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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Snowskin Mooncakes

    Published: Feb 4, 2019 by Michelle · 5 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This recipe is for naturally coloured Snowskin Mooncakes, which differ from traditional baked mooncakes. They feature a thin-skinned mooncake filled with lotus paste.

    Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Suncore Foods. All images and opinions expressed are solely mine. Thank you for supporting brands that help make Sift & Simmer possible! 

    Coloured Snowskin Mooncakes on small white plate, with toothpick.

    Chinese New Year is here! Gung Hei Fat Choy!

    There are a few things that come to mind when I think of Chinese New Year.

    Lots of homemade food, family gatherings, festive performances, and an abundance of vibrant colour, especially red.

    Chinese New Year foods

    From dumplings, and noodles, tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), to whole fish, there's a plethora of lucky, symbolic foods to eat during this festive 15-day season.

    Chinese New Year celebrations actually begin on New Year's Eve and end on the Lantern Festival which takes place on the first full moon of the New Year.

    Coloured Snowskin Mooncakes on small white plate, with toothpick, tea cups on side.Coloured Snowskin Mooncakes on small white plate, with toothpick.

    Mooncakes are most commonly eaten during Mid-Autumn Festival.

    Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the autumn harvest, which is on the 8th month, 15th day of the lunar calendar.

    Since Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar, mooncakes, (which are traditionally shaped to look like the moon) are also eaten during New Year's.

    What is a mooncake?

    The traditional mooncake is Chinese baked sweet confection, with a shortcrust pastry on the outside and some type of filling on the inside.

    Generally, mooncakes are enjoyed with friends and family who are gathered together celebrating the festival.

    Fillings can range from the traditional lotus seed paste, red bean paste, salted egg, mixed nuts, to various flavours of ice cream.

    Cut pink Snowskin Mooncakes on small white dish.

    Contemporary style

    A contemporary version of mooncake is Snowskin Mooncake (also known as Ice-Skin or Snowy Mooncakes).

    It is not baked and has a thin, smooth, glutinous rice skin on the outside with a filling on the inside.

    Coloured Snowskin Mooncakes on small white plate, with toothpick, coloured powder packaging in background.

    All-natural coloured skins

    I've taken the Snowskin Mooncake and injected some all-natural colour in the form of Suncore's Superjuice Powders to the skins, which will be sure to bring joy to whoever eats it.

    The snowskin mooncakes take a little time and patience to make.

    However, you can opt for fillings that are pre-made: such as red bean paste and lotus seed paste which are readily found in Asian supermarkets.

    Key ingredient

    Another ingredient that is key in making snowskin mooncakes is koh fun, which is cooked glutinous rice flour.

    This is different than regular glutinous rice flour. Koh fun can be difficult to find in Asian supermarkets.

    I've provided an alternative if you can't get your hands on packaged koh fun.

    These beautiful mini snowskin mooncakes are filled with sweet lotus seed paste, which is a popular traditional filling.

    You can also switch it up and use red bean paste, which works just as well. The skin is slightly chewy from the glutinous rice, with a similar texture to mochi or tang yuan.

    Other recipes you may like

    Be sure to try these other recipes:

    Peanut Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)

    Matcha Ice Cream Mochi

    Matcha Brochi

    Let me know if you try these -- I'd love to see your fantastic creations! Tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment below.

    If you’d like to try out these amazing all-natural coloured powders for yourself, use my code SIFTANDSIMMER15 for 15% off your purchase at Suncore Foods.*

    (*Note that the code is case sensitive. It is only valid on www.suncorefoods.com and cannot be used on any bundles, cannot be combined with other offers or promotions, and cannot be redeemed for cash).

    Coloured Snowskin Mooncakes on small white plate, with toothpick.Coloured Snowskin Mooncakes on small white plate, with toothpick with text overlay.

    Snowskin Mooncakes3
    Print Recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Snowskin Mooncakes

    A recipe for colourful snowskin mooncakes filled with lotus paste.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time12 mins
    Total Time42 mins
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 88kcal
    Author: Michelle

    For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.

    Ingredients

    • 65 g koh fun* cooked glutinous rice flour; if you can't find it, make it below
    • 40 g icing sugar
    • 50 ml coconut milk warmed in the microwave
    • 7 g coconut oil room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon Suncore Butterfly Pea Superjuice Powder
    • ½ teaspoon red yeast rice
    • 1 teaspoon Suncore Pink Pitaya Superjuice Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Suncore Emerald Pandan Superjuice Powder

    *Homemade koh fun:

    • 53 g glutinous rice flour
    • 53 g rice flour
    • 23 g wheat starch

    Filling:

    • 240 g lotus seed paste or red bean paste
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    Instructions

    Make the koh fun (if needed):

    • Preheat oven to 200°F/93°C. Combine the flours together and place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Toast for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Proceed with the recipe.

    Lotus paste:

    • Divide the lotus paste filling into 8 equal round balls, approximately 28g each.

    Make the dough:

    • Combine the koh fun, icing sugar, warmed coconut milk, and coconut oil together. Knead together to form a smooth dough.
    • Divide the dough into 4 equal portions. (2 portions are blue, 2 portions are red, 2 portions are green, and 2 are white/uncoloured).

    For blue:

    • To one portion, add in ½ teaspoon Suncore Blue Butterfly Pea Powder and knead the coloured powder into the dough until smooth and incorporated.
    • Divide the dough in half so you have 2 blue portions. Form into balls.

    For red:

    • To the second portion, add in ½ teaspoon red yeast rice powder and 1 teaspoon Suncore Pink Pitaya Superjuice Powder. Again, knead the coloured powder into the dough.

    For green:

    • Divide the dough in half so you have 2 red portions. Form into balls.
    • To the third, add in 1 teaspoon Suncore Emerald Pandan Superjuice Powder. Likewise, knead the coloured powder into the dough.
    • Divide the dough in half so you have 2 green portions. Again, form into balls.

    *Note, I left 2 pieces uncoloured, but you can choose to use another colour or increase the amount of a similar colour.

    • Taking a coloured dough, place into a large piece of plastic wrap. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin to a disc about 2" in diameter.
    • Place the filling in the center and enclose the filling with the dough and gently use your hands to form into a round ball.
    • Lightly dust a 50 gram mooncake mold with some koh fun.
    • Place the ball into a mooncake mold (I used a plastic one with a spring-loaded plunger).
    • Invert the mold, press firmly on the plunger to imprint the chosen shape and release the mooncake gently onto a plate.
    • Repeat with the remaining.

    Notes

    Snowskin mooncakes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before enjoying.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 88kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

    The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.

    Did you try this recipe?Mention @siftandsimmer or tag #siftandsimmer!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      April 09, 2021 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      These are absolutely beautiful! They remind me of something for a fairy garden party. Thank you for taking the time to educate on the history of Chinese New Year.

      Reply
    2. Beth

      April 09, 2021 at 9:21 am

      5 stars
      These are so fun! Perfect for celebrating the new year. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Biana

      April 09, 2021 at 9:59 am

      5 stars
      Yum! These mooncakes look so adorable! They will be perfect for brunch, with a cup of tea.

      Reply
    4. Kristina Tipps

      April 09, 2021 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      This is so cool! I was gifted a mooncake once by a student of mine but have never seen them in colors. These would make awesome tea party favors for my Mother's Day brunch.

      Reply
    5. Rika

      April 09, 2021 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      They look so pretty and cute. I love mooncakes, can't wait to make this recipe.

      Reply

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