A recipe for Nutella Taiyaki! This Japanese fish-shaped pastry has a crispy exterior that gives way to a fluffy texture and creamy Nutella filling.
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Known as Taiyaki (鯛焼き, たい焼き, tai- sea bream) in Japan and Bungeoppang (붕어빵, bungeo- crucian carp) in Korea, this fun street food uses a specialty pan to make an iconic fish shape with pancake/waffle batter. Today I filled the fish with Nutella, but other favorite fillings include a sweet red bean paste (traditional), custard, cheese, and more. For a savory option, you can even turn them into sandwiches.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Taiyaki was not something I easily came across on the east coast. The first time I even tried one was in a waffle cone form with soft-serve ice cream at Taiyaki NYC in New York City. I have since discovered SomiSomi here in LA and another great variation of this treat at MuMu Bakery & Cafe in Koreatown with a Nutella Croissant Taiyaki.
Taiyaki Pan
Making Taiyaki at home does require the use of a special pan. I have been able to find them on Amazon (Kotobuki Taiyaki Pan) and specialty Japanese and Korean markets. The pan is best used on a gas stove and definitely avoid glass-top. Due to the shape of the pan, it just won’t cook evenly.
For the pancake/waffle base, I slightly adapted my Hottokēki recipe. After mixing, it needs to refrigerate for about an hour.
Place the taiyaki pan on medium low heat and lightly grease with oil. You may need to adjust the heat slightly lower or higher.
Once heated, fill one side of the taiyaki pan cavities 1/3rd full with the batter. Add a heaping tablespoon of Nutella in the center of the fish and cover with batter to fill out the fish shape. Be careful not to overfill. Close the pan and flip. Cook for about 2 minutes until golden. Flip and cook the other side until golden, another 2 minutes, checking the color periodically once it has had a chance to set.
The red bean paste and Nutella are a bit easier filling options for those with less experience than more runny ingredients like custard. This was my first time filling them so I was on the conservative side, but try to get the filling all the way to the tail if you can.
If you slightly overfill the pan and have crispy edges around the fish, they are easily removed with small scissors or a sharp, small knife.
These are best warm from the pan. Just be careful not to burn yourself with the hot, melty Nutella filling! They won’t be as good as fresh, but you can freeze the Nutella Taiyaki for later and bake until heated through. They are especially delicious paired with ice cream.
If you don’t have cake flour available, you can use all purpose flour. The texture will just change a little.
Looking for more recipes using Nutella?
Try my
Nutella Taiyaki Recipe
Adapted from Just One Cookbook
Nutella Taiyaki
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 200 milliliters (3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons) milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 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
- 2/3 cup Nutella divided
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg. Mix in the milk, vanilla extract, and butter.
- 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. Cover and refrigerate the bowl for at least 1 hour.
- Place a taiyaki pan over medium low heat. Lightly grease with vegetable oil.
- Once heated, fill one side of the taiyaki pan cavities 1/3rd full with the batter. Add a heaping tablespoon of Nutella in the center of the fish and cover with batter to fill out the fish shape. Be careful not to overfill. Close the pan and flip.
- Cook for about 2 minutes until golden. Flip and cook the other side until golden, another 2 minutes, checking the color periodically once it has had a chance to set.
- Transfer the golden taiyaki to a wire rack and repeat with the remaining batter and Nutella.
Karen
Oh my goodness Tara! I love these! You are so talented!
SallyBR
OMG. I have no words. TO quote my friend Karen, I AM NOT WORTHY
Kelly Anthony
My girls would eat these nutella taiyaki up. They are so cute and filled with their favorite spread.
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
My family would gobble these up! Any pastry filled with nutella is good in my book. These are the cutest and I can see my kids really loving them!
Tisha
OH my gosh, how cute are these! Perfect for an after school snack!
Noel Lizotte
What a fun treat! I’m afraid I’d be using that fish pan every day!! I mean, it could turn boring any food into fun times!
Gloria
I think this has got to be the most fun way to eat Nutella that I have seen. My grandkids would flip over these. I don’t know one person that would not devour these.
Natalie
This is absolutely adorable! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Lisa
Just delish!
Tara
Thank you Lisa!
Srikanth
These Nutella Tiyaki’s are so creative and perfect for my toddler.
Denay DeGuzman
These beautiful pastries are just too darn cute! I need to buy the special pan and make these ASAP. Yum. Yum.
Genevieve | Fitty Foodlicious
These Nutella cookies look amazing and super fun to make!
Irina
OMG! What a fun cooking project with kids it is! I cannot wait to get a Taiyaki pan now to make this experience. Love it!
Jacqueline Meldrum
Oh my goodness! What are you doing to me here. I was over on Amazon ordering one before I finished reading the post. Thanks for the ideas and recipe too.