Momiji manjū

Invented in Miyajima (Itsukushima) in the early 20th century, momiji manjū are Japanese sweet cakes filled with red bean paste. The dough is typically made with wheat, eggs, sugar, and honey. This manjū variety is characterized by its maple leaf shape, which represents Momijidani – a famous spot in Hiroshima for looking at maple leaves. Nowadays, this treat has many variations, so it can also be flavored and filled with custard cream, green tea, chocolate, or cream cheese, while some makers even batter the completed momiji, then deep-fry it.