In one embodiment, unpolished sweet rice, a.k.a. glutinous rice, is processed to yield a powdered or granulated product which provides more than one unique advantage when applied as a substitute for traditional mochi or wheat flour as an ingredient for producing pancakes and baked goods. The sweet rice is processed by sprouting it, dehydrating it, roasting it, cooling it, and finally pulverizing it to provide flour or meal. The flour or meal is then made into comestibles by combining with other ingredients and baking or frying, according to adapted recipes. Non-glutinous varieties of unpolished rice, a.k.a. brown rice, may also be processed according to this method to yield rice flour with a distinctive, nutty flavor and stabilized rice bran.