Snow skin mooncakes are often favored during the Mid-Autumn Festival in East Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and among Chinese communities worldwide. The combination of visually appealing aesthetics and delightful flavors has made this type of cake an indispensable part of Chinese Mid-Autumn festivities.
Snow skin mooncakes are a beloved treat for many (Source: Internet)Ingredients Needed to Make Snow Skin Mooncakes
Below are the ingredients required to make delicious snow skin mooncakes. Keep these details handy to create superbly tasty snow skin mooncakes!
Ingredients for Making Cake Crust
- Cooked glutinous rice flour: 110g
- Cornstarch: 20g
- Granulated sugar: 80g
- Unsweetened fresh milk: 150ml
- Melted unsalted butter: 50g
- Natural food coloring: 1 teaspoon (if desired for coloring the cake crust).
Ingredients for Making Snow Skin Mooncake Filling
Ingredients for Making Snow Skin Mooncakes (Source: Internet)Method for Making Delicious Snow Skin Mooncakes
Step 1: Mix the dough for the snow skin mooncake crust
- First, accurately measure the amount of sugar, cooked glutinous rice flour, and cornstarch as specified. Then, heat the unsalted butter until completely melted, and let it cool slightly.
- Using a large bowl, sift the various flours into the bowl to remove any lumps, leaving only a fine flour mixture for consistency.
- Pour the cooled melted butter slowly into the dry flour mixture. While pouring, stir thoroughly to ensure the butter and flour blend together.
- Using your index finger and thumb, create a small well in the center of the flour mixture in the bowl. This will be where the fresh milk is poured later.
- Gradually pour the unsweetened fresh milk into the created well, stirring gently to blend the mixture together.
- Begin to mix slowly, directing from the outer edge of the bowl towards the center. You can use a dough mixer or simply your hands for even mixing.
- Once the flour and fresh milk are blended, start kneading the dough by hand. Knead gently and continuously until you have a soft, smooth dough. Avoid over-kneading to prevent the resulting crust from becoming too tough.
Kneading the dough for the cake crust (Source: Internet)Step 2: Steam the cake crust dough
Step 3: Create colors for the cake crust (if desired)
- Begin by dividing the dough into two equal portions. Take one portion and place it in a bowl. Then, add beetroot-colored water to the dough and knead thoroughly to blend the color into the dough. Leave the remaining dough white.
- Next, divide each portion of dough into 5 equal parts, creating a total of 10 small portions of dough. Take one white dough ball and one beetroot-colored dough ball, then merge them together to form a large dough ball with two colors. Repeat this process with the remaining dough portions, creating a total of 5 large dough balls with two different colors.
- Use cling film to wrap each large dough ball tightly to preserve color and moisture. Then, let the dough rest for about 30 minutes. This resting period helps the dough relax and become easier to shape into the cake crust later on.
You can create a variety of colors for the cake crust if desired (Source: Internet)Step 4: Blend the custard filling ingredients
- Start by whisking together eggs and sugar. Use a whisk to gently beat until the mixture becomes fluffy and thickened, and has a pale yellow color.
- Heat milk over low heat until it is warm enough without boiling. Make sure the milk does not scorch or start to boil.
- Pour the warm milk slowly into the egg and sugar mixture, the custard mixture. This helps prevent the eggs from curdling when exposed to high temperatures.
- Sift flour into the bowl containing the egg and sugar mixture. While sifting flour, you will remove any lumps to create a smooth mixture.
- Using a spatula or spoon, mix the ingredients together to form a smooth custard mixture.
Step 5: Cook the custard filling
- Place the custard filling mixture on the stove and cook over low heat. Stir constantly to ensure the filling does not burn or stick to the bottom of the pot. Keep the heat low to ensure the custard filling cooks evenly and does not thicken too quickly.
- When you see the custard filling mixture begin to thicken, no longer sticking or being liquid, you can turn off the heat. This ensures the custard filling has the appropriate thickness for pouring into the pie crust.
- Add butter, salt, and vanilla extract to the filling mixture. Using a spatula, mix well to incorporate all the ingredients, creating a smooth and flavorful custard filling.
- Divide the filling mixture into 5 equal portions. Take each portion and shape it into a round custard filling ball, aiming for relatively equal sizes.
- Place the shaped custard filling balls on a tray or flat plate, then chill in the refrigerator. This helps the custard filling cool down and makes it easier to place into the pie crust.
Prepare custard filling (Source: Internet)Step 6: Fill the pastry shells
- Sprinkle some flour on the counter to prevent dough and filling from sticking to your hands during the process, ensuring the pastry remains beautiful and smooth.
- Take the prepared pastry dough balls and roll them out so that the edges become thinner than the center. This will help the pastry have better elasticity and not become too thick when baked.
- Place each pre-filled custard ball in the center of the pastry shell.
- Wrap each filling ball tightly with the pastry shell. Make sure the pastry completely covers the custard filling without any gaps. Gently pinch the edges of the pastry to seal the filling inside.
Step 7: Shape the Mooncake
Crafting beautiful Snow Mooncakes (Source: Internet)Step 8: Chill the mooncakes
Place the completed Snow Mooncakes in the refrigerator's chilled compartment. Let the mooncakes chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before using. The chilling process will help the mooncakes solidify and allow the ingredients inside to settle, creating the best fusion and flavor.
Some tips for making Snow Mooncakes
- Wait for the dough to cool completely: Snowskin mooncake dough will be sticky and difficult to handle when warm. So, make sure the dough has cooled completely before you proceed to shape the mooncakes. This helps make the baking process easier and ensures beautiful pastry shells.
- Use natural colors: To ensure safety for users, it is recommended to use food coloring or colors from natural ingredients such as beets, red dragon fruit, and various vegetables. Before steaming the dough, mix the color with the dough to ensure the best and even color.
- Shape carefully: When shaping the mooncakes, always hold the mold firmly to prevent the cakes from falling onto the bottom of the mold, which can ruin the shape and aesthetics of the cakes. The shaping process needs to be meticulous and careful to achieve the desired results.
- Avoid making the dough too sticky or too dry: During the pastry making process, gradually add milk to the dough to avoid making it too sticky or too dry. If you encounter dough that is too sticky or dry, you can add more elastic flour or milk to adjust and remedy the situation.
Important notes for crafting beautiful and delicious Snowskin Mooncakes (Source: Internet)Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not use them immediately after making, the cakes can be stored at room temperature for about 1 – 2 days. Additionally, Snowskin Mooncakes can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 – 7 days. If you want to store them for longer, you can freeze them. Freezing helps preserve the cakes better and extends their usability for up to 2 – 3 months.
Above, Mytour has provided detailed and simple instructions on making Snowskin Mooncakes. If you like it, feel free to jot it down and give it a try to surprise your family with some delightful treats this Mid-Autumn Festival!
