Every Mid-Autumn Festival, moon cakes appear on the streets of Vietnam, becoming a symbol of autumn and an indispensable gift in every family. Moon cakes are not only a traditional dish but also a symbol of reunion, family ties, and bring a warm atmosphere on full moon nights. With the combination of classic flavors and modern creativity, moon cakes are increasingly diverse and attractive to connoisseurs.

History and Meaning of Moon Cakes

Moon cakes have been around for hundreds of years, originating from Asian countries and quickly becoming an indispensable part of Vietnamese culture. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Reunion Festival, is an occasion for families to gather, watch the moon and enjoy moon cakes. With a round or square shape symbolizing fullness and perfection, moon cakes are considered a symbol of family love, prosperity and happiness. Through each Mid-Autumn Festival, the taste of moon cakes not only evokes memories of childhood but also preserves profound cultural values.

Moon Cake Classification

There are two main types of moon cakes: baked cakes and soft cakes, each with its own distinct flavor and preparation method. Each cake is carefully crafted from shape to flavor, bringing variety and richness to the enjoyer.

Baked Cake

The mooncake has a crispy outer layer, baked to a golden brown and fragrant. The crust is made from flour, sugar, and oil, and when baked has a shiny brown color. The mooncake fillings are often very rich, from traditional mixed fillings with Chinese sausage, salted eggs, to modern fillings such as green beans, lotus seeds, and taro. Each type of filling brings its own flavor, rich and attractive.

Moon Cake

Sticky rice cake has a soft, smooth, white crust, made from roasted sticky rice flour mixed with sugar water. Sticky rice cake is usually mildly sweet, the filling can be mung beans, lotus seeds, or jams. Sticky rice cake has a refreshing flavor, is an ideal gift to enjoy on cold autumn days.

Ingredients and How to Make Moon Cakes

Whether it is baked or soft cakes, the process of making moon cakes requires meticulousness and skill. Each moon cake is not only a dish but also a work of art, showing the skill of the baker. Below is a traditional way to make moon cakes that you can refer to.

Materials Needed

• Flour: 300g (for baking)
• Glutinous rice flour: 200g (for sticky rice cake)
• Sugar: 200g
• Green beans, lotus seeds, taro (for filling)
• Chinese sausage, salted egg, ginger jam, pumpkin jam (mixed filling)
• Cooking oil, sugar water, mai que lo wine

Steps to Take

Step 1: Make the crust

For mooncakes, mix flour with sugar water and cooking oil, knead well until dough is smooth. For sticky rice cakes, mix glutinous rice flour with sugar water until mixture thickens and does not stick to hands.

Step 2: Prepare the filling

The filling can be made from green beans, lotus seeds or mixed. Green beans and lotus seeds are steamed, pureed and simmered with sugar to get the right sweetness. For mixed filling, ingredients such as Chinese sausage, salted eggs, and pumpkin jam are mixed with lard and spices.

Step 3: Cover and bake

Divide the dough and filling into small portions, then wrap the filling inside the dough. Use a mold to shape the cake. For baked cakes, bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius until the cake is golden brown. For soft cakes, you can enjoy them immediately after molding.

Moon Cakes – A Beauty in Vietnamese Culture

Mooncakes are not only a food but also a symbol of reunion during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Every autumn, mooncakes appear on ancestral altars, in meaningful gift boxes, and in family gatherings under the full moon. Whether baked or soft, the taste of mooncakes always evokes family bonds and childhood memories filled with laughter.

Moon cake

Mooncakes are an indispensable specialty during the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival. With rich flavors and deep meaning of family affection, mooncakes are not only a traditional dish but also a symbol of reunion and warmth in the autumn days. If you have the chance, enjoy a mooncake with your family and feel the connection and completeness of the Reunion Festival.