This is the second in the series of Oddeaties posts that I’m archiving. Most of this was written by my girlfriend, and I throw my thoughts in at the end. Enjoy.

I’ve always marveled at Japanese snacks transposing other food’s tastes in varied and alien snack forms. When looking at these Hot Cake snacks (a variation of Japan’s Yaokin “Dora-Choco” snacks), I think to myself, “Did someone wake up one night and feverishly want chocolate chip pancakes, but didn’t want to cook them up?”

The snack is part of a larger Dora-Choco line of sponge cake and chocolate snacks, and this one mimics two chocolate chip pancakes and maple syrup in taste, if not in form. The package features a smiling stack of pancakes holding up a fork and knife. I was really not sure what I expected when I tore it open but I’m always up for snacky cakes. The two small (half-dollar sized) cakes are light and spongy with a thick paste between them. The texture is a little odd but not unsettling. The flavour is really what was remarkable – it really does taste like pancakes and syrup with a little chocolate hint. It might not be as maple-ish as one might expect, but rather nutty. This is probably to do with the intricacies of making a maple paste but I liked it none the less. Overall, the product was moist and not a bit stale with just the right amount of sweetness. Not too sweet and definitely not bland.

With its size, it won’t replace a good hearty breakfast, but its definitely a novelty snack that I’d eat on a regular basis when I want something maple and morsel-sized. The packaging and concept is very cute and would definitely be a hit with kids.

Breakfast for lunch, dinner and now snacks is always good with me.

Alex’s Two Cents: I left this particular item to Nicole, but took a bite out of the last one we had laying around just to get a taste. They’re interesting, but I would say they’re not great. I actually think I would have liked them better without the maple cream (?) in the middle. The cake bits were very pancakey, it was surprising how breakfasty they felt, but the cream was just not very flavorful and had a texture somewhere between caramel and white glue. Where Nicole said they were, “Not too sweet but definitely not bland,” I would have to disagree. The cream/paste was pretty bland. There was a hint of maple, but it served more to make the pancake feel funny in my mouth than taste good. Then again, I do like my candy on the sweeter end of the spectrum, so I might be the one off base.

They were okay. At 50 cents per package, they’re a pretty decent treat if you happen by them. I personally wouldn’t make special trips for them though.