Recipe for Hottokēki, Japanese Hot Cakes (ホットケーキ)- similar to American pancakes, but a bit more fluffy with a little more sweetness. Serve simply with butter and syrup or add vanilla custard or ice cream for a more decadent touch.
For anyone visiting my site from the photo posted on pinterest of three stacked pancakes with blueberries: That photo is not of these pancakes. Here is the original link/recipe for that photo: http://goodatcooking.net/index.php/ru/archives/4435
Japanese Hot Cakes (ホットケーキ) are similar to American pancakes, but are a bit fluffier and have a little more sweetness. Hot cakes are a popular breakfast treat in Japan and often prepared using a packaged hot cake mix. No need for a hot cake mix here! They are also versatile, with a variety of toppings to choose from based on your tastes and what you may have in your refrigerator. I had an extra container of blackberries from my CSA box, so I topped my hot cakes with whipped cream and fresh blackberries. I added a few blackberries to a small pot and cooked over medium heat to create a sauce. We also often enjoy them simply with maple syrup and butter. For a more decadent breakfast, add a dollop of vanilla custard or ice cream.
Take great care in how you measure the flour. Too much will make the batter too thick. Measuring the amount out in grams is best. If you use cups, make sure it is not packed.
To cook the hottokēki, I heated a steel skillet over medium heat. I placed it briefly on a damp towel to cool to the right temperature and returned to the burner over low heat. Do not place the skillet on a cold, wet towel if it is cast iron or enamel to prevent cracking. After the batter is added, cover the skillet to lightly steam the cake and keep moisture in. It will take about 4 minutes for the hottokēki to set (but the top should still be wet) and bubbles to form over the top. Flip, cover, and cook for a minute or 2 longer until golden. Repeat with the remaining hot cakes. To keep the hottokēki warm while you are preparing the others, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in a 200 degree F oven for up to 30 minutes. Here is a video I found on Youtube of the cooking technique.
Looking for more pancake recipes? Try Poffertjes (Dutch Mini Pancakes), Beghrir Choco (Algerian Chocolate Honeycomb Pancakes), or Scotch Pancakes.
Updated Recipe (March 25, 2016). Thank you all so much for your feedback. I truly appreciate it. Based on the mixed reviews, I have tweaked the recipe a bit while still keeping it authentic. I changed the flour to cake flour for a more consistent lightness, added a little melted butter, upped the baking powder, and altered the cooking method. If you loved the original recipe, it is still available at La Fuji Mama.
Hottokēki (Japanese Hot Cake) Recipe
Adapted from La Fuji Mama
Hottokēki (Japanese Hot Cake)
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 200 milliliters (3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons) milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 40 grams (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 200 grams (~1 1/2 cups) cake flour
- 40 grams (3 tablespoons) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- Pinch salt
- Vegetable oil for greasing
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs. Mix in the milk, vanilla extract, and butter.
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In another medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to gently fold into the liquid ingredients until just incorporated. Allow to rest while you heat the pan.
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Place a large steel skillet over medium heat. Set aside a damp towel. Once heated, place briefly on the wet towel (do not do this if using cast iron or enamel) and place back on burner over low heat. Lightly grease with oil, spread with a towel, pour 1/4 cup of the batter in prepared skillet, and cover. Once golden on bottom and bubbles begin to form on top, about 4 minutes, flip to other side. Continue to cook until golden, another 1-2 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve immediately topped with maple syrup, butter, whipped cream, or fresh berries.
Suzette says
31 December, 2014 at 12:43 pmThe first time I had hotcakes was in Italy. My SIL is 50% Filippina and she gets the White King Hotcake Mix at an Asian store not far from her house. It was love at first bite! So now when we return from our Italian summer vacations, I try to bring some boxes back with me. However, I do prefer to cook and bake from scratch, so I was very excited to see this recipe on Pinterest and can’t wait to try it…..maybe tomorrow so we can start the 2015 off right!! 🙂
Tara says
11 January, 2015 at 2:05 pmHope you enjoyed them!
Jemille Junio says
11 January, 2015 at 5:18 amHi Tara,
Got your hotcakes recipe from Pinterest, glad I’ve found it!
I’ve been making hotcakes for my little boy as it’s his favorite… However I can’t get mine to be so fluffy 🙁 What am I doing wrong?
Tara says
11 January, 2015 at 2:10 pmSorry you are having issues 🙁 How did you mix the batter? Did you let it rest before cooking? What temperature are you cooking the hot cakes and are you making sure to not flatten them with a spatula as they cook?
Jemille says
31 January, 2015 at 6:51 amHi Tara, just want to let you know that my Hottokekis are fluffy! I’ve been experimenting on mixing and baking powder… though I still have to let it rest after mixing. Thanks, we love Hottokeki 🙂
Tara says
1 February, 2015 at 12:36 pmSo glad to hear this!
Jen S says
24 March, 2016 at 11:55 amWorst pancakes I’ve ever made. This is tough and chewy and not at all fluffy. I followed your directions down to the tea and I was extremely disappointed with the outcome.
Tara says
24 March, 2016 at 4:01 pmSo sorry you didn’t like them. I truly appreciate your feedback and am working on tweaking the recipe due to the mixed reviews. In the meantime, you may like the texture of these pancakes better: Oladi (Ukrainian Buttermilk Pancakes) http://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/oladi-ukrainian-buttermilk-pancakes/ or Scotch Pancakes http://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/secret-recipe-club-scotch-pancakes/ better
christine plante says
13 July, 2018 at 2:23 pmDO NOT TWEAK THEY ARE AMAZING. MINE ARE EXACTLY AS SHOULD BE. IT TAKES PATIENCE AND FOLDING NOT STIRRING.
I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE CAN SAY THEY ARE THE WORST.
I also tried them with milk as my husband was craving them on his lunch break and we were out so I just added a little protein powder to make it a little creamier.
this is the ONLY pancakes I make!!!
Tara says
13 July, 2018 at 4:02 pmThank you so much Christine! So happy you love them!
Christine Plante says
13 July, 2018 at 10:41 pmI meant to say I have made them with water not when in a pinch.
Amy says
11 January, 2015 at 11:20 amPancakes were rubbery & no flavor! I will stick to my Mennonite recipe!
Tara says
11 January, 2015 at 2:07 pmSo sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe. How did you mix the batter and did you let it rest before cooking?
Mari says
9 February, 2015 at 4:49 pmcan you give us the mennonite recipe?
Jcjames says
11 January, 2015 at 12:03 pmThese were delicious!!
Tara says
11 January, 2015 at 2:06 pmSo glad you enjoyed them!
Audrey Lisa says
11 January, 2015 at 12:30 pmThe Hubs and I just devoured a plate of these delicious cakes. I used buttermilk and a banana in the batter and topped mine with a honey and mixed berry compote. Let them eat cake! Amazing recipe! I may never eat pancakes again!
Tara says
11 January, 2015 at 2:07 pmSo glad you enjoyed them!
Sarah says
17 January, 2015 at 9:42 amWhen you “quickly mix” the wet ingredients into the dry, do you use a mixer or just a spoon? Mine came out flat and I *did* allow the batter to rest. I followed all directions very carefully.
Tara says
17 January, 2015 at 11:24 amSorry yours came out flat 🙁 I used a spoon to lightly and quickly fold in the wet ingredients. Updating the recipe now to clear that up.
Tara says
17 January, 2015 at 11:34 amAlso, the texture should be fluffy, but they won’t be super thick- only about 1/2 inch.
Tina says
18 January, 2015 at 10:29 amHi Dear! ^_^
It was absolutely delicious and fluffy, and sweet, and great! 🙂 Thanks for your recipe! Greetings from Hungary! 🙂
Tara says
18 January, 2015 at 6:59 pmSo glad you enjoyed them!
Leigh Anne says
18 January, 2015 at 12:08 pmMade these this morning and we LOVED them! They didn’t look as fluffy as yours but I’m chalking that up to old baking powder. Will use fresh next time and hopefully they’ll rise higher. The flavor was very unique. These are being added to the rotation! Thanks for sharing!!
Tara says
18 January, 2015 at 7:00 pmSo glad you enjoyed them! I definitely enjoy these more than American pancakes now. Hope they work better next time with fresh baking powder.
Bonnie Goodwin says
19 January, 2015 at 3:13 amWould adding fresh blueberries when you pour the batter onto the griddle will that effect the fluffiness of the pancakes ?
Tara says
20 January, 2015 at 9:02 amSprinkling a few fresh blueberries on top should be fine. Just don’t use a spatula to press them in and no frozen fruit since they will have too much moisture.
Christie Campbell (@AKitchenHoor) says
20 January, 2015 at 7:15 amTara,
These hotcakes sound amazing. I’m just curious to know where the image for this pin came from?
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/200128777167439598/
I can’t seem to find it and all pins, links backs, etc lead me to this recipe. Maybe that’s why some people think they should be fluffier than they are? Just my 2c. I’ve pinned the first photograph on this post and will be making them FOR SURE!
Tara says
20 January, 2015 at 9:06 amHi Christie! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I have no idea where that photo came from. It is not mine and not from the website I originally got this recipe from. Those look more like Oladyi than the Japanese Hot Cakes.
Tara says
20 January, 2015 at 9:24 amFor anyone visiting my site from the photo posted on pinterest: That photo is not of these pancakes. Here is the original link/recipe for that photo: http://goodatcooking.net/index.php/ru/archives/4435
Amy says
22 January, 2015 at 9:12 pmwould Splenda sub for sugar in this recipe? Do you suggest whole milk or does 2% work okay?
Tara says
22 January, 2015 at 10:28 pmI have no experience with Splenda so can’t comment on that part. I prefer whole milk when baking to make it a little richer, but I have used 2 percent with no issues.
Donnellsun says
25 January, 2015 at 1:31 amSounds like several things could be suggested to help everyone, hopefully. Here goes… A) Stevia sweetner for baking is good & natural, unlike Splenda. However, need to add it at the end, my don’t stir too much or the batter will go flat. B) To assure nice lift (even though other evil factors may be at work, haha), be sure to beast the earth whites separately from the yolks. Add the foamy earth whites at the end, and only child them into the batter; ie.no mite stirring & beating offer the batter, please.
This is a really special recipe and we make it gluten-free too! Yum!
cherita says
25 January, 2015 at 8:54 amMade & resting. Can’t wait to taste them
Tara says
25 January, 2015 at 10:30 amHope you enjoyed them!
Nicole says
26 January, 2015 at 10:47 amWhen mixing the liquid together, should I use a whisk or paddle attachment? Thanks.
Tara says
26 January, 2015 at 1:23 pmWhisk attachment or a hand mixer
Nicole says
26 January, 2015 at 7:57 pmThank you
Tara says
26 January, 2015 at 9:07 pmHope you enjoy them!
Robyn says
27 January, 2015 at 12:04 pmIs that batter supposed to be really thick, like muffin batter?
Thank you
Tara says
27 January, 2015 at 2:32 pmYes, the batter is similar in consistency to muffin batter
babybawlt says
1 February, 2015 at 7:18 pmThank you
Moose says
2 February, 2015 at 11:10 pmTo really go the full hog, for amazingly light pancakes, try the following:
– separate your egg yolks, include them in with your wet ingredients as per usual
– whisk the egg whites until they are fluffy as
– after you have mixed dry and wet ingredients, fold in half mixture of egg whites
– now fold in remaining egg whites
The above steps only take a second but will change the consistency of your hotcakes / pancakes / waffles to a light, fluffy, lovely mouth watering experience.
Moose
Tara says
3 February, 2015 at 5:34 pmThanks for the tips! I do this often, like in these Buttermilk Vanilla Bean Pancakes: http://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/south-walton-and-buttermilk-vanilla-bean-pancakes/ . I did not with these Hottokeki for authenticity.
Kasey says
7 February, 2015 at 11:42 amWish I read the comments before trying – mine also came out way too thick. I don’t think the recipe has enough liquid. Makes for custardy, rubbery pancakes. I’ll have to try some of the recommendations in the comments.
Tara says
7 February, 2015 at 5:21 pmSorry it didn’t work out for you 🙁 Hottokeki are quite thick, but you definitely have to be careful about overmixing. Also, how did you measure the flour? Weighing is the most accurate. If you use cups, make sure the flour isn’t packed.
Cathy says
15 February, 2015 at 10:25 amMade these 02/14/15- lack flavor and had a spongy texture. NOT a fan 🙁
Tara says
15 February, 2015 at 10:59 amSo sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy them. The texture is a little different than American pancakes. Did you add any toppings or eat them plain?
Josephine says
21 February, 2015 at 11:00 amI don’t know what I did wrong, but I followed the recipe as stated, and the hot cakes turned out spongy (almost rubbery) and lacked flavor. My three little ones even refused to eat it
Tara says
28 February, 2015 at 11:33 amSo sorry you didn’t enjoy them. Did you weigh the flour or measure it out?
Nat says
1 March, 2015 at 9:55 amMine came out the same way. …:( what did I do wrong?
Jen says
21 February, 2015 at 12:16 pmMy son and I greatly enjoyed these cakes this morning. Definitely thicker than our regular pancakes and very filling, but we loved that aspect of them. Thank you, Tara!
Tara says
28 February, 2015 at 11:33 amSo glad you enjoyed them!
Biochip says
21 February, 2015 at 1:21 pmThese were awesome! My new favorite hot cake recipe!
Tara says
28 February, 2015 at 11:36 amSo glad you enjoyed them!
Rebecca says
21 February, 2015 at 2:10 pmLoved the flavor. Batter was a nice consistency. They looked just like your picture here (not the ones on Pinterest) However, they were a little tough. What did I do wrong? Cook too long, not rest long enough, cook too hot?
Tara says
28 February, 2015 at 11:42 amSorry they came out a little tough. As long as you followed the directions, how did you measure out the flour? The photo on pinterest is not related to this recipe. I am not sure how they became linked.
Annie says
22 February, 2015 at 1:59 pmTara- Thank you for sharing this recipe!! These fluffy and light wonders are delicious! It will be hard to return to a more traditional pancake recipe after trying this recipe:) I added 1 2/3 TSP instead of tsp. due to miss reading, I added an additional 1/4 C flour to make up for this and a 3 sec dash more of cashew milk. I also altered by using splenda and cashew milk and the recipe turned out great! I think the recipe will not work if you do not fluff the liquid long enough and you have to fold not stir the wet and dry….hope this can be helpful for anyone not achieving the fluffiness that they wanted.
Tara says
28 February, 2015 at 11:43 amSo glad you enjoyed them!
Annie says
22 February, 2015 at 2:00 pm*Baking Powder is what I added too much of.
Katherine says
23 February, 2015 at 8:18 pmJust made these this evening for supper and they were fantastic! Such an easy recipe and really tasty. I had never made pancakes before but now I’ll definitely be making these often!
Tara says
28 February, 2015 at 11:37 amSo glad you enjoyed them!
Kayla says
1 March, 2015 at 11:26 amJust made these–they were super simple and beyond delicious! Very fluffy! I made an apricot compote to go over them and my family loved it! Thanks for this recipe! Will use over and over again.
Tara says
19 March, 2015 at 8:52 amSo glad you enjoyed them!
Tanya says
1 March, 2015 at 12:15 pmMade these this morning and while we really enjoyed them we definitely had some difficult finding the right temperature. We ended up with cakes that were cooked in the middle but rather doughy and sticky towards the edges.
We will try again next weekend and hopefully have a better result
Tara says
19 March, 2015 at 8:54 amSorry you had some issues with the temperature 🙁 I usually go between medium and medium low. Medium low usually works best for me once the pan is thoroughly heated.
Kel Swann says
5 April, 2015 at 11:20 amMine didn’t work at all 🙁 I wanted to make them for my family’s Easter breakfast, followed the directions exactly and it was a soupy mess. My husband tried again with a fresh batch and they turned out the same
Tara says
28 April, 2015 at 11:29 amI’m sorry they didn’t work out for you. How much flour did you use? The batter should be thick, not soupy.
paula says
26 April, 2015 at 12:18 pmBest pancakes I’ve ever made and I have tried many and never liked any of them. Tip to note is that olive oil burns so make sure to fry the hot cakes on vegetable or canola oil. Also they burn quickly so I baked them for 10 minutes at the end on 350 in a toaster oven to make sure they were cooked through. Thank you for this wonderful recipe. I will try adding some almond extract in the future.
Tara says
28 April, 2015 at 11:30 amSo glad you enjoyed them! Almond extract sounds delicious.
Christina says
21 May, 2015 at 9:28 amFor those that want them fluffier I added 1/2 top baking soda and doubled the amount of baking powder. When you first pour it onto the pan it will be thick and have a lot of air bubbles, do not spread it out at all and make sure your temp is med-low.
Alexandria says
12 July, 2015 at 10:05 amSooooo fluffy!
Tara says
15 July, 2015 at 1:21 pmGlad you enjoyed them!
Hailey says
15 July, 2015 at 12:23 pmThese pancakes were not fluffy in the slightest… very thick and dense and the flavor was sub par. I made these for my family and they all hated them.
Tara says
15 July, 2015 at 1:23 pmHow did you measure the flour? This can happen if too much flour is added to the batter or it is overmixed.
Lisa Sellers says
9 August, 2015 at 11:34 amThis is where that picture came from. Took me a while, but I found it. http://goodatcooking.net/index.php/en/archives/5399
Tara says
9 August, 2015 at 11:40 amYes, it is listed at the top of this post. I still haven’t been able to find the original pinner who attached it to my link.
mai4maiysoon says
26 August, 2015 at 11:57 pmI made these pancakes twice and it worked, the pancakes turn out thick and a little chewy, but I don’t mind still its light , I think I should beat the eggs more so it’ll be fluffy. The pancakes were a hit with my kids 🙂
winglessspirit says
11 September, 2015 at 3:17 amHow can i store the remaining batter? To use it in the next day or after
Tara says
11 September, 2015 at 1:45 pmUnfortunately, this batter doesn’t last long after mixing. They won’t rise as well and will end up dense.
Becca says
13 September, 2015 at 11:29 amMy batter came out really thick and I followed directions exactly but I did want to confirm that the flour was supposed to be 1 cup plus 2/3 cup and not (1) 2/3 cup.. I’m letting it all rest right now so I’ll let you know how they turn out. Thank you.
Becca says
13 September, 2015 at 4:22 pmOK. They did not turn out that great. I thought the flavor was nice but they were way too thick to the point that it was more like a biscuit mix. It took forever to get the middle cooked which resulted in the outside being kind of tough. My husband was not crazy about them. I think I might have messed up the amount of flour and milk. Im not going to count these out yet, they deserve another go.
Tara says
16 September, 2015 at 10:09 amSorry they didn’t work out for you 🙁 It sounds like there was a bit too much flour. How did you measure it out?
Rachel says
13 March, 2016 at 7:44 amLovely Sunday morning brunch! Thanks for the recipe.
Tara says
21 March, 2016 at 10:37 pmGlad you enjoyed them!
Stephanie says
21 March, 2016 at 9:38 pmThese pancakes were so chewy!! I was so so sad because I love a fluffy pancake. I followed the recipe exactly, I even have a backing scale. Didn’t work for me.
Tara says
21 March, 2016 at 10:40 pmI’m sorry you didn’t like them 🙁 You may like the texture of these Oladi (Ukrainian Buttermilk Pancakes) http://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/oladi-ukrainian-buttermilk-pancakes/ or Scotch Pancakes http://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/secret-recipe-club-scotch-pancakes/ better
Tara says
25 March, 2016 at 11:50 amUpdated Recipe (March 25, 2016). Thank you all so much for your feedback. I truly appreciate it. Based on the mixed reviews, I have tweaked the recipe a bit while still keeping it authentic. I changed the flour to cake flour for a more consistent lightness, added a little melted butter, upped the baking powder, and altered the cooking method. If you loved the original recipe, it is still available at La Fuji Mama.
Melody Zimmerman says
19 April, 2016 at 8:43 amCould I have the old recipe please? I loved it the way it was–they were perfect! I made these every Thursday for breakfast. I liked that they didn’t have any oil or butter added to them–I didn’t feel as guilty putting more butter on top! The pinch of salt is a necessary addition, however. 🙂
Tara says
19 April, 2016 at 10:17 amHi Melody! So glad you like them so much! Here is the original ingredient list from La Fuji Mama: http://www.lafujimama.com/2013/12/japanese-hotcakes/
2 large eggs
200 ml milk (.85 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
200 g all-purpose flour (scant 1 2/3 cups)
8 g baking powder (1 3/4 teaspoon)
40 g granulated sugar (3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon)
Emma says
9 May, 2016 at 3:19 pmI’m one of the people who came to your site looking for those big, fluffy Japanese pancakes. I was so disappointed – but we made YOUR Japanese pancakes yesterday for Mother’s Day. They were amazing! So often those thick kind of pancakes don’t cook through properly, but yours were perfect. Thank you.
Lucy says
24 July, 2016 at 4:27 pmHi There,
Made your recipe and it came out great. I have a couple of questions:
1) Can I substitute honey for sugar? If so how much?
2) Can I made the batter and store it in the fridge a couple of days ahead of time?
Thanks
kips says
14 April, 2018 at 1:00 pmThank you so much for this recipe! These are the fluffiest, tenderest pancakes I’ve ever had, let alone made!!! Note: I used buttermilk instead of milk.
Tara says
14 April, 2018 at 4:04 pmSo glad you liked them! I will definitely need to try with buttermilk 🙂
carmelsuga says
16 May, 2015 at 11:53 amGOODNESS This is the very best recipe I ever made for hotcakes thank you so much I really think the key in fluffyness is to let the batter rest,mine almost look like the picture.Again thanks so much!
Tara says
21 March, 2016 at 10:40 pmSo glad you liked them!