Hsinchu-Inspired Glutinous Rice Balls in Sweet Ginger Syrup
Soft glutinous rice balls filled with sweet black sesame paste, served warm in a fragrant ginger-infused syrup, a comforting Taiwanese dessert. This Chinese-inspired recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, layers glutinous rice flour, water (for dough), black sesame seeds into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 200 g glutinous rice flour
- 160 ml water (for dough)
- 100 g black sesame seeds
- 50 g granulated sugar (for filling)
- 20 g unsalted butter (for filling)
- 30 g fresh ginger, sliced thin
- 600 ml water (for syrup)
- 120 g brown sugar (for syrup)
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Instructions
- Step 1: Toast 100 g black sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Grind finely in a food processor, then mix with 50 g granulated sugar and 20 g softened unsalted butter until a paste forms. Chill the paste for 15 minutes.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix 200 g glutinous rice flour with 160 ml water, kneading until smooth and pliable but not sticky, about 3-4 minutes.
- Step 3: Divide the dough into 20 equal pieces. Flatten each piece, place about 1 tsp black sesame paste in the center, then carefully seal and roll into smooth balls.
- Step 4: Bring 600 ml water with 30 g thinly sliced fresh ginger and 120 g brown sugar to a boil in a pot. Reduce to simmer and cook the rice balls in batches; when they float to the surface, continue cooking for 2 more minutes.
- Step 5: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked rice balls into bowls. Ladle the hot ginger syrup over them and serve warm.









