As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the discussion about five-nut mooncakes once again becomes a hot topic. Despite being teased by some for its unique taste, there is still a group of loyal fans who have a special fondness for it. The charm of five-nut mooncakes lies in the diversity of its fillings, which bring together a variety of nuts and dried fruits. Compared to the overly sweet bean paste or lotus seed paste mooncakes, not only does it offer a richer taste, but it is also less likely to cause palate fatigue or weight gain.
### Process of Making Five-Nut Mooncakes
#### Preparation of the Crust – Ingredients: 75g invert syrup, 2g lye water, 100g medium-gluten flour, 30g peanut oil. – Steps: 1. Mix the invert syrup, lye water, oil, and a pinch of salt until emulsified. 2. Slowly add the medium-gluten flour and knead into a smooth dough, cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 1 hour. 3. Divide the dough into portions of 15g each, and set aside.
#### Filling Preparation – Ingredients: 30g each of almonds, peanuts, cashews, and walnuts, 60g raisins, 60g cranberries, 20g sunflower seeds, 30g oil, a mixture of 50g roasted glutinous rice flour and 75g medium-gluten flour, 70g sugar, 60g water, a pinch of salt. – Steps: 1. Chop the dried fruits, mix them with water, flour, and sugar, and let them sit for 1 hour to blend flavors. 2. Pre-roast the flours to a light yellow, let cool, then mix into the above mixture evenly.
#### Shaping and Baking 1. Take a portion of crust, flatten it and wrap 35g of filling inside, then use the tiger-closing technique to gently seal and form into a ball. 2. Place the formed mooncake into a mold, press lightly to shape, remove from mold, and sprinkle some flour on top to prevent sticking. 3. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius, bake for 5 minutes for solidifying. 4. Remove the mooncake, lightly brush with egg wash, then return to the oven and bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown. 5. Once baked, let the mooncakes cool and rest for a few days to allow the crust to soften and the color to become more appealing.
By following these steps, you can handcraft traditional and unique five-nut mooncakes at home, enjoying the festive joy and warmth of family.
