Gluten Free Mochi Donuts

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Sweet Gluten-Free Mochi Donuts are soft Japanese donuts that you can make in 30 minutes or less! Serve these easy homemade doughnuts as a dessert, or enjoy them with coffee or tea.

Easy Gluten-Free Mochi Ring Donuts

Ever since I made my first batch of Gluten-Free Apple Cider Donuts, I haven’t looked back at store-bought. Whether I make air fryer donuts or deep fry them, making my own donuts at home is surprisingly easy, and I always know that they’re 100% free from gluten!

Since we’re also big fans of Asian-inspired recipes around here, I set out to make homemade gluten-free mochi donuts. These soft and sweet Japanese doughnuts are crispy on the outside and bouncy on the inside, with that signature mochi dough stretchiness.

I dipped my fried ring donuts in a sweet vanilla glaze, but there are so many ways that you can make this recipe your own with flavors, crushed freeze-dried fruit, and more. I’ve included some of my favorite variation ideas further on, but for now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of these mochi-mochi donuts.

Overhead view of gluten-free mochi donuts on a wire rack, next to a small bowl of crushed freeze-dried fruit powder.

What Is a Mochi Donut?

Mochi donuts are a cross between a classic American donut and Japanese mochi. Also called pon de ring donuts, mochi donuts are made with rice flour, which gives them a soft, stretchy, almost bouncy texture (described as “mochi-mochi”). It’s a lot different than the texture of cake donuts, but still so delicious!

This mochi recipe uses rice flour, as well as a gluten-free flour. They may look complicated and fancy, but I promise you, you’re going to love how easy these mochi donuts are to make!

Crushed freeze-dried fruit powder sprinkled over a mochi donut.

What Is a Mochi Donut Made Of?

Gluten-free mochi donuts may seem exotic, but don’t be intimidated. The ingredients you’ll need are actually very simple. Below is a brief overview, with the full details available in the recipe card:

  • Rice Flour: This donut recipe uses a combination of Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour and a gluten-free flour blend, like the one from King Arthur Flour. Sweet rice flour is also called glutinous rice flour, or sticky rice flour, and you’ll find it in the baking aisle of most major grocery stores (or, try the Asian/International food aisle if you have one).
  • Baking Powder and Salt: You’ll need baking powder to give the dough its rise, with a pinch of salt to balance the flavors.
  • Sugar, Eggs, and Milk: Your basic baking ingredients needed to make the batter. Gently heat the milk in the microwave before you begin, as this makes the dough easier to handle.
  • Butter: Warm the butter in the microwave also, until melted.
  • Vegetable Oil: For deep frying your donuts.
  • Donut Glaze: I make a simple vanilla glaze by combining Powdered Sugar, Milk, and Vanilla Bean Paste. You can also use vanilla extract if you have it.
  • Freeze-Dried Fruit: Crushed-up freeze-dried fruit is an easy garnish for mochi donuts. You can use any fruit you’d like, whether it’s strawberry, blueberry, etc. Optional, but totally recommended!
The ingredients for homemade gluten-free mochi donuts.

What Oil Is Best for Frying?

Vegetable oil is the best all-purpose oil for deep frying. Vegetable oil has a neutral flavor and a high smoke point (400ºF), so it can heat to high temperatures before it starts to burn. Other good alternatives are canola oil or corn oil.

Let’s Make Gluten-Free Mochi Donuts!

Getting your oil to the right temperature is key to perfectly fried donuts. Begin by heating about two inches of vegetable oil to 350ºF while you prepare your donut batter:

  • Make the Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients, then combine to form a soft batter. Afterward, transfer the batter to a piping bag.
  • Make a Guide: I find making a stencil or guide super helpful when piping these mochi donuts (see photo). Draw a 2-inch circle on a piece of paper, then mark 8 evenly-spaced points around the circle. Each of these points will be a piped “ball” on your mochi ring donut. Next, cut out 14 small squares of parchment paper, one for each donut.
  • Pipe the Donut Rings: Place the first parchment square over your guide. Pipe a dollop of donut batter over each of the dots on the circle to make a ring of 8 balls. Repeat with the remaining batter until all your donuts are ready for frying.
  • Fry: Working in small batches, carefully drop your mochi donuts into the oil (you don’t need to remove the parchment paper, as you can fish that out with tongs after a minute or two). Cook the donuts until the outsides are crisp and golden, then move the finished fried donuts to a wire rack to drain and cool.
  • Glaze the Donuts: While your donuts cool, whisk together the glaze ingredients. Once your donuts are ready, dip the tops into the vanilla glaze, then place them back onto the wire rack to set. If you’re adding crushed freeze-dried fruit, make sure to sprinkle it on before the glaze sets fully!

Tips for Success

Here are some additional tips to ensure your homemade mochi donuts come out a sweet success:

  • Make sure that you’re using the right flour. The flour used to make mochi donuts is gluten-free sweet rice flour. Regular rice flour is not the same thing.
  • Check that your oil is at the right temperature. The easiest way to do this is with a kitchen or candy thermometer. The oil you’re using for frying should be 350ºF, so your donuts come out nice and crispy, and not greasy or oily. If you don’t have a thermometer, another way to test the oil is to sprinkle in some gluten-free flour (not water). If it sizzles, the oil is ready to go!
  • Don’t overcook the donuts. Overcooking these mochi donuts can make them overly browned and hard.
  • Eat these right away. As with nearly all deep-fried donut recipes, these gluten-free mochi donuts are the best the day they’re made. Serve them right away. You can scale the recipe down if you’re concerned you may have too many leftovers.
Fried gluten-free mochi donuts scattered over a wire rack.

Mochi Variation Ideas

Customize your mochi donuts in any way that you like. Use a chocolate glaze instead of a vanilla glaze, drizzle them with fun-colored icing, or cover them with sprinkles. There’s no wrong way to dress up a donut! Here are some easy ideas to change up the flavors:

  • Green Tea: Add a spoonful of matcha green tea powder to the glaze for a subtle flavor.
  • Cinnamon Sugar: Instead of glaze, dip the tops of the donuts in butter followed by cinnamon sugar.
  • Chocolate: Borrow the glaze from my Gluten Free Chocolate Donuts, or dip the tops in this Homemade Fudge Sauce.
  • Flavoring Extracts: Instead of vanilla, flavor your glaze with peppermint, lemon, or almond extract.
  • Make a Donut Sundae: Top your donut rings with a scoop of Reese’s Ice Cream or Nutella Brownie Ice Cream, along with a swirl of whipped cream and a cherry.
Gluten-free mochi donuts on a wire rack.

Common Questions

What is the difference between mochi and regular donuts?

Mochi donuts are different from regular donuts in taste and texture. Regular donuts are more bread-like and dense, while mochi donuts are softer, lighter, and chewy.

Are mochi donuts gluten-free?

Not always. However, I make this recipe with gluten-free flour, and as a result, it’s 100% safe for gluten intolerances.

Close up of gluten-free mochi donuts, with a bite missing from one donut.

How to Store Mochi Donuts

These homemade doughnuts are at their best the day they’re made. They tend to lose their soft, chewy texture pretty quickly! If you absolutely must store them, make sure that they’re kept airtight and at room temperature. Mochi donuts do not keep well in the fridge.

I wouldn’t recommend keeping your mochi donuts stored for longer than a day or two, at most. The next best way to keep them fresh is to freeze them, see below.

Do Mochi Donuts Freeze Well?

Once the mochi donuts are cooked, they can be stored frozen for up to 1-2 months. I recommend only glazing them after they’re thawed again. Make sure that the donuts are completely cooled first, and store them airtight in a resealable freezer bag or container. 

Thaw the donuts either in the microwave or at room temperature, then glaze them before serving.

Gluten-free mochi donuts on a wire rack.

Things You’ll Need

SWEET RICE FLOUR: As we already discussed, this is the key ingredient for the flavor and texture you want from mochi donuts.

GLUTEN FREE FLOUR: An all-purpose gluten free flour blend binds the donuts and is needed in addition to the rice flour.

DISPOSABLE PIPING BAGS: Transfer your batter to a bag and snip off the end to pipe out your donuts. In a pinch, you can use a heavy-duty plastic storage bag.

PARCHMENT PAPER: You’ll pipe your donut rings onto squares of parchment to drop into the oil.

Gluten-free mochi donuts on a wire rack, next to a small bowl of crushed freeze-dried fruit powder.
5 from 8 votes

Gluten Free Mochi Donuts

Gluten-Free Mochi Donuts are soft Japanese donuts that you can make in 30 minutes or less. Enjoy crispy and bouncy homemade donuts for dessert, or with coffee or tea!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 14 donuts

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 Cup Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour
  • 3/4 Cup Gluten Free Flour Blend (King Arthur Flour)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/3 Cup Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/2 Cup Warm Milk
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter , melted
  • Vegetable Oil for frying

For the Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons Milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
  • Crushed freeze dried fruit for garnish , optional

Instructions

  • Add about 2 inches of oil to a deep pot. Heat to 350 degrees.
  • While the oil is heating, combine the mochiko, gluten free flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk together and set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, warm milk, and melted butter. Whisk together until smooth.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Fold together with a spatula until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated. The batter should be very soft.
  • Scoop the batter into a piping bag.
  • Draw a circle 2 inches in diameter on a small piece of paper. Mark eight points on the circle, evenly spaced.
  • Cut out fourteen 3”x3” squares of parchment paper.
  • Place one piece of parchment paper over the paper with the circle. Use the piping bag to pipe dollops of batter on each of the eight dots, making a circle of eight balls. Pipe all of the donuts before starting to fry.
  • Once the oil is hot, drop 2-3 donuts with the parchment paper into the hot oil. After about a minute, use tongs to remove the paper from the oil. Continue to cook 1 minute, then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove from oil to a wire rack to drain and cool.
  • Once the donuts have cooled for about 10 minutes, combine the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla bean paste in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Dip each donut into the glaze and return to the rack to dry.

Notes

Serve and enjoy immediately. These donuts are of the best quality the day they are made.
Nutrition Facts
Gluten Free Mochi Donuts
Amount Per Serving
Calories 174 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 29mg10%
Sodium 111mg5%
Potassium 109mg3%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 18g20%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 96IU2%
Vitamin C 0.02mg0%
Calcium 55mg6%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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