Matcha Mochi Cake with Pineapple Swirl
It’s time to bake outside the box—join Homemade for a cozy, chewy, tropical dessert that’s anything but ordinary. In this YouTube Live cooking class, we’re making Matcha Mochi Cake with a Pineapple Swirl—a naturally gluten-free treat with earthy green tea flavor, a gooey rice cake base, and a vibrant swirl of homemade pineapple curd.
No frosting, no fuss—just bold flavor, bouncy texture, and a swirl that looks as good as it tastes.
Recipe
Servings: 12
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Cool Time: 1 hour
For the Pineapple Curd:
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups very ripe pineapple chunks (blended to make ~1 cup purée)
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Zest of one lemon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Blend the pineapple chunks into a smooth purée.
- Add the cornstarch, lemon juice, and salt to the blender; blend again until fully combined and no lumps remain.
- Pour the purée into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until starting to thicken, about 3 minutes. You don’t want the curd too thick, so you can still swirl it into the cake.
- Stir in lemon zest and a pinch of salt and let cool while you make the cake batter.
For the Matcha Mochi Cake:
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups unsweetened plant-based milk
- ⅓ cup neutral tasting oil like avocado or canola
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ tbsp matcha powder, sifted
- 2 cups (260 g) mochiko (sweet rice flour)
- ½ cup (60 g) tapioca flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, vanilla, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
- In a large bowl, sift in matcha powder, then add mochiko, tapioca flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk until the batter is smooth and lump-free.
Assemble and Bake:
- Pour the matcha mochi batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Dollop the pineapple curd across the surface. Use a knife or skewer to swirl it gently—don’t overmix.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is puffed, golden around the edges, and set in the center. Turn halfway through baking.
- Let cool in the pan before slicing into squares.
Recipe
Matcha Mochi Cake with Pineapple Swirl
A chewy, tropical rice cake with a swirl of naturally sweet pineapple curd. No glaze, no topping—just bouncy texture and a hit of matcha to keep it earthy and cool.
Servings: 12
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Cool time: 1 hour
Ingredients
For the pineapple curd:
- 1½ cups very ripe pineapple chunks (blended to make ~1 cup purée)
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Zest of one lemon
- Pinch of salt
For the matcha mochi cake:
- 1½ cups unsweetened plant-based milk
- ⅓ cup neutral tasting oil (like avocado or canola)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ tbsp matcha powder, sifted
- 2 cups (260 g) mochiko (sweet rice flour)
- ½ cup (60 g) tapioca flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Make the pineapple curd:
Blend the pineapple chunks into a smooth purée.
Add the cornstarch, lemon juice, and salt to the blender; blend again until fully combined and no lumps remain.
Pour the purée into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it begins to thicken—about 3 minutes. (You want it loose enough to swirl into the cake.)
Stir in the lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Let cool while you prepare the batter. - Make the matcha mochi batter:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, vanilla, sugar, and eggs until smooth.
In a large bowl, sift in the matcha powder, then add mochiko, tapioca flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk until the batter is smooth and lump-free. - Assemble and bake:
Pour the matcha mochi batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
Dollop the pineapple curd across the surface. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl it—don’t overmix.
Bake for 45–55 minutes, or until the top is puffed, golden around the edges, and set in the center. Rotate the pan halfway through baking.
Let cool in the pan before slicing into squares.