On the recent holiday, November 24th, I hosted a dorayaki (Japanese sweet pancake) party. We used hot plates to make mini dorayaki, and everyone added their own toppings. It was a fun party where everyone made their own unique dorayaki and had a great time.
Preparing the Sweet Red Bean Paste (Dorayaki Filling)
For this occasion, I began preparing the sweet red bean paste (anko) a week in advance. I searched for ways to make anko easily at home and tried two different methods after looking through various recipes.
The first method I tried was using a rice cooker. I added the adzuki beans to the rice cooker and set it to the regular cooking mode. However, the beans did not cook at all. It seems that some rice cookers may not be suitable for cooking adzuki beans. As a result, I transferred the beans to a pot and cooked them the traditional way, simmering them until soft.
Next, I tried using a slow cooker. Following a method I had researched, I cooked the beans for 3 hours, but they were still hard. Maybe different models of slow cookers don’t work well for this process? It might be possible to cook the beans slowly over a longer time, but that would take too long. So, I again decided to simmer them using the traditional method instead.
In this experiment, I tried a method where the beans would soften automatically with little attention, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. I hope to find a better way next time to cook adzuki beans more easily. If there were a way to make anko more easily at home, it would be so much more convenient for everyone to make it!
Preparing the Apple Anko (Apple Filling)
For the dorayaki party, I prepared homemade dorayaki filling (anko) and apple anko. The apple anko, in particular, received a lot of praise from the guests.
For the apple anko, I used the Kougyoku variety of apples, which I bought at a local roadside station. These apples are known for their rich acidity and fragrant aroma, making them perfect for cooking.
First, I peeled and cored the apples, then cut them into small pieces. I simmered them with sugar to make a syrupy mixture. At this point, it was already incredibly delicious! I let it sit overnight, and then mixed it with white bean paste to create the apple anko.
I was confident in the flavor, and I was so happy to receive compliments from everyone!
On the Day of the Party
On the day of the party, we started by having each parent-child group measure out the ingredients and prepare the batter. After that, we let the batter rest for about 30 minutes, then added water to adjust its consistency before moving on to the next step of cooking the dorayaki on the hot plate.
However, just as we were about to start cooking, we realized that the hot plates weren’t turning on, so we had to pause for a moment. It seemed that the circuit breaker had tripped because multiple hot plates were plugged into the same outlet. After reconnecting each hot plate to a separate outlet, the power came back on, and although the cooking stations were now spread out, we were able to proceed without any more issues.
The participants happily shared the hot plates, each taking turns using half of the plate, and enjoyed making dorayaki together in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. Although this situation wasn’t something we had anticipated, everyone was quick to adapt, and thanks to their flexibility and teamwork, the event went smoothly.
Successful Conclusion
I periodically walked around to each table, sharing tips on how to get the perfect cooking results, and watched as everyone created their own unique dorayaki. In the end, everyone successfully made their dorayaki with various fillings and toppings. We wrapped up the event with a group photo and then enjoyed tasting time together!
Despite the troubles, we were able to successfully make dorayaki together through everyone’s cooperation.
It was wonderful to see the children enjoying the process of making sweets, and it warmed my heart to watch the adults having fun alongside them.
I truly felt that it was all around an experience worth having.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated. I truly appreciate your presence and enthusiasm. I will be planning more Japanese sweets-making events in the future, so please look forward to them!
I’m already looking forward to the next time we can meet. Thank you again!