Doraemon
The Japanese manga and anime about Doraemon, a robot cat from the future who is absolutely crazy about dorayaki — two soft pancakes filled with azuki bean paste.
Doraemon is a classic Japanese anime about a robotic cat from the future who helps a boy named Nobita using magical gadgets. Dorayaki — pancakes filled with sweet azuki bean paste — is Doraemon's favorite treat, so iconic it's practically become the character's calling card across Japan. It's a classic Japanese dessert that existed long before the anime, but the show is what made dorayaki known well beyond Japan. Here are recipes in the spirit of the series — starting with dorayaki itself, simple and homely delicious.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Doraemon love dorayaki so much?
In the show, dorayaki is depicted as his absolute favorite treat — a detail that became one of the character's most recognizable traits, right alongside his blue color and gadget pocket.
What is dorayaki, really?
It's a traditional Japanese dessert — two fluffy sponge pancakes filled with sweet azuki bean paste — that existed long before the anime was created.
Is dorayaki hard to make at home?
Not at all — the pancakes are cooked like regular sponge-style pancakes, and azuki paste can be bought ready-made at an Asian grocery store or cooked yourself from red beans and sugar.