Japanese Mochi Ice Cream

 Serves: 12      Prep Time: 20mins      Cook Time: 3mins

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups (8oz/225g) vanilla ice cream
• 1 cup (5½oz/160g) sweet glutinous rice flour
• 1/4 cup (2oz/57g) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (8oz/225ml) water
• A few drops of food coloring (optional)
• Cornstarch for dusting (or potato starch)

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. Line a small tray with parchment paper.
2. With a small ice cream scoop or spoon, scoop out twelve 2 tablespoon-sized scoops of ice cream (about .75oz /20g) onto the prepared and place in the freezer.
3. In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the sweet rice flour, sugar, and water, cover with plastic wrap and microwave for one minute.
4. Stir the rice flour mixture with a whisk to remove any lumps, re-cover with the plastic wrap, and microwave for another minute.
5. Dip a rubber spatula in water and stir the rice mixture again (do not use the whisk this time - it will be too sticky).
6. Cover the rice mixture one more time and microwave for another 30 seconds. It will now be a sticky dough. If adding in food dye stir it in at this point until it's evenly throughout the dough.
7. Place a large parchment paper on your counter and cover the paper with a generous dusting of corn starch (or potato starch).
8. With a wet spatula, scrape the dough onto the corn starch and dust the top of the dough with more corn starch.
9. Roll the dough into a rectangle no less than 1/4 inch thick (about 12x14inches/30x35cm). Keep dusting the top and bottom of the dough with corn starch as you roll or it will stick.
10. Once the dough is rolled out, place the parchment paper on a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator to set for 30 minutes.
11. Once the dough has set, cut circles of dough with a 3 ¾ inch (9½ cm) cutter.
12. Pick up one circle of dough and brush off the excess corn starch from both sides.
13. Working quickly, take one scoop of ice cream, place in the center of the circle flat side facing you. Press the edges of the dough together around the ice cream ball, squeezing to seal.
14. Wrap the mochi ice cream balls in cling wrap and place seam side down back in the freezer to set. You could use an egg carton to keep them upright. Repeat with remaining circles of dough and ice cream balls. Allow mochi to freeze totally for a minimum of 2 hours in the freezer.
15. When ready to eat, remove from the freezer and let sit for a few minutes to let soften.
16. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week.