A common mochi donut ring is made from eight small balls. The connected pieces form a distinctive circular shape that looks like a bracelet or flower and can be pulled apart individually.
The style is strongly associated with Mister Donut’s Pon de Ring, which was introduced in Japan in 2003 and helped popularize mochi-style doughnuts. Despite the name, these doughnuts are not always made from traditional mochi; recipes commonly use tapioca flour, rice flour or other starches to create their chewy texture.
The number eight describes the common ring format, not every mochi doughnut ever made. Bakeries may sell different shapes, sizes and arrangements, but the familiar Pon de Ring-style circle conventionally uses eight connected balls.