Homemade Mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival: A Step-by-Step Video Tutorial307

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It is a time for family reunions and sharing delicious treats, especially mooncakes.

Mooncakes are round or square pastries filled with sweet or savory ingredients. The most popular fillings include lotus seed paste, red bean paste, mixed nuts, and duck eggs. Mooncakes are often stamped with Chinese characters or auspicious symbols, and they are typically served with tea.

If you want to enjoy authentic homemade mooncakes this Mid-Autumn Festival, follow this step-by-step video tutorial:

Ingredients:For the pastry:
* 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
* 1/2 cup lard, cold and cut into small cubes
* 1/4 cup ice water
For the filling:
* 1 cup lotus seed paste or other filling of your choice
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
For the glaze:
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 tablespoon water

Instructions:1. In a large bowl, combine the flour and lard. Use your fingers to work the lard into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. Add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, and mix until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
3. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
4. Divide the filling into 12 equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball.
5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out a portion of dough into a circle about 4 inches in diameter.
6. Place a ball of filling in the center of the dough circle.
7. Bring the edges of the dough up around the filling and pinch them together to seal.
8. Roll the mooncake in your hands to shape it into a ball.
9. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
10. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water.
11. Brush the mooncakes with the glaze.
12. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the mooncakes are golden brown.

Let the mooncakes cool completely before serving.

Tips:* For a flakier pastry, use cold lard and ice water.
* Do not overmix the dough, or the mooncakes will be tough.
* If you do not have lotus seed paste, you can use other fillings such as red bean paste, mixed nuts, or duck eggs.
* To make your mooncakes more festive, you can stamp them with Chinese characters or auspicious symbols.
* Mooncakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Enjoy your homemade mooncakes this Mid-Autumn Festival!

2025-02-19

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