History
Marusei butter sandwich was created in 1977 by Obihiro confectioner Rokkatei, named after its founder Masao Tanaka's nickname Marusei. The biscuit-and-cream combination became the canonical Hokkaido souvenir over the next decade; Rokkatei sells more than 60 million sandwiches a year. The Maruyama shop in Sapporo opened in the 1990s and runs a second-floor cafe alongside the take-home counter, the only Sapporo location where you can drink whisked matcha with the sandwich.
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Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Egg
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 200g plain flour
- 100g unsalted butter, cold
- 60g icing sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the filling: 200g Hokkaido butter, soft
- 100g icing sugar
- 100g raisins
- 2 tbsp dark rum
- Pinch of salt
Method
- Soak raisins in rum 30 minutes; drain and reserve liquid.
- Pulse flour, cold butter and icing sugar in a food processor to fine crumbs.
- Add egg yolk and vanilla; pulse to form a dough.
- Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour.
- Roll dough thin (3mm) between two sheets of baking paper; cut 24 rectangles (5x4cm).
- Bake at 170C for 10-12 minutes until pale gold; cool completely.
- Beat butter, icing sugar and salt with the rum-soaked raisins until fluffy.
- Spread butter cream onto 12 biscuits; cap with the remaining 12. Press gently.
- Wrap individually; serve cold.
Tip from the editors. The biscuits must be completely cool before filling; warm biscuits melt the butter cream.
Where to eat marusei butter sandwich
Marusei Butter Sandwich in Sapporo
Rokkatei Maruyama Shop ★ 4.4
Obihiro confectioner Rokkatei's Maruyama outlet, the Sapporo home for Marusei butter sandwiches, Yukiya Konko chocolate cookies and seasonal Hokkaido sweets.
Worth the queueMarusei butter sandwich
TipThe two-floor Maruyama branch has the full take-home Marusei stock the airport often runs short of late in the day.
Ishiya Shop Sapporo Station ★ 4.0
The Ishiya counter inside Daimaru Sapporo's depachika, selling boxes of Shiroi Koibito and the rest of Hokkaido's signature confectionery for travellers.
Worth the queueShiroi Koibito white-chocolate cookie box
TipSapporo Station-direct; the souvenir queue is shorter than at the airport.
Daimaru Sapporo Depachika ★ 4.2
The basement food hall under Daimaru Sapporo, with Hokkaido's confectionery houses (Rokkatei, Ishiya, Kinotoya), bento counters and prepared takeaway food.
TipThe Hokkaido souvenir floor here is the closest source to the platforms.
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