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Holidays & Special Occasions

Mid-Autumn Mooncakes (月饼 (Yuèbǐng))

sjfegan

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10
Servings

Ingredients

  • 250g (2 cups) Plain flour
  • 115g (1/3 cup) Golden syrup or honey
  • 60ml (1/4 cup) Oil
  • 1/4 tsp alkaline water (or a pinch of baking soda dissolved in water)
  • 480g (2 cups) Sweetened red bean or lotus seed paste, for filling
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten, for glazing

Method

  1. Combine the golden syrup, oil and alkaline water, mixing well.
  2. Add the flour, combining into a smooth, pliable dough; rest for 30–40 minutes.
  3. Divide the dough and the sweet paste filling into equal portions, with the filling significantly larger than the dough portions.
  4. Flatten each dough portion, wrap around a ball of filling, and fully enclose.
  5. Press into a mooncake mould to create the traditional patterned design, or shape by hand into a flattened round.
  6. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
  7. Bake for 10 minutes, then brush with beaten egg yolk and bake for a further 12–15 minutes until golden.
  8. Let cool completely; the texture and flavour improve after resting for a day.

Introduction: Dense, richly filled round pastries, the essential food of the Mid-Autumn Festival, symbolising unity and the full moon.

Cultural Background: Mooncakes hold profound symbolic significance in Chinese culture, their round shape representing the full moon and family unity, traditionally shared during the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important celebrations in the Chinese calendar.

Tips: Let the mooncakes rest for a day after baking, as this allows the crust to soften into the traditional tender texture. Use a proper mooncake mould if available, as the decorative pattern is a meaningful part of the tradition.

Variations: Use different traditional fillings such as lotus seed paste with a salted egg yolk in the centre. Adjust the filling-to-dough ratio according to preference.

Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Reheating: Not applicable — served at room temperature.

Nutrition: Per serving (approx., 1 mooncake): 320 kcal, 6 g protein, 12 g fat, 48 g carbohydrate.

FAQs:

Q: What does the round shape of mooncakes symbolise?

A: Completeness, unity and the full moon, reflecting the Mid-Autumn Festival’s themes of family togetherness and reunion.

Q: When is the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated?

A: On the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, typically falling in September or early October.

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