First, we prepared the crust from scratch using flour, butter and sugar to make a dense, buttery batter. Then, we rolled red bean paste filling into small balls, some of which included a salty egg yolk. We used a roller to create a flat wrapper out of the crust batter, similar to rolling out the dough for a dumpling or ravioli. Then, we wrapped the red bean paste in the crust wrapper and pushed the whole ball into a special mooncake press which shaped the pastry into the distinctive lotus shape. Lastly, we baked the cakes until golden.
Mooncakes have been part of the Chinese celebration customs for the Mid-Autumn Festival for hundreds of years, and they have immense cultural value. During the Mid-Autumn Festival season, mooncakes will be on sale in bright red tins in many stores, and they make great gifts! They often feature in commercials and artwork all around the Chinese-speaking world, and mooncake-themed foods and celebrations are also common.
In Chinese, the character meaning “round” (圓 yuán) is part of the word for “happiness from being together” (圓滿 yuánmǎn). Therefore, enjoying round mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which in part celebrates family being together, is considered auspicious and appropriate to the holiday.
In Taiwan, mooncakes are also a way for Taiwanese people to express their unique cultural identity.
