The process of making five-nut mooncakes is quite meticulous, starting with the preparation of the pastry. This step involves mixing invert syrup, lye water, and corn oil, and then thoroughly stirring with a whisk until smooth. Next, flour is added and kneaded into a soft dough, which is then covered with plastic wrap to rest for a moment.
Next comes the preparation of the five-nut filling. Peanuts and walnuts are roasted in the oven until crispy and combined with black sesame, white sesame, raisins, and lemon zest. A suitable amount of white sugar is sprinkled in to ensure all ingredients are evenly blended.
The following step is to slowly pour the prepared syrup into the mixture of nuts and dried fruits, stirring thoroughly. Then, pre-cooked flour and glutinous rice flour are incorporated, mixed carefully until a uniquely flavored five-nut filling is formed.
Next is the shaping stage, where the prepared filling is divided into small balls of about 45 grams each, while the dough is divided into 30-gram portions. After rolling them flat, the filling is wrapped inside, ensuring the seams are sealed and rolled into a ball to ensure an appealing shape.
Before placing the mooncakes, slight adjustments can be made to the process to suit personal tastes. Once the mooncakes are placed on the baking tray, a light dusting of dry flour is brushed over the surface, and a special mooncake mold is used to press out exquisite patterns.
Before baking, a small amount of water mist is sprayed on the surface of the mooncakes. Preheat the oven to 180℃, and bake for about 10 minutes at first. Then, reduce the temperature to 160℃ and continue baking for 12 minutes, until the mooncakes develop an appealing golden color.
Following the steps above, delicious five-nut mooncakes are created in the home oven, filled with the warm atmosphere of traditional festivals and the joy of homemade treats.
