If you go to a Chinese bakery, black sesame mochi balls can usually be found on the menu. In my version, you can easily make this delicious treat at home with much less oil using an air fryer! I fell in love with mochi because of the chewy and slightly sweet texture and it is so versatile because you can fill it with anything you like. In this version, I filled it with black sesame because you get a nutty, toasty flavor that is unbeatable. Cooking it in the air fryer yields similar results as deep frying but without all that oil. Black sesame seeds also contain a ton of calcium and supports digestive health, hormonal balance, and brain function. What is there not to love about these air fried treats?
Why you’ll love this recipe
I absolutely adore black sesame mochi balls because they’re like little bites of heaven! If you’re craving a sweet treat or just looking to indulge in something utterly delicious, black sesame mochi balls are guaranteed to hit the spot every single time. I love this version because air fried mochi balls gives you the right texture without all that oil. Trust me, once you try them, you’ll be hooked!
Ingredients
- Black sesame seeds – This ingredient is earthy, nutty and is used in a lot of Asian desserts! Use ground black sesame seeds or grind them yourself to get a paste for the filling
- Honey – Mixed with the black sesame seeds to create a paste and add a touch of sweetness
- Glutinous Rice Flour – The key ingredient for the chewy, bouncy exterior mochi
- Sugar – Mixed with the glutinous rice flour to add a touch of sweetness
- Water – Added to the glutinous rice flour to turn it into dough. M
- White sesame seeds – Used to coat the mochi balls for more nutty flavors. You can use untoasted as it will get toasted in the air fryer while cooking
- Vegetable oil – A little bit is used to coat the mochi balls when air frying.
How to Make Air Fryer Black Sesame Mochi Balls
- In large mixing bowl, combine 3/4 cup glutinous rice flour and sugar. Mix together with boiling water until combined. Allow to rest for 5 mins until slightly cooled down. Knead in remaining glutinous rice flour, 1/4 cup lukewarm water, and 1 tsp of vegetable oil. Add additional 1 Tbsp water, one at a time, to form a smooth dough. Cover and rest for 30 mins.
- Combine black sesame powder and honey until forms a thick paste. Divide the paste into 8 portions and roll each portion into small ball
- Divide the dough into 8 even portions and roll each portion into round ball. Flatten the dough ball and add black sesame paste in the middle then seal the edges and roll the dough into a ball.
- Brush some vegetable oil to mochi ball then roll them into sesame seeds to allow it to stick.
- Preheat air fryer to 200F. Add sesame balls but do not overcrowd and cook in batches if needed. Cook for 12-14 mins and flip halfway. Turn up air fryer to 350F and cook for another 3-5 mins until golden brown. Serve warm and eat immediately.
Storage
I recommend eating this as fresh as possible. However, you can make sesame balls ahead of time then freeze them before cooking. Follow cooking directions and cook directly from frozen.