With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s easy recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.

In this recipe, you’ll learn how to transform a store-bought roll cake into a kawaii Hello Kitty cake which contains gyūhi – a form of traditional Japanese sweet which is a variety of mochi.

Ingredients

50g refined rice flour
100ml water
70g sugar
potato starch
strawberries and whipped cream to your liking
sliced chocolate (for Hello Kitty’s face)

1

First, make the gyūhi by mixing 50g of refined rice flour with 100ml of water. Mix well to avoid lumps.

Once this has been mixed, add 70g of sugar and mix again.

2

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and microwave at 600W for 2 minutes.

3

Stir the mixture with a rubber spatula and microwave again for one more minute at 600W.

4

Use a rubber spatula to stir the mixture until it clumps together in one piece. Put a large portion of potato starch onto a tray and place your gyūhi on top.

5

Once the gyūhi has cooled, cut it to the size of the palm of your hand and use a rolling pin to stretch it out into a flat shape.

6

Leave your gyūhi to cool. In the meantime, bring out your store-bought roll cake piece and fill the inside with strawberries. When done, top your roll cake piece with whipped cream.

*If your forget to add the whipped cream, the strawberries underneath will be visible through the gyūhi layer!

7

Place the gyūhi layer on top of the roll cake and press the dough together at the bottom of the cake to seal it.

8

Shape two pieces of remaining gyūhi dough into triangles and affix them to the top of the cake to create Hello Kitty’s ears. Use the sliced chocolate to create whiskers, eyes and a nose for Hello Kitty’s face and cut up a strawberry to make her bow.

Once you have finished putting all the decorations in place, you’re done!

Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes!

Healthy doughnut chain Floresta Nature Doughnuts is cooking up two adorable Pompompurin summer doughnuts this month which will be available to buy at select Floresta shops in Japan and their official website between August 8 and 23.

Pompompurin Summer Doughnuts | ¥450 Each (Before Tax)

Floresta Nature Doughnuts is a doughnut cafe chain that hand-makes doughnuts using organic ingredients, such as wheat flour and soybeans from Hokkaido. This time they are whipping up two doughnuts of Sanrio’s popular character Pompompurin and his friend Macaroon. Both of these cute Golden Retrievers are made from organic chocolate, so you can indulge while being on the healthier side.

The doughnuts will first release at Floresta cafes in Japan on August 8 before heading to their online store on August 10 where you can buy a box that comes with two of each doughnut.

Harajuku’s KAWAII MONSTER CAFE has announced that it is collaborating with YouTuber, model, and MC RinRin Doll to release a new beverage called “Honey Doll” which will be served at the cafe for a limited time only.

Who is RinRin Doll?

RinRin Doll is a Harajuku-style model based in Tokyo. Originally from Los Angeles, California, she is a lover of Japanese fashion and culture and posts videos related to Harajuku-style lolita fashion and makeup on her YouTube channel.

RinRin’s birthday falls on August 2, which in Japanese can be pronounced as hanii or “honey,” and so this day is known colloquially as Honey Day. The “Honey Doll” drink will be served at the KAWAII MONSTER CAFE from August 2 to 31. It has a ginger ale base and is filled with honey flavoured jelly and fruits and is topped with purple cotton candy for a deliciously sweet combination.

The first 15 people to order the drink will receive a special badge featuring the cute character “Honey Bunny Bee” who was created for the RinRin Doll & Ribbonita collaboration.

KAWAII MONSTER CAFE is serving fashion and entertainment while practicing and promoting all the necessary measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Be sure to check out RinRin’s YouTube channel, including her video on the new Honey Doll drink.

Mister Donut Japan is releasing recipes over on its official website on August 7 which will show you how to make three of their popular doughnuts. The simple recipes are twists on the “Honey Dip,” “Old Fashioned,” and “Pon de Ring” doughnuts.

The doughnuts can be whipped up for breakfast, as a daytime snack or an evening treat, so customers can enjoy the taste of Mister Donut from the comfort of their own home.

The “Morning Ring Toast” recipe is the perfect wake-up treat made with honey dip, eggs, and ham, all of which complement each other deliciously.

“Old Fashioned Parfait” combines the irresistible crunchiness of the Old Fashioned doughnut with ice cream to create a real summertime dessert.

Finally, “Pon de Agedashi” is an indulgence for after dinner, bringing together Pon de Ring doughnuts with grated daikon radish. It’s a great snack to have with an evening drink.

Mister Donut Japan will release the recipe as well as a how-to-make video over on their official website this Friday, so be sure to try making your own at home.

A colourful line-up of angelic parfaits will be served up at Shiseido Parlour The Harajuku, which is located on the 8th floor of the WITH HARAJUKU shopping centre, from August 18 to October 11.

Made in collaboration with Shiseido Beauty Square, also located in the building, these parfaits are inspired by different popular cosmetic brands.

The parfaits will be switched out every two weeks. The first parfait will be based around the brand bareMinerals. After that it will be NARS, then Laura Mercier, and finally Dolce & Gabbana Beauty. Each sweet treat also comes with samples of cosmetics and fragrances from each respective beauty company.

Lychee Green Beauty Parfait with bareMinerals | ¥1,980 (Tax Included) | Serving: August 18, 2020 – August 30, 2020

The bareMinerals parfait is made with mineral-rich lychee sherbet, healthy ice cream made with tofu, marine blue jelly, ruby grapefruit, orange, mango, and more.

Fig & Berry Chocolate Mode Parfait with NARS | ¥1,980 (Tax Included) | Serving: September 1, 2020 – September 13, 2020

If you’re looking for true dark luxury, then tuck into this devilish layering of Belgian chocolate ice cream, strawberry milk sauce, figs, pione grapes, raspberries and a topping of macaron and chocolate.

Japanese Chestnut Tea Gradation Parfait with Laura Mercier | ¥1,980 (Tax Included) | Serving: September 15, 2020 – September 27, 2020

A delightful gourmet marriage of Earl Grey jelly, houjicha ice cream, and chai sauce which creates a nude lip brown colour. This one’s topped with Japanese chestnuts, blackcurrants, pomegranate, a macaron, and a swirling chocolate stick.

Blood Orange Exotic Parfait with Dolce & Gabbana Beauty | ¥1,980 (Tax Included) | Serving: September 29, 2020 – October 11, 2020

The final parfait is a vivid combination of sumptuously sweet blood orange sherbet, rose jelly, an ‘exotic’ sauce, ruby grapefruit, raspberries, mango, a macaron, and to decorate, a red rose.

*Depending on ingredient stock, the parfaits and serving periods are subject to change

*Photos are for illustrative purposes only

Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart released cream cheese-filled obanyaki branded with Moomin characters on August 4 in celebration of “Moomin’s Day” which falls on August 9.

Moomin Mochitto Cheese | ¥138 (Tax Included)

The Moomins are the main characters of Tove Jansson’s series of books and comic strips. August 9 is the birthday of the author, and so this date has become known as “Moomin’s Day” amongst fans of the series.

Obanyaki are a type of imagawayaki which are like waffles and are filled with various ingredients, the most popular being red bean paste which can often be found at festivals in Japan. These chewy Moomin obanyaku however are filled with cream cheese and are stamped with the familiar faces of Moominvalley including the titular characters, Snufkin, Little My, and the Hattifatteners.

What better way to celebrate Moomin’s Day than with a delicious treat? If you’re in Japan this summer, head to your closest FamilyMart.

©Moomin Characters™

Bandai Candy’s character-inspired Japanese confectionery series Tabemas released a new batch of Minion-themed Japanese wagashi confections at Lawson convenience stores in Japan (excluding Lawson Store 100 branches) on August 4, 2020.

‘Tabemas’ is an abbreviation of the Japanese words taberareru masukotto, meaning ‘mascots that you can eat.’ It is a Japanese confectionery series that combines well-known characters and Japanese sweets made from ingredients like red bean paste, sugar and rice flour.

Tabemas Minions | ¥264 (Before Tax)

The line-up includes familiar faces from the Despicable Me and Minions films, namely the childish Bob, Stuart—who loves a prank—and Kevin who has a leader presence about him. The confections feature all the little details for each character, from the goggles and hair to the colouring.

Each character has its own delicious bean paste flavouring too: Bob is banana flavoured (his favourote), Stuart is strawberry, and Kevin is chocolate. Which do you want to try the most?

© Universal City Studios LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Nestlé Japan is opening a new branch of KitKat Chocolatory inside Shibuya’s new shopping mall Miyashita Park on August 4, 2020.

KitKat Chocolatory is a direct-to-consumer chain, serving premium, handcrafted KitKats made with top quality ingredients and production methods under full direction by Takagi Yasumasa―the owner and chef of LE PATISSIER TAKAGI. Its product line-up features a range perfect as gifts to friends, family and co-workers, or as a treat to yourself.

Japan is home to eight KitKat Chocolatory branches. The new Miyashita Park Shibuya branch will open as the fourth in Tokyo, as well as the first where you can create your own KitKat products.

My KITKAT: ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

“My KITKAT” comes as the world’s first KitKat service where consumers can create their own original chocolate bars.

KitKat Waffle: ¥1,000 (Before Tax)

KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Soft Cream: ¥630 (Before Tax)

KitKat Chocolatory Miyashita Park Shibuya will also sell a variety of unique and exclusive KitKat desserts, like luxurious soft serve ice cream topped with couverture chocolate. It will also offer a cafe menu created by Nespresso, where customers can pair Chocolatory desserts with seasonal coffee menus, and more.

Shibuya-esque wall art will decorate the interior of the shop, making for plenty of photo opportunities.

Eight shops inside Laforet Harajuku are participating in the shopping mall’s midsummer takeout dessert event which is taking place from August 1 to 31. This includes the new milk dessert shop “MILK MILK MILK” which opened as the first branch in Japan on July 17 this year. Desserts and merchandise of Sanrio’s popular character Cinnamoroll, who won this year’s 2020 Sanrio Character Ranking, will also be sold.

café de paris | Floor B1F

Many Many Fruits Sandwich: Mango ¥626 / Green Grape ¥561 (Tax Included)　*Takeout only

Fresh fruit is packed onto these adorable looking sweet sandwiches.

CAFE CREPE | Floor 1F

Honey Summer Orange: ¥730 (Tax Included)　*Takeout only

Another cute summer dessert finished with swirls of fresh cream, fresh orange, and a round dollop of ginger ice cream.

MILK MILK MILK! | Floor 2F

Milk Bottle Smoothie: ¥880 (Tax Included)　*Takeout and have-in

Served in a cute milk bottle, what better way to cool down than with a cool strawberry smoothie?

Cinnamoroll Milk Pudding: ¥1,078 (Tax Included)　*Takeout and have-in

Cinnamoroll Sky Beaker Parfait: ¥1,048 (Tax Included)　*Have-in only

There are two tasty Cinnamoroll desserts to choose from, including the milk pudding made with Hokkaido milk and a parfait with a gradient or jelly and chocolate mint ice cream, topped with mint, and served in a beaker.

© 2001,2020 SANRIO.,CO.LTD. APPROVAL NO.S610695

The rainy season in Japan, known as Tsuyu, is finally coming to a close, which means the real summer is right around the corner. And what better way to stay cool in Japan during the summertime than with a glass of coo, refreshing cream soda?

We’ve compiled a list of 4 must-try cream sodas in Kyoto recommended by Tiara on Instagram, who posts photos on her Instagram of drinks and desserts she tries around the Kanto region of Japan, and who has kindly provided us with photos on this occasion too.

and C Kyoto | Kita-ku

Yellow Cream Soda / White Cream Soda / Red Cream Soda / Blue Cream Soda

and C Kyoto is a stylish bar, cafe, and second hand clothes store located right by Hirano Shrine. They serve four different colours of their cream soda which look super cute when lined up in a row.

and C Kyoto
Address: 30 Hirano Kamihatchōyanagichō, Kita-ku, Kyoto
Opening Hours: 12:00-23:00
Closed: Tuesdays
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andc102/

BABBI GELATERIA KYOTO | Gion Shijo

Mango Passion / Classic Blue / Amaou Strawberry

BABBI GELATERIA KYOTO is located along the Kamo River and is famous for its gelato. They also sell some super refreshing cream sodas topped with their tasty gelato.

BABBI GELATERIA KYOTO
Address: 134 Saitocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto
Opening Hours: 13:00-20:00 (Temporary hours due to COVID-19)
TEL: 075-585-5200
Official Website: http://www.babbi.co.jp/showcase/gelateria-kyoto/

Kissa Zou | Imadegawa

Pudding a la Mode / Lemon Squash & Elephant Cookie

This cute cream soda comes with an elephant-shaped cookie. The custard pudding has a rich eggy flavour.

Kissa Zou
Address: 440-3 Santeichō, Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto
Opening Hours: 10:00-18:00 (Last Orders 17:00)
No Fixed Holidays
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissa_zou/

Bread, Espresso & Arashiyama Garden | Arashiyama

Cherry Blossom Cream Soda

This old cafe is renovated from an old family estate which was built at the end of the Edo Period and is designated as a cultural property of Kyoto. This beautiful cafe coincides with the gardens and has gorgeous thatched roofing.

Bread, Espresso & Arashiyama Garden
Address: 45-15 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto
Opening Hours: 10:00-18:00 (Last Orders 17:00)
TEL 075-432-7940
Official Website: https://bread-espresso.jp

Tiara has lots of other delicious dessert recommendations over on her Instagram, so be sure to follow her if you’re travelling in the Kansai region and are in need of a sweet treat.

Original Text & Photo: ＠happy_pinkrose_tiara

Translation: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

*The information about the items on this list are correct at the time of publishing. For the latest information, please visit each cafe’s official websites and social media pages.

Japan’s popular confectionery souvenir shop Tokyo Banana is collaborating with Disney for one week from July 29 to August 7 at the Hankyu Umeda branch of Tokyo Banana in Osaka.

Officially named the “Disney SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana,” the line-up brings together the iconic Disney characters and centres them around the company’s brand concept which is to bring happiness to all who see and taste their products.

Mickey Mouse Pancake Sandwich: ¥1,080 for 4 / ¥1,382 for 6 (Tax Inclusive)

A box of “Mickey Mouse Pancake Sandwiches” contains baked, deliciously fluffy treats filled with soft cream. They come in two shapes: Mickey’s face and the iconic Tokyo Banana. The Mickey ones contain caramel cream and roasted almonds while the Tokyo Banana designs are filled with banana milk cream and chocolate chips.

Mickey Mouse Chocolate Sandwich: ¥1,080 for 12 / ¥2,160 for 24

The “Mickey Mouse Chocolate Sandwich” are crunchy cat tongue biscuits which have Tokyo Banana’s distinct milky flavour. They are made to be like a delicious banana milkshake you can eat and contain rich chocolate.

 © Disney

Cafe Comme Ca has announced that its second “Peach Blossom Spring Story” fair will run at several branches (see below) from August 1, 2020 to August 26, 2020. Sweet-tooths and peach lovers won’t be able to resist this fruity dessert line-up, including a cake made using a type of peach known as the “Miss Peach” from Fukushima Prefecture.

Cafe Comme Ca is a chain of cafes in Japan known for its artistic cakes which are made using fresh and specially selected fruits from across Japan.

Peach & Raspberry Cream Shortcake: Single Slice ¥1,100 (¥1,200 at the Ginza Branch) *Tax inclusive

An immaculate combination of fresh, sweet peaches and fluffy sponge. Enjoy together with the sweet and sour kick from the raspberry cream.

Miss Peach Cake: Single Slice ¥1,100 (¥1,400 at the Ginza Branch) *Tax inclusive

Made with rich, sweet Miss Peach peaches from Fukushima Prefecture, this cake has a fromage blanc base.

*The following branches will serve with white peaches from Okayama instead: Kyoto, Keihan City Mall, Sanyo Department Store, Fukuya Hatchobori, Fukuya Hiroshima Station, MITSUKOSHI Matsuyama, Fukuoka VIORO, and Izutsuya Kokura. Price: Single Slice ¥1,200.

Peach & Grape Cake: Single Slice ¥900 (Tax Included)

Laced with fresh peach juice and decorated beautifully with super sweet grapes. The mascarpone base is a match made in heaven.

*The Ginza branch will use peaches and grapes from Nagano Prefecture. Price: Single Slice ¥1,100.

Peach & Mango Cake: Single Slice ¥990 (Tax Included)

A sweet and fruity combination of peaches and soft mango with a cheese cream base.

*The Ginza branch will use peaches from Nagano Prefecture and mangoes from Mexico. Price: Single Slice ¥1,100.