In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, and honey until pale and foamy.
4 large eggs, 140 g granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons honey
Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl, then whisk into the egg mixture until smooth and combined.
160 g all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder
Refrigerate the batter for 15 minutes.
After resting, the batter will be looser and slightly smoother. Stir in half the water and check the consistency; it should resemble pancake batter. Add the remaining water as needed to reach the right consistency.
2 tablespoons water
Cooking
Heat a large nonstick skillet over very low heat for 5 minutes. Warming the pan slowly works best. Once hot, increase the heat to medium-low. Dip a paper towel into neutral oil and lightly grease the bottom of the pan, then wipe away any excess oil. This is the key to evenly golden-brown Dorayaki.
neutral oil, for greasing the pan
Using a ladle or small measuring cup, pour 3 tablespoons of batter from about 8 cm above the pan to form an 8 cm round. Cook one pancake at a time.
When bubbles appear on the surface, flip and cook the second side.
Transfer to a plate and cover with a damp kitchen towel to prevent drying. Grease the pan between batches as needed. Continue with the remaining pancakes.
Assembly
Assemble the Dorayaki by sandwiching two pancakes around a spoonful of sweet red bean paste. Mound a bit more paste in the center so the middle is thicker than the edges and the Dorayaki has a gentle dome.
520 g red bean paste
Wrap each Dorayaki in plastic wrap until ready to serve.
Storage
Wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and keep in a cool place for up to 2 days. Alternatively, place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 month.
Notes
Dip a paper towel into neutral oil and lightly grease the bottom of the pan, then wipe away any excess oil. This is the key to evenly golden-brown Dorayaki.