Mid Autumn Moon Cake Recipes

MOONCAKES

Steps:

• For the lotus paste: Place the dried lotus seeds in a medium bowl and cover with plenty of room temperature water. Let the seeds soak and rehydrate for at least 6 hours, and preferably overnight.
• Rinse the lotus seeds under cold water, then split them in half to remove and discard the green sprout in the center (they are very bitter). Transfer the seeds to a large pot and fill with plenty of water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer until the seeds are tender enough to smash with a fork, about 1 hour. Drain well, then transfer the seeds to a food processor while they are still warm, add 3/4 cup sugar and puree until very smooth. (Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water if necessary to get a very smooth texture). Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a medium bowl.
• Melt 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, then cook until caramelized and deep golden, about 5 minutes. Add the lotus puree and cook, stirring continuously, until most of the moisture has been cooked out and the puree is similar in texture to thick mashed potatoes, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the remaining 1/3 cup vegetable shortening, then continue to cook, stirring continuously, until all of the shortening has fully incorporated and the paste is very thick, glossy and pulls away from the sides of the pan, about 6 minutes more. (The final lotus paste should be amber brown in color and almost stretchy in texture.) Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely.
• For the mooncake dough: Meanwhile, whisk together the golden syrup, alkaline water and vegetable oil in a large bowl until combined. Add the cake and all-purpose flours, then stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Gently knead the dough until it comes together completely, then wrap in plastic wrap and set aside to rest, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Divide the lotus paste into 12 equal pieces (each about 2 1/2 tablespoons) and roll into golf ball-size balls. Place on a plate and chill in the refrigerator, 20 to 30 minutes. The colder the balls, the easier it will be to shape the mooncakes.
• Roll about 1 tablespoon of the mooncake dough into a ball, then place between 2 pieces of parchment paper that have been lightly dusted with flour. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to about 1/8 inch thick and 3 1/2 to 4 inches wide. Place one of the lotus paste balls in the center of the dough, and shape the dough around it, pinching the edges to seal. Roll the ball in your hands to smooth the exterior.
• Place the assembled ball in a plastic 2-inch wide miniature mooncake press mold, then turn the press upright on your work surface. Press the plunger down until you feel resistance, then lift the mooncake mold off the table and use the plunger to carefully press the mooncake out. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, then refrigerate while you make the remaining mooncakes in the same manner.
• Bake the mooncakes until the tops are no longer shiny and the dough has just set, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Whisk the egg together with a splash of water in a small bowl, then brush over the tops and sides of each mooncake. Return to the oven and bake until deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more. Let cool on the baking sheet 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Enjoy fresh or store in an airtight container for 2 days (they'll get shinier as they sit).

MID-AUTUMN MOON CAKES

Steps:

• Mix can of lotus seed paste and walnuts together, set aside for later.
• Sift together flour, milk powder, baking powder and salt into a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat eggs until light and lemon coloured.
• Add sugar to eggs and beat for 10 minutes or until mixture falls in a thick ribbon.
• Add shortening to egg mixture and mix lightly.
• Fold in flour mixture with spatula.
• Turn dough out on lightly floured board and knead for 1 minute or until smooth and satiny.
• Divide dough in half; roll each half into a log and cut into 12 equal pieces.
• To shape each moon cake, roll a piece of dough into a ball. Roll out to make a 4" circle about 1/8" thick.
• Place 1 tbsp of lotus seed paste mixture in centre of circle. Fold in sides of dough to completely enclose filling; press edges to seal.
• Lightly flour inside of moon cake mold and place cake in, seam side up; flatten dough into mold.
• Bang one end of mold to release cake.
• Place cakes on ungreased baking sheet; brush tops with egg yolk.
• Bake in preheated 375 F oven for 30 minutes until golden. Transfer to rack and let cool.

MID-AUTUMN MOON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheated 375ºF.
• Mix lotus seed paste and walnuts together in a bowl; set aside.
• Sift flour, milk powder, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl.
• In large bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs on medium speed until light and lemon colored.
• Add sugar; beat for 10 minutes or until mixture falls in a thick ribbon.
• Add melted shortening; mix lightly. With a spatula, fold in flour mixture.
• Turn dough out on a lightly floured board; knead for 1 minute or until smooth and satiny.
• Divide dough in half; roll each half into a log.
• Cut each log into 12 equal pieces.
• To shape each moon cake, roll a piece of dough into a ball.
• Roll out on a lightly floured board to make a 4-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick.
• Place 1 tablespoon of lotus seed paste mixture in center of dough circle.
• Fold in sides of dough to completely enclose filling; press edges to seal.
• Lightly flour inside of 2-1/2 inch moon cake press.
• Place moon cake, seam side up, in mold; flatten dough to conform to shape of mold.
• Bang one end of mold lightly on work surface to dislodge moon cake.
• Place cake on ungreased baking sheet.
• Repeat to shape remaining cakes.
• Brush tops with egg yolk.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Transfer to a rack and let cool.