Obon-Inspired Sweet Rice Dumplings with Sesame Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Chewy glutinous rice dumplings served warm with a nutty black sesame sauce, inspired by traditional Japanese Obon festival treats. This Japanese-inspired recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, layers glutinous rice flour, hot water, 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 180 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Japanese cuisine 180 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Food processors worth buying for dips like this → Best Food Processors in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a mixing bowl, gradually add 1/2 cup hot water to 1 cup glutinous rice flour, stirring with chopsticks until a shaggy dough forms. When cool enough to handle, knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  2. Step 2: Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a 1-inch diameter ball. Set aside.
  3. Step 3: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Drop the rice balls into boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes until they float to the surface; remove with a slotted spoon.
  4. Step 4: To prepare the sesame sauce, toast 1/3 cup black sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes until fragrant. Transfer to a mortar and pestle or food processor and grind finely.
  5. Step 5: Mix ground sesame seeds with 3 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 tbsp honey, and 2 tbsp water until a thick, smooth sauce forms.
  6. Step 6: Serve the warm rice dumplings drizzled generously with the black sesame sauce for a sweet, nutty finish.

Related recipes