Traditional Mooncake - Chinese Recipes

Made from a rich, dense filling wrapped around by a soft, delicate skin, this humble piece of pastry has fascinated countless generations. Passed down through 3,500 years of history, today it is a symbol of a harmonious reunion. This traditional mooncake is of Cantonese descent and has evolved into many shapes, sizes and variants over the years. Try making these most-loved mooncakes and you’ll know that traditional is best made at home.

INGREDIENTS

Mooncake Pastry (set aside for 4 hours)

250g golden syrup
80g peanut oil
8g alkaline water (also known as lye water)
240g all-purpose flour (A) added to the golden syrup
120g all-purpose flour (B) added after setting aside for 4 hours

Mooncake Filling

1kg lotus seed paste (homemade or store-bought)
50g melon seeds (or pumpkin seeds, toasted lightly)
10 salted egg yolks

Egg Wash

1 egg yolk (beaten) + 1 tbsp water

Tools

Mooncake mould

INSTRUCTIONS

Preparing the mooncake skin:

1. Prepare all ingredients needed to make the pastry.
2. In a large bowl, add in golden syrup, peanut oil, followed by alkaline water (lye water). Whisk until all the ingredients are well blended.
3. Next, add in the 240g of all-purpose flour (A). Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir to combine all ingredients but, do not over-stir.
4. Cover with a cling wrap and set aside for 4 hours.

Preparing the salted egg yolk and melon seeds:

1. Crack salted egg and gently take the yolk out. Repeat the same with the rest of the eggs.
2. Then, bake the salted egg yolks in a 175ºC preheated oven. Bake for 5 mins and set aside to cool.
3. Next, roast melon seeds in the preheated oven for 5 mins.

Assembling the mooncake:

1. Mix the roasted melon seeds into the lotus paste. Lightly knead to combine the melon seeds into the paste.
2. Roll lotus paste into a log, divide into 10 equal pieces about 110g each and roll into balls.
3. Then, take the skin dough which has been set aside for 4 hours and mix in the 120g all-purpose flour (B).
4. Gently knead the rested dough just until it comes together and firms up. Divide the dough skin into 10 equal pieces, each about 50g. Roll each portion into a small ball shape.
5. To assemble, first take a lotus paste ball and poke a hole in the middle with your finger. Place the baked egg yolk inside. Roll and shape into a ball.
6. Use a rolling pin to evenly flatten skin dough. To avoid skin dough from sticking to the rolling pin, place dough between two pieces of cling wrap before rolling. Put lotus paste ball onto the flattened dough and enclose filling by gently pressing edges until filling is sealed.
7. Gently push, press and squeeze the dough, holding the ball securely in your palm, until the dough skin gradually covers the lotus paste ball. Repeat this step to finish the remaining dough skin and lotus paste balls.
8. Prepare the wooden mould by dusting lightly with flour. Put dough into the lightly floured mooncake mould and press hard and flatten the dough to ensure that the dough fully fills the mould. Gently knock a few times to dislodge the moulded mooncake.
9. Transfer the moulded mooncakes onto a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 200ºC. Place the mooncakes in the preheated oven to bake for 10 mins. Remove the mooncakes from the oven and leave to cool on wire rack for 5 mins.
10. Lightly brush the entire top of mooncakes with beaten egg yolk. Then, bake in the oven for another 10 mins or till golden brown.
11. Remove from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Store in airtight container for 1-2 days and the mooncake skin will become soft and shiny. Now the mooncake is ready to be served and enjoyed with a pot of freshly brewed Chinese tea.