Recipe: Chocolate Dorayaki (Japanese pancake sandwich with chocolate custard)

Dorayaki is a Japanese traditional dessert, often found in Japanese restaurants and shops. Red bean paste filling (called anko in Japanese) is usually sandwiched between two pancakes. But there are many modern versions of it these days. So I would like to share my take on this great portable dessert, easy to be packed in the Bento box for lunch.

If you used to watch Doraemon while growing up, you will know that Dorayaki is the cute little blue round cat’s favourite dessert. From the image above, you can tell how much he loves THEM!

DORAYAKI WITH CHOCOLATE CREME PATISSIERE

(JAPANESE PANCAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CUSTARD)
Makes about 30 x 3″ pancakes / 14 dorayaki

Ingredients:
For chocolate crème patissière (custard):

• 330ml milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbs cocoa powder
• 75g caster sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 25g flour

For the pancakes:
Pancake recipe from Simply June

• 4 eggs
• 2 tbs honey
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 tbs water
• butter to slightly grease the pan

Methods:

1. First, make the chocolate custard so it has time to cool.
2. Pour the milk and vanilla extract into a heavy based pot and bring to boil, be careful not to burn it.
3. Once milk is boiled, remove from heat and set aside.
4. In a bowl,whisk the egg yolks and sugar until pale yellow then whisk in the flour until combined.
5. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder and mix well to combine.
6. Slowly pour the hot milk in a small stream into the bowl while whisking.
7. Pour them back into the pot and bring to boil on medium heat while whisking constantly for about 1 minute or until thickened.
8. Remove from heat and transfer into a bowl. Cover with greaseproof paper or sprinkle some icing sugar over the top to prevent a skin from forming. Set aside to cool. Refrigerate.
9. Once the chocolate custard is made, it is time to make the little fluffy pancakes.
10. For the pancake methods, please refer to Simply June’s very well explained post.
11. When the beautifully circle pancakes are done, sandwich 2 almost identical pancake circles with generous amount of chocolate custard.

Note:

• You can always replace the chocolate custard with filling of your choice. Be creative.
• To make sure the pancake is of an even colour, make sure the pan is greased lightly with a kitchen towel and that your pan is not too hot. If too much oil is used, it will cause the pancakes to have bubbly effect on the pancake surface.