, there would be sure to be Japanese cookies that go with them and can be enjoyed with friends and families. Let's explore some of the best cookies the Land of the Rising Sun has to offer without further ado. Let your buds tingle in anticipation!
10 BEST JAPANESE COOKIES IN 2022
Hato Sabure
This is one of the oldest Japanese cookies; it has been around since the 1890s. At that time, butter was rare in Japan so it became really popular because it is a butter cookie. It has a soft crispy texture and has a strong butter flavor. Another unique thing about Hato Sabure is the dove shape. The name reminded the creator of a flying dove, that is why he made the cookies into that shape. Today, it still retains the same shape.
Yoku Moku Cigare
This is a perfect blend of crispy and soft. It is a cigar-shaped butter cookie with a hint of vanilla. Apart from the sweet taste and the crispy texture, they are fun to munch on.
Meiji Kinoko No Yama
Talk about cute and tasty rolled into one. Kinoko no Yama cookie is a chocolate-covered mushroom-shaped cookie. It has a biscuit stem and a chocolate head. Even though chocolate is the classic flavor, they are also available in strawberry, cookies and cream, caramel, matcha, and many other flavors. We have the Meiji group- a leading Japanese company focusing on food and healthcare- to thank for this amazing snack.
Shiroi Koibito
Shiroi Koibito is translated to "white lover." It is a very popular Japanese snack that has been around for over forty years. White or dark chocolate squares are sandwiched in between langue de chat biscuits. This cookie has a buttery texture that just melts in your mouth. The thickness of the chocolate makes one itching for more after a few bites; the taste is simply unique.
Meiji Hello Panda Cookies
These cookies are super popular with kids because of the adorable panda character stamped on each cookie. It was first produced in Japan in the 1970s and it is still sold in convenience stores today even though it is not as popular. These bite-sized cookies have a soft shortbread outer layer and are filled with different flavors on the inside. The filling can be caramel, strawberry, vanilla, matcha, and many more flavors.
Manju cookies
A lot of Japanese traditional snacks like dorayaki and yokan feature anko as a key ingredient. Of course, there had to be a delicious traditional Japanese cookie filled with sweet red azuki bean paste too. A typical Manju cookie is folded over the red bean paste, and the edges are pinched shut, sealing in the filling. A bite into it will give you a generous helping of the sweet bean paste. It is definitely a treat to try out if you love dorayaki.
Mochi Cookies
Mochi is a sweet Japanese rice cake with a stretchy, chewy, and soft texture. It is like chewing gum that you can actually swallow a lot of. While it is a delicacy widely known in Japanese cuisine on its own, iImagine it being stuffed into a sweet, soft cookie. Well, someone did it. Disclaimer: This cookie is irresistible, and a first trial will have you longing for more! When you bite into that outer crusty exterior, you are left with the stretchy mochi.
Matcha Green Tea Cookies
A first-timer seeing matcha green tea and cookies used together in the same line of words is bound to get confused. However, we all know that green tea is popular in Japan. There is green-tea flavored everything, so it makes complete sense to have green tea cookies as well. You do not want to miss matcha green tea cookies when exploring Japanese cookies because they are soft and chewy cookies. They have this statement green color that makes them distinguishable from normal cookies, and they pretty much taste like green tea.
Kinako Sugar Cookies
Kinako is a popular Japanese powder that is basically just roasted soybean flour. It kind of has that peanut taste and is popular for its presence in many Japanese pastries. Its presence in cookies is not an exception. Kinako cookies are made the same way regular cookies are made except that you add a generous amount of kinako powder in the mixture. The resulting taste is nutty, soft and rich; it’s a combination made in heaven.
Mochi Matcha Chocolate Chips Cookie
Why have one type of cookie when in Miley Cyrus’ words, you can have “the best of both worlds”. As the name implies, this cookie is filled with mochi and the crust is made from matcha cookies with that extra helping of chocolate. It is so good because you are going to get a lot of flavors from just one bite. The chocolate balances out the slight bitterness of green tea and the chewy mochi on the inside allows you to chew more and relish the taste before swallowing.
These cookies, both traditional and western cookies, can be made at home by modeling their recipes. Also, they can be bought in the available stores and supermarkets that sell them. By starting here, explore the exciting types of cookies the Land of the Rising Sun has to offer!
If you want to find even more tasty Japanese cookies, checkout our list of best 15 Japanese cookies here! Or you may directly want to get some at home and have a Japanese Snack box delivered to your house with original Japanese cookies!
This article was originally written by our freelance writer Umm-Kulthum Abdulkareem, and edited by us.
