One flavor still rules the nation.

For the last five years, Baskin-Robbins Japan (colloquially known as “31”) has been holding an annual Flavor Election that petitions fans of its ice cream to vote for their top flavors to discover the nation’s favorite.

Out of a possible 1,400 original flavors that could have been potentially chosen from across the 53 years it has been operating in Japan, Baskin-Robbins narrowed down the contenders to the top 100, based on their own data, for fans to vote on and determine the tops spots in popularity.

Starting with the overall top five, the tallies are:

• 5. Strawberry Cheesecake – 28,593 votes
• 4. Jamoca Almond Fudge – 30,190 votes
• 3. Burgundy Cherry – 31,163 votes
• 2. Cotton Candy – 31,509 votes
• 1. Love Potion 31 – 69,318 vote

With more than double the amount of votes as second place, this year’s runaway champion is Love Potion 31, a flavor poised to make you fall in love with it thanks to a delightful mix of raspberry and white chocolate ice cream with chocolate heart accents.

▼ Caramel Ribbon, Strawberry Cheesecake, Cookies and Cream, Dainagon Azuki, Love Potion 31, Very Berry Strawberry

One of the charms of Baskin-Robbins is the rotating limited-edition menu, with new and exciting flavors available each season, necessitating regular visits for anyone with even a hint of a sweet tooth. The most popular among the limited-edition flavors are:

• 5. Daiquiri Ice – 15,520 votes
• 4. Magical Mint Night – 17,522 votes
• 3. 31 All Stars – 18,646 votes
• 2. Burgundy Cherry – 31,163 votes
• 1. Cotton Candy – 31,509 votes

While Cotton Candy was second in the limited-time category in last year’s poll, this year the sweet cotton candy ice cream rose to the top of this sub-section for the first time, with Baskin-Robbins’ cherry ice cream with rich cherry chunks a very close second.

▼ Burgundy Cherry, Cotton Candy, Tea Au Lait, Strawberry Royal Milk Tea, Mandarin Orange Cheesecake, White Tiramisu

Of course, with so many new flavors making appearances each year, there are naturally promising newcomers who are looking to build their fanbase. The flavors that have overtaken their fellow new counterparts in the poll this year are:

• 5. Berry Meets Pistachio – 3,648 votes
• 4. White Tiramisu – 4,931 votes
• 3. Mandarin Orange Cheesecake – 5,099 votes
• 2. Strawberry Royal Milk Tea – 5,772 votes
• 1. Melty Strawberry Chocolate – 7,926 votes

Melty Strawberry Chocolate is a mouthwatering addition to Baskin-Robbins’s offerings that’s a mix of a chocolate and strawberry ice creams, further blended with a ribbon of strawberry sauce and chocolate chunks to balance its sweet and slightly sour elements.

This time around, Baskin-Robbins has introduced a new category: Double. The option of choosing two flavors and enjoying double the deliciousness is a highly recommended way to experience the ice cream at Baskin-Robbins, so what better way to find out the next combination to try than learning other people’s pairing of choice.

The top picks for Doubles are:

• 5. Chocolate Mint and Popping Shower – 5,872 votes
• 4. Strawberry Cheesecake and Popping Shower – 7,052 votes
• 3. Caramel Ribbon and Popping Shower – 8,132 votes
• 2. Cotton Candy and Popping Shower – 12,590 votes
• 1. Love Potion 31 and Popping Shower – 35,202 votes

Considering how popular Love Potion 31 was found to be, it comes as no surprise that a combination featuring it has reached first place with close to three times the votes as second place.

However, the list also has what might seem like an anomaly: every choice in the top five includes the Popping Shower, a flavor of mint ice cream with popping candy pieces mixed in. In fact, it was in every combination in the Top 9. Seeing the mint and chocolate ice cream, mixed with popping candy, featured so often, it is a testament to how beloved the flavor is. In total, Popping Shower enters the top 50 list a total of 19 times, including seventeenth place where it is paired with itself, so its popularity is without question. The fact remains, though, that it does not show up at all in the 100 flavors in the single category. So, why is that?

▼ The legendary Popping Shower

Well, Popping Shower is simply too popular. After its inclusion in the first-ever poll, where it absolutely crushed the competition, it was determined that any future poll would similarly be dominated by Popping Shower, so it was ceremoniously retired into the Hall of Fame and removed from the candidate list from the second poll onwards, giving the other flavors a shot at the glory of being crowned champion. Popping Shower was allowed special entry into the Double category where it demonstrated that its dominance over other flavors has not diminished at all with time.

As a result of the poll, Baskin-Robbins Japan have pledged to turn the overall winner Love Potion 31 into an original keychain to be given to 31 winners selected by lottery from those who voted for it. They also promise to re-release the top three limited-edition flavors in 2027, so keep your eyes peeled for their return. In addition, there will also be gift cards, all-you-can-eat event vouchers, and variety box vouchers up for grabs in the lottery for those who participated in the poll. If you want to be in a chance for winning, keep checking for news of the poll next year.

With the frequently rotating menu, the best time to visit Baskin-Robbins is: always. However, if you don’t eat ice cream very often, but still want to see what all the fuss is about, you can’t go wrong with getting a Double with this year’s champion, Love Potion 31, and the eternal king Popping Shower.

Related: Baskin-Robbins Japan
Source: Baskin-Robbins Japan, PR Times via Golden Times
Images: PR Times
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A fun new way to learn kanji… and reward yourself for it at the same time.  

It’s been just over two weeks since Kanji Ice opened a store in the historic district of Kamakura in Tokyo’s neighbouring Kanagawa Prefecture. The opening on 1 May was perfectly timed to precede Golden Week, a string of holidays on 3-6 May, which is known for being a busy travel and shopping period.

While the store’s operators had hoped it would be busy, they couldn’t predict just how sought after its wares would be, and demand turned out to be so great that many of its ice creams totally sold out, proving they were onto a winner.

▼ The word “ice” commonly means “ice cream” in Japan.

So what makes these new ice creams such a sell-out hit? Well, for starters, they look amazing, with three flavours – Crunchy Rich Chocolate, Crispy Strawberry, and Chewy Milk – moulded into kanji letters that read: “Kamakura“, “Japan” and “Ninja“.

▼ 鎌倉 (“Kamakura“)

Then there’s the fact that they’ve been developed with a special ice cream manufacturing technology that prevents the ice cream from melting, so it remains solid even after 30 minutes even at room temperature. The non-melting ice cream is a patented technology of a Japanese company called Fulllife, who is working with the store to jointly file a new patent application for the Kanji Ice Cream.

Non-melting ice cream is said to be perfect for carrying around, so you can capture memorable photos of the Kanji Ice cream at various tourist spots in the vicinity. The store is also working at expanding beyond Kamakura, with Kanji Ice cream now available at sites like Sanga Stadium in Kyoto and JR Shin-Fuji Station in Shizuoka Prefecture and the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in Yamanashi Prefecture, where you can pick up an ice cream that says “Mt. Fuji” (富士山).

The store is also able to create custom ice creams for events, like these two, which read 高輪 (“Takanawa”) and ゲートウエイテック (“Gateway Tech”), for an annual business event at Tokyo’s Takanawa Gateway City.

With so many options for customisation, the Kanji Ice Cream might soon be greeting you at all sorts of tourist sites around Japan.

▼ Strawberry polyphenols are used for the ice cream’s non-melting properties.

This is a very social media-friendly ice cream that’s sure to attract attention online, so keep an eye out for it while you travel around Japan. And if you happen to find yourself over in Gifu, there’s a non-melt katana samurai sword ice cream that draws upon the secret powers of kudzu for its remarkable strength.

Store information
Kanji Ice Cream / 漢字アイス
Address: Kanagawa-ken, Kamakura-shi, Yukinoshita 1-6-4
神奈川県鎌倉市雪ノ下1-6-4
Open 11:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Source, images: Press release
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This collection of 20 Desserts with Vanilla Pastry Cream is one I keep coming back to. There’s something incredibly comforting about that silky, rich cream, simple ingredients, yet it transforms every dessert into something special.

Inside, you’ll find a mix of classic favorites and a few treats I love making again and again for my family. From delicate pastries to layered cakes and easy, cozy desserts, each recipe celebrates that smooth vanilla filling in its own way. Some are perfect for special occasions, others are simple enough for a quiet afternoon when you just want to bake something sweet.

I’ve always loved how versatile vanilla pastry cream is. It can be piped, spread, layered, or tucked into just about anything, and it never disappoints. These are the kinds of desserts that feel both elegant and comforting at the same time.

Alongside classic favorites, you’ll find plenty of twists where vanilla pastry cream becomes the starting point for something a little different. Think layers of caramel, hints of pistachio, or subtle flavor additions that turn a familiar dessert into something new and exciting. I love how easily this cream adapts while still keeping that comforting, elegant feel.

I’ve kept the recipes approachable, with clear steps and familiar ingredients, so you can focus on the joy of baking rather than the details.

Mini Berry Tarts with Vanilla Pastry Cream

These Mini Berry Tarts with Vanilla Pastry Cream are one of those desserts that feel a little special but are actually so simple to put together. I made them with a buttery pâte sablée crust that bakes up perfectly crisp and delicate. It’s one of my favorite bases for anything with fruit. The filling starts with a smooth vanilla pastry cream, rich but not too heavy, just enough to create a soft, creamy layer.

Check out this recipe

Puff Pastry Apple Tart with Vanilla Pastry Cream

This Puff Pastry Apple Tart is inspired by the Spanish-style tart,Tarta de Manzana con Crema Pastelera, the kind you’ll spot in bakeries across Barcelona, all glossy and golden and impossible to walk past. I wanted to bring that same feeling home, and it turned out even better than I hoped.The flaky crust, the creamy filling, and the flavorful apples on top make it one of the most amazing desserts you can enjoy this fall.

Check out this recipe

Fraisier – French Strawberry Cake

Fraisier is one of the most elegant strawberry cakes I have made so far. A decadent French dessert consisting of two layers of almond genoise cake soaked in kirsch liqueur syrup, filled with mousseline cream and fresh strawberries and topped with a flavorful homemade marzipan.

Check out this recipe

Vanilla Soufflé

These vanilla souffles are simply out of this world. So fluffy with a mousse like texture, almost melting in your mouth, light and airy and full of vanilla flavor. Such an amazing way of finishing your lunch or dinner. Enjoy!

Check out this recipe

Vanilla Raspberry Mini Eclairs

These Vanilla Raspberry Mini Eclairs are delectable bite-sized pastries that combine the timeless flavors of creamy vanilla and tangy raspberry. These elegant treats feature delicate choux pastry shells, filled with a luscious vanilla pastry cream and homemade raspberry jam.

Check out this recipe

Eclair Cake – Karpatka – Polish Carpathian Mountain Cream Cake

Karpatka – Eclair Cake, also known as Polish Carpathian Mountain Cream Cake, is a delightful dessert that has captured the hearts of pastry lovers around the world. This cake is essentially a giant cream puff or eclair, made up of two layers of choux pastry that are filled with a generous amount of vanilla cream

Check out this recipe

Kremšnita – Krempita – Cremeschnitte – Vanilla Custard Cake

This delicious dessert made of sheets of crispy puff pastry, filled with vanilla custard is very familiar in many European countries and it is known under various names: cremeschnitte, krempita, kremšnita, krémes, cremsnit, cremes and so on. No matter how is called it is definitely a dessert you need to try at least once in a lifetime.

Check out this recipe

Kvæfjordkake –  Norwegian Verdens Beste – World’s Best Cake

I am so glad to share with you an amazing Norwegian cake, called Kvæfjordkake – or Verdens Beste ( World's Best Cake) that is absolutely delightful. This cake consists of two layers of soft vanilla sponge cake topped with crispy baked meringue and toasted almonds filled with smooth and creamy vanilla custard and whipping cream.

Check out this recipe

Pistachio Raspberry Mini Eclairs

These Pistachio Raspberry Mini Eclairs are delightful pastries that combine the irresistible flavors of pistachios and tangy raspberry into a bite-sized treat. These fancy treats feature delicate pastry shells filled with creamy pistachio cream and homemade raspberry jam. They are finished with a drizzle of melted white chocolate and topped with chopped pistachios and fresh raspberry halves.

Check out this recipe

Raspberry Mille Feuille (Napoleon)

This Raspberry Mille Feuille is amazing. The raspberries bring a refreshing fruity flavor that makes it one of the best summer treats.

Check out this recipe

Boston Cream Pie

Boston Cream Pie is a classic combination that everybody enjoys. This cake is really easy to prepare and doesn’t need any sort of decoration except for spreading the chocolate in such a way as to spill down the sides. It sets quickly after assembling and is ready to serve in less than 20 minutes.

Check out this recipe

Ding Dong Cake – Moist Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Cream Filling

Ding Dong cake is a delightful dessert that is sure to impress. It is rich, decadent, and indulgent, making it the perfect treat for any special occasion or simply to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Check out this recipe

Vanilla Meringue Mousse Cake

This Vanilla Meringue Mousse Cake is one of the most delightful vanilla cakes, with a classic combination of vanilla and chocolate. The cake consists of two vanilla sponge cake layers filled with smooth vanilla meringue mousse, topped with chocolate glaze and decorated with fresh raspberries.

Check out this recipe

Lemon Custard Rose Sweet Rolls

These Lemon Custard Rose Sweet Rolls are a mouthwatering pastry treat that combines the flavor of lemon with the sweet creaminess of custard, all wrapped up in a soft, fluffy, rose-shaped bun. These sweet rolls are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or any time you're craving something sweet and indulgent.

Check out this recipe

Puff Pastry Caramel Slice – Caramel Custard Cake

This delightful Puff Pastry Caramel Slice, a dessert with a perfect harmony of flavors and textures. This desserts features layers of flaky puff pastry that create a satisfying crunch, with a velvety caramel pastry cream filling thar offers a sweet, creamy center.

Check out this recipe

Vanilla Eclairs

Eclairs are a great French dessert, made from choux pastry, filled with cream and then topped usually with fondant icing. For topping there are many variations, but making a simple and quick chocolate ganache seemed just perfect for me.

Check out this recipe

Passion Fruit Cake Roll

Get ready to impress your guests with a showstopping Passion Fruit Cake Roll filled with silky smooth vanilla pastry cream and tangy passion fruit curd.

Check out this recipe

Paris-Brest

Paris-Brest is made from a ring of choux pastry filled with praline mousseline cream and decorated with flaked almonds and powdered sugar, imitating the shape of the bicycle wheel. It is obviously a high calorie dessert that gave energy to riders, soon became very popular and now is a dessert known worldwide.

Check out this recipe

Pecan Caramel Mousse Cake

This Pecan Caramel Mousse Cake is an elegant delightful cake that is perfect for fall days and especially for Thanksgiving table. The cake consists of two layers of vanilla sponge cake with caramel pecan topping and with a smooth custard salted caramel mousse filling.

Check out this recipe

Pistachio Pudding

Pistachio pudding is a delightful and indulgent dessert that combines the rich and nutty flavor of pistachios with a smooth and creamy texture. This luscious treat is a favorite among dessert enthusiasts and is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Check out this recipe

If you love classic flavors and simple desserts that always deliver, I think you’ll find yourself coming back to these recipes just as often as I do.

I hope this collection of vanilla pastry cream desserts inspires you to bake and enjoy a cozy moment of your own. If you try any of these recipes, I’d truly love to see. Share your photos on  Instagram and tag me so I can admire your beautiful creations!

Other recipe collections:

20 Yogurt Desserts
8 Easy Must-Try Zucchini Recipes
30 Irresistible Custard Desserts
20 Delightful Chicken Recipes
35 Mouthwatering Gluten-Free Desserts
25 Dairy-Free Desserts
20 Egg Recipes for Breakfast or Brunch
30 Best Caramel Recipes
20 Baked Cheesecake Recipes
15 No-Bake Cheesecake Recipes
60 Budget-Friendly Desserts
55 High-Protein Recipes
20 Muffin Pan Recipes
40 Best Back-to-School Recipes
30 Amazing Raspberry Desserts
20 High-Protein Desserts
50 Sweet Bakes Perfect for Coffee Time
40 Refined Sugar-Free Sweet Recipes
30 Unique Layer Cake Recipes
30 Best Apple Recipes

The post 20 Amazing Desserts with Vanilla Pastry Cream appeared first on Home Cooking Adventure.

This chilled sando is a convenience store must-try.

When you’re travelling around Japan and learning the language, you’ll find yourself picking up new words in odd places, and right now the word at 7-Eleven is “yokubari“. Literally translating as “greedy” or “indulgent“, the chain is using the word to describe a range of single-serve “one-piece” sandwiches that are so loaded with decadent fillings they’re bulging at the seams, and now there’s a new variety on the shelves.

▼ Chocolate Chip & Whipped Cream

At first glance, you might wonder where the chocolate chips are, as the cross-section shows what appears to be flakes rather than chips.

The chocolate chunks are there but they’re hiding inside the sandwich, scattered within the cream filling.

We only found out about the chunks after picking up one of the “yokubari sando” at our nearest 7-Eleven. It took us a while to get to the inside of the sando, though, as we were mesmerised by just how beautiful it looked.

▼ The combination of white, brown and pink created a wonderfully harmonious colour palette.

The pink slices are called “sakura bread”, and are said to add more than just visual appeal as they’re slightly salty, with a flavour that’s reminiscent of pickled cherry blossoms.

Opening the sandwich for a closer look, we were pleased to see that the filling hadn’t just been pushed to the cross section – it covered the entire surface area of the bread, proving the chain wasn’t skimping on the chocolate chip cream.

This is when we discovered that the cream was actually filled with chunks of chocolate, making it look like chocolate chip ice cream.

▼ Flakes up front, chips out back.

Putting the sandwich back together for a taste, we took a big bite and lost ourselves to the super soft texture.

The bread was plump and chewy, the cream was fluffy and exquisite, and the mixture of chocolate flakes and chips made it taste chunky and melty at the same time.

This meltiness actually had another surprising effect, as it made the whole thing taste like an ice cream sandwich. The chocolate itself tasted like the hardened sort you get on chocolate-covered ice creams, so every bite fooled the taste buds into thinking this was an ice cream.

It was such an unusual sensation that we hardly noticed any saltiness from the sakura bread – if it was there it only added to the ice cream effect – and we were glad we had it chilled as this made it taste even more like chocolate chip ice cream.

We didn’t think the chain could outdo itself after wowing us with its previous Yokubari Sando, filled with colourful chocolate sprinkles, but we’re happy to say they’ve blown us out of the water with this new variety. Sweet, delicious, and very indulgent, the Chocolate Chip and Whipped Cream Yokubari is a convenience store must-try, and it’s perfectly timed for summer, when its ice cream-esque character will keep you cool and refreshed during Japan’s scorchingly hot days.

Images©SoraNews24
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Customizable Yukimi Daifuku shop makes an amazing variety of sweet treats so that you can find the perfect one for you.

There are certain problems in life that it’s nice to have. For example, Japan has so many amazing desserts that just picking one can be a tough decision, and that’s not going to get any easier with the opening of My Yukimi Daifuku, a new sweets shop coming to Tokyo’s Nakameguro neighborhood this summer.

As the name implies, My Yukimi Daifuku is a place for Yukimi Daifuku, confectioner Lotte’s brand of mochi ice cream dumplings, and it’s going to very much be contributing to our delicious dilemma of having so many dessert options, as it’ll be offering 648 different kinds of Yukimi Daifuku.

▼ Pictured: Less than 3 percent of the My Yukimi Daifuku dessert lineup

My Yukimi Daifuku arrives at this amazing amount of variety by letting you customize the dumplings to your liking. You start by choosing from one of eight ice cream flavors, matcha, hojicha (roasted green tea), vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, banana, cream cheese, or mint chocolate chip. Next you choose one of eight “toppings” for your scoop of ice cream, but it’s really more like a filling, since the cream and its topping are going to be wrapped in mochi. The options here include chocolate ganache, tsubu an (sweet red bean paste), kuromitsu (brown sugar molasses), strawberry sauce, and mascarpone cheese. Finally, you select one of eight “finishers” to be spread over the top of the wrapped mochi dumpling, such as matcha or cocoa powder, kinako (roasted soybean powder), or cookie crumbles.

▼ The menu, with photographs showing the various stages of production for the Yukimi Daifuku

And even those aren’t quite all the flavors to choose from, as My Yukimi Daifuku will have special treats for early summer (June and July), midsummer (August), and the “lingering heat” of September. For early summer, the featured flavor will be a combination of frozen yogurt, blueberry sauce, and cookie crumbles, for a refreshing, cooling sensation.

The mochi ice cream dumplings are handmade to order to deliver the freshest flavor possible, and also likely because it’d be impossible to keep so many different combinations pre-made in stock. Perhaps in recognition of how hard it’d be to narrow down 600-plus choices, My Yukimi Daifuku sells its mochi ice cream dumplings in sets of two, with prices ranging from 900 to 980 yen (US$5.70-US$6.20) depending on the exact ingredients you choose. Even then, though, you’re going to have some decisions to make, especially since the shop will only be open from June 17 to September 23, meaning that even if you were to go every day, you’d still never run out of new treats to try.

Shop information
My Yukimi Daifuku / my雪見だいふく
Address: Tokyo-to, Meguro-ku, Kamimeguro 1-13-11
Open 1 p.m.- 8 p.m. (weekdays), 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (weekends, holidays)
Open June 17-September 23

Source, images: PR Times
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A taste of the U.S. via Okinawa.

Our intrepid reporter Mr. Sato was recently in Fussa, a part of Tokyo west of the downtown area, where he discovered Tampopo, a retro pachinko parlor that lets you try your hand at the game without worrying about the gambling part of it. Fussa has more invitingly old-school vibes to offer, though, as Mr. Sato found while walking along National Route 16.

National Route 16 is actually a bit of an international thoroughfare, since it runs right along the edge of the United States Air Force’s Yokota Air Base. The base’s exact boundaries have shifted a bit over the years, and some former base housing sites and structures are now part of the civilian cityscape, with many of them having been converted into shops and restaurants with nods to their former occupants.

There’s even a section of Route 16 that’s been dubbed the Fussa Friendship Promenade.

As Mr. Sato ambled down the road, heading towards Ushihama Station, the next stop over from Fussa Station on the Ome Line, he spotted another sign representing a meeting point between Japan and America.

Blue Seal is a Japanese ice cream brand from Okinawa, but before that it was an American ice cream brand…but still one from Okinawa. Originally, Blue Seal was produced on, and only available at, U.S. military bases in Okinawa, created to supply American personnel and their accompanying family members a taste of home at a time before ice cream became readily available in Japan. In the 1960s, Blue Seal became available on the civilian market in Japan, and while ice cream is no longer hard to find in the country, among Japanese sweets fans Blue Seal has a reputation for being some of the very best.

However, Blue Seal isn’t so easy to find in the Tokyo area, and it wasn’t until 2006 that the chain finally came to east Japan, when it opened this Fussa branch.

As its first location in east Japan, the Fussa Blue Seal has a special “Big Dip” designation on its sign, just like the main branch in Okinawa’s Urasoe. The Fussa branch’s flagship status means that in addition to 25 different flavors ice cream, it also serves apple pie.

With the sun shining down brightly on him, Mr. Sato couldn’t say no to some Blue Seal ice cream, so he decided to take a break from his walk and refuel. He opted for the Blue Seal Sundae, which lets you choose one flavor each of scooped ice cream and soft serve for 750 yen (US$4.80), and made his selections salty milk and almond pistachio.

▼ And yes, his smile was just as big after he was done eating it.

Blue Seal has only three other Tokyo branches, one in the Ebisu neighborhood, one in Kokubunji, and one inside Haneda Airport’s Terminal 2. Given the brand’s roots, though, Mr. Sato feels like there’s a special sense of fun that comes from making an ice cream run at the Fussa branch.

Shop information
Blue Seal (Fussa branch) / ブルーシール（福生店）
Addres: Tokyo-to, Fussa-shi, Fussa 2475 Yokotakichi-mae
東京都福生市福生2475 横田基地前
Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Website

Photos © SoraNews24
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Eudaemonius posted a photo:

Critical Hit-flavor ice cream and Mimic containers among the sweet adventures waiting at Baskin-Robbins.

Generally speaking, customers wouldn’t be happy to see slimes at the restaurants and sweets shops they visit. But just like your kindergarten teacher told you, capitalization is important, and so the appearance of Slimes at Baskin-Robbins Japan is a cause for joy across the nation.

Yes, the mascot monsters of the Dragon Quest video game franchise have drawn near to Thirty-One, as Baskin-Robbins is known to fans in Japan. Among the treats that made their debut on June 1 is the Slimes Draw Near Ice Cream Cake.

This 11.5-centimeter (4.5-inch) diameter cake features a two-tiered Slime Island with edible frosting Slimes, decorative paper ones, and a command window-style chocolate plate with a message of your choice written on it (the one in the above photo announces “Papa has reached level 31!”). The cake’s interior is made up of four different flavors of ice cream: Double Chocolate, Caramel Ribbon, Strawberry, and Popping Shower, the last of which is so deeply loved in Japan that Baskin-Robbins had to remove it from the voting in their popularity polls.

Arriving at the same time as the Slime cake is a new ice cream flavor called Critical Hit Golden Pineapple Lemonade (or Kaishin no Ichigeki Golden Pine Lemonade in Japanese) that tips its hat to Dragon Quest’s RPG gameplay mechanics.

The looks here are a little deceiving, as the sky-blue sorbet here isn’t the Ramune/Blue Hawaii flavor usually associated with this color in Japan, but instead is a lemonade-flavor sorbet, while the yellow is golden pineapple sorbet. The “critical hit” comes from the red ribbons of sour lemon flavor and the mixed-in pieces of Baskin-Robbins Japan’s newly crafted pachishuwa/“fizzy popping” candies, giving this refreshing new ice cream flavor a stimulating kick too.

▼ The introductory video even features the Dragon Quest critical hit sound effect, plus pop-up damage scores of 31, 310, and 3,131.

Of course, Baskin-Robbins’ whole deal is that they have a bunch of different flavors, and if you’re in the mood for far more than just one, there’s a Dragon Quest 40th Set (since this year is Dragon Quest’s 40th anniversary) that puts eight ice cream flavors of your choice inside a Mimic. Each flavor comes in a special cup with Dragon Quest overworld map pixel artwork, and the bundle also includes a Popping Shower Slime keychain.

▼ In order to lure in gold-seeking adventurers, Mimics usually disguise themselves as treasure chests, but here in the real world is there any container more tempting than a box filled with ice cream?

And finally, for those focused enough to only need one scoop of ice cream, or perhaps those cultured enough to always want whipped cream and sprinkles, there’s the A Slime Draws Near Battle Sundae, which includes one of 10 random decorative character illustrations.

The Battle Sundae is priced at 580 yen (US$3.75), the Slime cake 4,300 yen, and the Mimic box 3,000 or 3,500 yen, depending on whether you choose small or regular-sized scoops of ice cream. The Dragon Quest collaboration is scheduled to run until June 30.

Source: Baskin-Robbins Japan via Otakomu
Top image: Baskin-Robbins Japan
Insert images: Baskin-Robbins Japan (1, 2, 3)
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There’s something about tiramisu that never gets old. The creamy mascarpone layers, the coffee-soaked ladyfingers, the light cocoa dusting on top… it’s one of those desserts I always find myself craving. Over time, I started experimenting with different ways to enjoy those classic flavors. This collection became a small celebration of all my favorite tiramisu-inspired desserts.

In this collection, you’ll find 8 delicious ways to make tiramisu, from the traditional classic version to fun and creative twists. Yo’ll find tiramisu truffles, strawberry tiramisu, tiramisu cheesecake, ice cream, cake roll, and Tiramisu layer cake. Some recipes are elegant enough for special occasions, while others are simple desserts you can make just because you’re craving something sweet and comforting.

What I love most is that every recipe still keeps that familiar tiramisu feeling while bringing something a little different to the table. Some are richer, some lighter, some fruity, and some extra indulgent. All of them are easy to make and perfect for sharing with family and friends.

If you love tiramisu as much as I do, I hope these recipes inspire you to try a new favorite version.

Easy Tiramisu Truffles

These Tiramisu Truffles are like little bites of pure romance, everything you love about the classic Italian dessert, wrapped up in a delicate, cocoa-dusted sphere. They start with rich mascarpone, whipped just enough to make it silky, then blended with the deep flavor of fresh coffee and the delicate crunch of crushed ladyfingers.

Check out this recipe

Best Classic Tiramisu

Nothing goes better in a hot summer day than a chilled dessert. Tiramisu is one of these irresistible desserts that is so easily to put together and requires no cooking.It is rich and fluffy, literally melts in your mouth. No wonder why everybody loves it that much.

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No-Bake White Chocolate Tiramisu Cheesecake

This No-Bake White Chocolate Tiramisu Cheesecake is a great summer dessert, with an amazing flavor and texture. It is an eggless no-bake Tiramisu cake that looks and tastes amazing. A coffee ladyfinger crumb crust, a creamy Mascarpone white chocolate filling, and a layer of coffee and Marsala wine dipped ladyfingers insert.

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Tiramisu Cake Roll

This Tiramisu Cake Roll is a delectable dessert that combines the classic flavors of tiramisu with the lightness of a sponge cake, making it a dessert that is both indulgent and satisfying. It is a dessert that is sure to please anyone with a sweet tooth. 

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1 Minute – Tiramisu Mug Cake

This Tiramisu Mug Cake is topped with Mascarpone and dusted with some cocoa powder. If you like Tiramisu you should definitely try this easy and quick Tiramisu Mug Cake as I am sure it will be a delightful experience.

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Strawberry Tiramisu

Enjoy a delightful twist on the classic Italian dessert, tiramisu, with our Strawberry Tiramisu! Picture delicate ladyfinger biscuits soaked in fresh strawberry sauce and layered with a creamy mixture of mascarpone cheese and whipped cream.

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Tiramisu Layer Cake

This amazing Tiramisu Cake is one of the best desserts you can prepare for your loved ones all year round. An elegant dessert consisting of four layers of moist and soft sponge cake, soaked in espresso and Marsala wine, filled with a smooth and fluffy Mascarpone frosting. One of the easiest layer cakes I’ve made so far and is simply heavenly.

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Tiramisu Ice Cream

Tiramisu Ice Cream – creamy and elegant, a dessert no one can ever resist. Mascarpone cream , coffee dipped ladyfingers turns into an heavenly ice cream.

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If you give any of these tiramisu recipes a try, I’d love to see your creations! Feel free to share them on Instagram and tag me so I can see your beautiful desserts and the way you made them your own. I always enjoy seeing your bakes and the special touches you add to each recipe. Happy baking!

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The post 8 Delicious Ways to Make Tiramisu Desserts appeared first on Home Cooking Adventure.

Eudaemonius posted a photo:

With its slogan “Melt the Rule,” Cool Fuel offers a new kind of five-layered ice cream-eating experience centered on Mascarpone cheese flavor.

New ice cream brand Cool Fuel opened on May 29 in the Yokohama Hammerhead shopping complex. We’d heard rumblings that it was supposed to be an ultra-luxurious dessert experience, far different than eating regular ice cream. Never ones to resist an icy sweet treat, we paid the new shop a visit on the morning of the fourth day it was open.

▼ Yokohama Hammerhead shopping complex

Lots of new stores had opened in the mall recently so it was bustling with people as we made our way through the space.

We made a beeline to our goal and were greeted by the cool blue tones of the new store. There was a little bit of a line, which was a little surprising since it was a weekday–but we weren’t in a rush.

We asked the staff which flavors were the most popular and they replied that the chocolate and caramel ones were selling well.

We decided to spring for chocolate (called Velvet Chocolate in English on the menu) this time for 780 yen (US$4.90). The menu explained that each cup was structured with five layers, which we were curious to see with our own eyes.

Upon placing our order, we received a numbered ticket and stood off to the side until our number was called.

The concoction handed to us was very round, top-heavy, and had an overflowing flaky topping! We quickly sought out a place to sit before there was any spillage.

Here’s the ice cream’s glamor shot. It sure looked like a work of art while posing.

The very top of the cup was a Mascarpone-based soft serve covered with crispy chocolate corn flakes.

Taking a large spoonful off the top revealed the interior cross-section. We could see what the menu meant by five layers–the inside was filled with a rich chocolate sauce and crunchy chocolate cookie bites, which made for a tantalizing texture.

▼ If only high school science classes offered ice cream dissections…

As we dug deeper, layers of freshly whipped cream also appeared from the bottom, giving the whole thing the impression of a very rich parfait or sundae. It was definitely decadent and we could see how people who enjoy “lighter” desserts like kakigori shaved ice might reach their limit very quickly. We, however, had absolutely no problem downing the entire thing in true form.

In conclusion, Cool Fuel ice cream is incredibly rich, delicious, and has found a formula to perfect the balance of taste and texture. At 780 yen it also feels more like a special reward than a routine dessert, so we recommend saving your visit for a very special occasion.

Now that the days are getting hotter, we’ve definitely got ice cream on the brain. Check out Mr. Sato’s recent visit to classic American/Japanese ice cream brand Blue Seal if you just can’t get enough brain freeze this month.

Store information
COOL Fuel Yokohama Hammerhead store / COOL Fuel 横浜ハンマーヘッド店
Address: Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Naka-ku, Shinko 2-14-1 Yokohama Hammerhead, 2nd floor
神奈川県横浜市中区新港 2-14-1 横浜ハンマーヘッド 2F
Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (weekdays), 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (weekends)
Website

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