What Japanese rice cake is cooked in a waffle iron to make a moffle? Mochi is the Japanese rice cake cooked in a waffle iron to make a moffle.
A moffle combines the words “mochi” and “waffle.” Pressing mochi in a heated waffle iron creates a crisp, patterned exterior while leaving a thin, chewy layer of glutinous rice inside. The result resembles a waffle in shape but has the stretchy texture associated with mochi.
Moffles can be served sweet or savory. Dessert versions may be paired with fruit, ice cream, or other toppings, while snack versions can include ingredients such as ham, cheese, or cod roe. Flavored mochi can also be used to change the taste and color.
The dish is distinct from senbei, dango, and onigiri. Senbei is generally a baked or grilled rice cracker, dango is a boiled rice-flour dumpling, and onigiri is a hand-shaped rice ball. The waffle iron is the defining cooking method that gives a moffle its name and shape.