Food for Thought: China's Sweet and Savory Desserts
by Tracy Yu
Food has always been a big part of any culture. China is no different. Here, the most popular desserts in China are showcased. Let’s go explore culture through food!
Sticky Cake (Niangao)
The sticky cake is made of rice flour that becomes very sticky once it is baked. Some like to fry the cake in eggs, which creates a savory taste, and some just like adding sugar, creating a sweet taste. It all depends on your taste buds! If you have a sweet tooth, you can even add sweet bean paste to the inside of the cake.
Click HERE to get the recipe!
Egg Tarts (Danta)
An egg tart is made with a flaky pastry crust and the inside is filled with egg custard. It is just the perfect balance between sweet and savory, since the flavor of the egg balances out the sweetness of the sugar.
Find the recipe HERE!
Steamed Buns (Baozi)
Steamed buns can either be sweet or savory. For those of you who have a sweet tooth, you can fill your buns with sweet bean paste. If you are craving a more savory flavor, then you can fill the buns with meat or vegetables.
HERE'S the recipe!
Moon Cake (Yuebing)
Moon cakes are a tradition during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They can be filled with either red bean paste or lotus seed paste and there is usually a salted egg yolk in the center. The sweetness of the paste versus the saltiness of the egg yolk creates the perfect balance of flavor!
Click HERE to find the recipe!
Sesame Seed Balls (Jiandui)
Sesame seed balls are made with rice flour and coated with sesame seeds. They are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. If you are craving something especially sweet, you can always add sweet bean paste inside the balls!
The recipe is linked HERE.