Traditional Chinese Desserts are foods that have been around for a long time and are popular everywhere. This Chinese Dessert is usually made with plant ingredients such as fruits, grains, nuts, and generally have a sweet taste so that they become foods that have many fans. In Chinese culture, these sweet desserts have their own meaning or as symbols in culture. For example, moon cakes, these are usually served or eaten during mid-autumn parties and symbolize reunion and harmony. Walnut cake is a typical food at weddings and symbolizes longevity and fertility. While almond jelly food is a typical food that is only served at certain events such as birthdays, it symbolizes health and happiness.
So, Traditional Chinese Desserts are part of their symbols and culture which are inherited from their ancestors from generation to generation. Not only the sweetness and deliciousness, but this food also gives meaning to the goodness in life. If you want to try this Chinese food, you can try one of these 12 Traditional Chinese Desserts Foods first. We have collected 12 types of Chinese desserts and you can try which one you like.
11 Traditional Chinese Desserts
1. Soy Milk Pudding
Soy Milk Pudding is a Chinese dessert that has been around for centuries and is now gaining popularity in many parts of the world. This dessert is made with ingredients such as milk, water, soybeans, sugar, flavorings such as gelatin and also uses vanilla extract. This mixture of ingredients has given it a soft, creamy texture and is very tasty. For a more delicious taste, you can add a spoonful of cocoa powder which will bring out the amazing chocolate flavor.
Whenever you are craving for something sweet, then this is the perfect dessert recipe to try, it is delicious and vegan friendly. This is a delicious food and can be enjoyed as a dessert when you are craving something sweet. Eating this Chinese food does not make you feel guilty because it is not rich in calories, satisfying your taste buds without any additional calories.
2. Traditional Chinese Desserts: Fortune Cookies
Another Chinese dessert is Fortune Cookies, this food which symbolizes good luck has a long history where it has been around since the 19th century and is usually served as a dessert in many Chinese restaurants. Fortune Cookies are made with ingredients such as vanilla, sugar, flour, sesame oil, and uniquely in each cookie there is a piece of paper containing wise words or words of luck. So, not only because the cake is delicious, but this cake clearly includes the word luck so that those who enjoy it can be lucky in their lives.
This Chinese dessert was brought to America by immigrants from China in the early 20th century. This sweet treat comes in many models, round rectangles, or smaller round versions. This is a sweet snack that is always cheerful.
Making these fortune cookies is very easy, and can also be specially ordered or even with a special logo printed on it. Fortune cookies are perfect for serving on birthdays or other happy days.
3. Almond Jelly
Almond Jelly is another Chinese dessert that you should try. It has been around for centuries and is sweet and delicious. It is made from soaked apricot seeds or what is known as southern almonds. The apricot seeds are then mixed with sugar, almond extract, and milk, giving it a chewy and distinctive jelly-like texture. Chinese people have enjoyed this food for generations.
You can serve this dessert with any meal, and add sweet toppings to create a better taste. The toppings can be sweet and fresh fruits. You can easily make your own version of this Chinese dessert. You only need regular gelatin powder, sugar, water, and milk, mix them all with almond extract. With just a few simple steps, you can get this amazing dish.
4. Fried Milk
Then in the list of Traditional Chinese Desserts there is something called fried milk. This is a Chinese food from Canton and is made from sugar, cornstarch and others. This is a soft and delicious pudding filling wrapped in crispy panko dough and golden in color. Usually this food is found on the dim sum menu in restaurants in Canton. But now you can make this food yourself from home with healthier conditions of course. Later you will find a crunchy, sweet food texture in every bite and will melt in your mouth.
Fried Milk is a golden dessert that pampers your tongue. The unique combination of ingredients produces a unique texture that is also a dream for many people. There are three important ingredients in this dessert, namely granulated sugar, cornstarch, and nutmeg for the filling. Because this food is fried, of course you also have to provide cooking oil. Mix these ingredients in a medium or 3 liter saucepan to coat the ingredients. Then add milk slowly until all the ingredients are well blended.
Before baking, cut it into two parts and put it in hot oil until the outside is crispy and the inside remains soft. Finally, sprinkle with powdered sugar on top.
5. Traditional Chinese Desserts: Egg Tarts
Then there is a dessert called “Egg Tarts”. This food has become a delicious food that tempts anyone who tries it. Egg Tarts are also called egg custard tarts, a Chinese dessert made from layers of dry cake skin and egg pudding. Of course you can feel how delicious it is, there are also ingredients such as sugar, eggs, milk, or even using cream and butter.
In Chinese history, the beginning of this egg tart cake was made in the Ming dynasty which ruled from 1368 – 1644. Egg tarts are light cakes from the imperial palace. Then, this food quickly spread throughout China and became a popular food until now. Now not only imperial people can eat, not only Chinese people can eat, but everyone can enjoy it.
This food is available in many flavors, there are chocolate, coconut, almond, and it is considered as the perfect food for various occasions.
6. Wife Cake
Wife Cake is one of the most popular Chinese desserts and has been around for centuries. This food consists of layers of crispy cookies and then forms a package that combines winter melon and coconut filling, this dessert is suitable for various events.
Wife Cake is a cake that originated from the Tang dynasty in past Chinese history. In the past, this cake was served at weddings as a symbol of love. This cake is not only felt by Chinese people, not only as an Asian dessert, but has even been enjoyed all over the world. On certain days such as anniversaries, or Chinese New Year, couples usually exchange Wife Cake as a form of commemoration of their marriage bond.
Although usually this Asian dessert uses winter melon and coconut filling, there are also those who use red bean paste, and sesame paste. The dough can be adjusted to suit each taste or your region.
7. Almond Cookies
Almond Cookies are also a traditional Chinese dessert, this dish is very famous as an Asian dessert. It tastes sweet, savory, with a chewy texture.
The ingredients used in making Almond Cookies are eggs, sugar, almonds, and almond extract, the combination of these ingredients will all produce a chewy cake texture with a sweet and savory taste. This is the most delicious dessert to eat with a cup of coffee or tea.
From the ingredients used, we know that this food can produce a nutritious food too. The egg content provides protein, almonds provide healthy fats, and its delicious taste makes it popular with many people. Even consuming it can be an additional nutrient for the body. So you can focus on presenting it at the next meeting.
8. Sesame Seed Dessert Balls
This traditional Chinese dessert is also known as Jian Dui in Cantonese and “Zhima Qiu” in Mandarin. This cake is a Chinese delicacy that has been around for centuries. The process of making Sesame Seed Dessert Ball involves glutinous rice flour. Then formed into small balls, filled with bean paste, and rolled in sesame seeds. Then fry until golden brown.
The presence of sesame seeds provides a savory taste, and ingredients such as coconut milk and peanuts can be added to the dough to make the taste more complex. This treat tastes sweet and spicy with a pleasant crunch. Immediately make plans to make Sesame Seed Dessert Balls at your next gathering.
9. Chocolate Chinese Five-Spice Cake
Chocolate Chinese Five-Spice Cake is also a food that has been around for centuries. This food has a unique sweet taste, soothing and tempting. Its deliciousness cannot be separated from cocoa and 5 other types of spices, namely fennel seeds, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and Sichuan pepper. This will definitely satisfy anyone’s taste.
This Asian dessert is made using all-purpose flour, salt, baking soda, and using Chinese five-spice powder. For a tingling chocolate flavor, add cocoa or Dutch-processed cocoa. For those who want gluten-free, choose almond flour, to add to the deliciousness you can frost with ginger cream, and this will provide extraordinary satisfaction.
As a Chinese dessert, Chocolate Chinese Five-Spice Cake has something that many people like. The taste is a combination of several flavors such as sweet, savory, and spicy flavors, all blending together and making this cake a coveted food.
10. Walnut Cookies
Walnut Cookies are an Asian dessert or traditional Chinese desserts that has always been popular with Chinese people, but now with the development of technology, this food is now trending and is liked by various levels of society. This cake is made using walnuts, flour, and sugar. The taste is unique and can be something that many people like.
The process of making Walnut Cookies is by mixing sugar with butter, then mixing chopped walnuts and adding flour. Then, the dough is formed into small discs, and baked until brown or golden. This cake has a crunchy, spicy, and sweet taste. This Chinese dessert is perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.
This is a food that is suitable for various occasions and events. It can be said that Walnut Cookies are a classic snack that is never out of date, and never goes out of style. This food is decorated with sugar, there is a sprinkling of color and an extraordinary taste.
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11. Traditional Chinese Desserts: Mung Bean Cake
Mung beans are sometimes also called by other names such as lvdougao or Moong Dal. This is a summer dessert that is quite famous in China. The taste of mung bean is indeed unique, the taste of a mixture of sweet and nutty so that it can anesthetize many mouths.
Preparation to make it is to prepare Mung Bean which has been soaked overnight. This soaking process is intended to provide a smooth texture. This mixture is then combined with vegetable oil, butter, salt, so that it produces an extraordinary taste.
Mung bean is a popular food in ancient Chinese culture and has survived the test of time, this food can survive until now because of its taste and benefits. All of these traditional Chinese desserts offer sweet and savory flavors and other flavors that are all addictive. You can try it at home with all the recipes that are easily found on the internet.
Please explore these 11 traditional Chinese desserts and find one that you like. Then, make it at home with joy and enjoy it with your family.