The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, making mooncakes by hand to give to family members is undeniably a warm and unique surprise. The production process is quite simple, with only sugar syrup, alkaline water, and peanut oil needed. Combining them with medium gluten flour will start this baking journey.
First, fully mix the sugar syrup, alkaline water, and peanut oil, then slowly pour them into the flour while stirring lightly with chopsticks to make a loose mixture. Then use your hands to gently knead it into a dough. Remember, knead the dough just enough to avoid overdoing it. Let the dough sit and relax, then cut it into small pieces of about 20 grams each, ready to wrap around fillings of up to 30 grams – here, I chose the classic five-nut filling and the refreshing purple sweet potato flavor. When wrapping, lightly dust the outer layer with a small amount of dry powder to prevent sticking, then use a 50-gram mold for shaping. I specifically pressed a pattern symbolizing the well wishes of “a full moon and complete happiness.”
After the mooncakes take shape, lightly spray water on the surface and then place them in a preheated oven at 170 degrees, bake for the first 10 minutes. After a brief bake, prepare a mixture of one egg yolk and 15 grams of water, gently brush it on the surface of the mooncakes with a fine brush, then return them to the oven at the same 170-degree temperature for another 15 minutes. Once the golden and fragrant mooncakes are baked, let them cool to room temperature, place them in a sealed bag, and let them rest for two days for the oil to fully permeate, achieving the best flavor.
Making mooncakes by yourself, mastering the key techniques, deliciousness unfolds naturally. This handmade holiday gift is full of heartfelt warmth, so why not try to preserve this method? During the Mid-Autumn Festival, present your family with a unique culinary feast.
