Mooncakes are an indispensable traditional delicacy for the Mid-Autumn Festival, not just a type of food but also a symbol of warm family reunion. Mooncakes in the market come in various flavors, tempting many, yet for health reasons, some prefer to make mooncakes at home. The joy of homemade mooncakes lies in being able to customize the fillings according to personal preferences, but the challenge often comes with the dough making process.
When preparing the dough for mooncakes, there is a classic ratio to refer to: mixing flour, white sugar syrup, alkaline water, and vegetable oil at a ratio of 5:4:1.4:1. Additionally, there is a recipe using 500g medium-gluten flour, 330g homemade inverted sugar syrup, 140g peanut oil, and 12g alkaline water. These ratios can help create a suitable texture for the mooncake crust.
To achieve the best texture for mooncakes, there are a few tips worth trying: – Freshly baked mooncakes should be left to “oil-return” for a while, making them softer and more flavorful. – Using raw egg yolks as fillings, the oil released during baking will penetrate the crust, adding extra aroma and softness. – Adding a small amount of butter during dough mixing can make the mooncakes softer, but the quantity should be carefully controlled to avoid the dough becoming flaky.
The key to achieving the ideal softness of the mooncake crust lies in the dough resting process. Proper resting time (about 2.5 to 3 hours) allows the dough to ferment fully, generating carbon dioxide bubbles inside, making the crust softer. Insufficient or excessive resting will affect the texture and appearance of the mooncakes.
Choosing the right type of flour is also crucial. Low-gluten flour is easy to work with, making the crust soft and suitable for hand-wrapping fillings. Although it may develop cracks during the early baking stage, they usually heal on their own. Medium-gluten flour requires longer resting times, sometimes even overnight. On the other hand, high-gluten flour, due to its high elasticity, is not ideal for mooncake crusts, resulting in overly firm, easily deformed, and lacking delicate texture.
By following the above methods, even the process of making mooncake crust can become manageable and enjoyable, making homemade mooncakes a highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
