Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (2024)

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Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (1)

Asian-Inspired

by: Amy on:

These rice cakes only have two Chinese characters for its description, 燒餅, and the best translation for it would be 'grilled rice cake.' What the simplicity of the name doesn't tell you unfortunately is what truly makes these grilled rice cakes so special – it uses glutinous rice flour instead of regular rice flour, which produces a mochi-like texture. Grilling or frying these mochi-like cakes give them an extra layer of flavour and texture compared to traditional steamed mochi.

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Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (2)

I don’t remember any time in my life when I chose an egg tart or a pineapple bun over a grilled rice cake at my local Chinese bakery. Unlike a pineapple bun, these rice cakes aren’t available at every Chinese bakery and I often have more luck finding them in a less trendy, more traditional-style bakery. These rice cakes only have two Chinese characters for its description, 燒餅, and the best translation for it would be ‘grilled rice cake.’ What the simplicity of the name doesn’t tell you unfortunately is what truly makes these grilled rice cakes so special – it uses glutinous rice flour instead of regular rice flour, which produces a mochi-like texture. Grilling or frying these mochi-like cakes give them an extra layer of flavour and texture compared to traditional steamed mochi. A common filling for these rice cakes is red bean but I actually prefer it plain (reasoning: I don’t want any filling to disrupt the chewy sensation of the glutinous rice cake).


I’ve never thought of making these rice cakes because they’re usually $1 at the bakery; I didn’t see the need or have the desire to make them because they’re so affordable to buy. Now that I see these rice cakes less and less, I needed my own recipe as a backup just in case I have a craving (which is always) and can’t rush to a Chinese bakery in Richmond (a 30 minute drive) to buy one (or many).

Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (3)
Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (4)
Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (5)
Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (6)
Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (7)

Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅)

By Amy

Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (8)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup and 3 tbsp (150g) glutinous rice flour
  • 100 ml (100g) water
  • 3 tbsp (45g) granulated sugar
  • 40 ml (40g) coconut milk
  • 2 1/4 tsp (10g) vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Weigh out 150g of glutinous rice flour in a medium-sized bowl. It is important that you use glutinous rice (also called sweet rice flour) and not regular rice flour. Regular rice flour does not create a chewy rice cake. Set aside the bowl.

  • Combine water, sugar, coconut milk, and oil in a small pot and bring it to a simmer.

  • Once mixture reaches a simmer, quickly pour mixture into the bowl with the glutinous rice flour. Using chopsticks (or a spatula), stir the mixture quickly until fully combined and forms a ball. The mixture might look shaggy and broken at first, but keep on stirring and it will come together. Once the dough can be gathered into a ball, add a little bit of vegetable oil to your hands and knead the dough until it is elastic-y and smooth, about 10 minutes. If the mixture is still too dry, add water a tablespoon at a time.

  • Once mixture is smooth and shiny, divide the dough into 6 – 8 equal portions and roll into balls. Flatten each ball with the palm of your hands and a set aside.

  • Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Coat pan with a thin layer of vegetable oil. Add 3 – 4 discs of dough at a time and cook until golden brown, about 4 – 5 minutes on each side.

  • Remove from the skillet and allow to cool a couple of minutes before eating.

Notes

Rice cakes will firm up once cold. They are best eaten warm or at room temperature. You can always reheat the rice cakes with a skillet if enjoying the next day.

Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (9)

Happy baking!

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Kabocha Salted Egg Yolk Mooncakes with Sago Pearls

Reader Interactions

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Sweet Comments:

  1. Joanna says

    Ohh this looks so good! I’ve only ever had savory shao bing, but I’ve been on a mochi kick lately so would definitely love to try this!

    Reply

  2. fiona says

    hi! these seem like they would be a great vehicle for carrying another flavor- do you have any recommendations for what i could eat these with?

    Reply

  3. Dee says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (14)
    Love this as it’s super easy to make. Just one downside is your hands gets rather ‘sticky’ but taste so delicious 🙂

    Reply

  4. Les says

    Have you made these with cinnamon and raisins or with star anise or Chinese five spice .goat milk should work to replace coconut milk

    Reply

  5. Brenda says

    I made it and it was yummy! It’s not good the next day, so eat it the same day!

    Reply

  6. Richard says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (16)
    I followed the recipe exactly, using a scale to be sure of amounts. The result was like a porridge; it didn’t come together, so I kept adding flour, probably another 3-4 tablespoons, and it was still a gooey mess that stuck to my fingers, even when I lightly floured them. Is there something else that should have been in the recipe, like some all-purpose flour?

    Reply

    • Lol says

      Lol

    • Lol says

      Lol

  7. ayla says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (17)
    turned out great, thank you 🙂 <3

    Reply

  8. Marilyn says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (18)
    Made these with milk and put them in my waffle iron on pancake setting. Absolutely delicious! Fantastic recipe! Thank you!

    Reply

  9. Yolanda says

    Excelend, thank you for recipe

    Reply

  10. Noa says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (19)
    made this with regular milk and a traditional soy sauce glaze for dango. so good that my brother told me to put it away for his sake. i have made something dangerous

    Reply

  11. Annie says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (20)
    Soooo good! I followed the recipe exactly. Perfect amount of sweetness, thought I could go for ~10g less.
    My dough was super sticky and difficult to work with at first, but I suspect it’s because my liquid mixture was too hot — it was almost at a boil. If I made this again, I’ll just warm it a tiny bit to melt the sugar, or maybe not heat it at all? Once the dough cooled, it was a lot easier to work with.

    Reply

  12. Lauranne says

    I have a question. Could I use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil?

    Reply

  13. Kristin Simpson says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (21)
    These are so yummy! I had an unopened glutinous rice flour in my pantry that said it was expired. After googling to make sure I wouldn’t poison myself if I used it, I made these. I added a tiny sprinkle of kosher salt on top and they are sooooo good. Fadt and simple for a sweet chewy snack!

    Reply

  14. Mary De La Cruz says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (22)
    nope. epic fail.

    Reply

  15. Nanajee Travels says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (23)
    These Japanese rice cakes sound incredible! I love how they turn leftover rice into a crispy delight, and the addition of a sweetened soy dipping sauce is just perfect for enhancing those mild flavors. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the versatility of rice in different cultures. I can’t wait to try making these and enjoy that delightful crunch!

    Reply

  16. Unique places in the World says

    Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (24)
    These 燒餅 (grilled rice cakes) sound intriguing! The simplicity of the name doesn’t do justice to the delightful flavors and textures they must offer. I can only imagine how special they are, especially with that perfect balance of crispiness and chewiness. I’m excited to learn more about what makes these grilled rice cakes stand out—definitely a dish worth exploring!

    Reply

Grilled Chewy Rice Cake (燒餅) - Constellation Inspiration (2024)
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