During the Mid-Autumn Festival, families share mooncakes. Although they have a high sugar content, it is undeniable that they are rich in nutrients and bring health benefits through various ingredients. The market offers a dazzling array of mooncakes, and homemade mooncakes have their own unique flavors; in fact, making them is not complicated.
The core of mooncake making lies in preparing the flaky crust and filling. The method of large batch flaky crust is suitable for mass production; the skin dough is mixed with oil dough in proportion, then flattened with a rolling pin, rolled up, cut into pieces, and skillfully folded to form the crust, followed by wrapping in carefully crafted filling. The small batch flaky crust is more delicate, suitable for small quantities, with a similar operation, just dividing the ingredients into small portions to ensure that each bite has the crispness of the crust and the sweetness of the filling.
The fillings vary, such as pine nut date paste, which requires steaming black dates and mashing them, cleverly blending with syrup and pine nuts; the sandwiched glutinous rice dumplings and lard are respectively based on red beans, with the former offering a delicate texture and the latter being richer due to the addition of lard and floral fragrance. When wrapping, the filling is spread on top of the flaky crust, then special auxiliary ingredients are inserted, and carefully wrapped into shape.
The shaping of mooncakes emphasizes aesthetics, using paper as an aid to press them into a flat, drum-like shape, with various stamps printed on them to enhance the festive atmosphere. Baking is a key step; control the oven temperature at around 240°C, adjust it in time to ensure the surface of the mooncake is golden and tempting, with no burnt bottom. After about six to seven minutes, they can be taken out and left to cool naturally.
The quality standards of mooncakes are reflected in four aspects: color, shape, flavor, and texture: the appearance is golden and shiny, the shape is full without damage; in terms of taste, the crust is flaky and crisp, the filling has a unique flavor without any unpleasant taste; the internal structure is uniform, with an appropriate distribution of ingredients; the flaky crust is complete and clear, with moderate texture, and without being too hard or falling apart. By following these details, homemade mooncakes are not only delicious and healthy but
