Mooncakes are one of the most recognized foods associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival — also known as the Moon Festival — in Chinese culture. The festival includes family gatherings, lighting lanterns, and, of course, eating mooncakes. Traditionally, these round pastries have a sweet paste filling made from lotus seeds, red beans, and sometimes a salted egg yolk that symbolizes the full moon. The thin, slightly chewy exterior, often imprinted with intricate patterns, symbolizes longevity and harmony. Mooncakes are traditionally gifted to family and friends during the festival, but even though this recipe has a rich history, today’s mooncakes have evolved to include modern flavors, including custard, chocolate and even ice cream. Here’s a recipe for Oreo mooncakes:
Ingredients:
- • 2 cups crushed Oreo cookies
- • ¾ cup cream cheese, cut into cubes
Directions:
- • Place Oreo cookies into a food processor or blender and blend into fine crumbs.
- • Add the cubed cream cheese and mix until the cream cheese is evenly distributed and starts to look like dough.
- • Roll 2 tablespoons of the dough into a ball and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- • Repeat and refrigerate dough balls for 20 minutes so they firm up.
- • Please a dough ball into the mooncake mold and press down firmly. Then lift the mold and remove the cake.
- • Refrigerate uncovered for about an hour before serving.
