Snowskin Mooncake

One of the most well-loved snacks in Chinese culture, the snowskin mooncake - or crystal mooncake - is a non-baked dessert that offers a soft and chewy bite. It is also called the snowy or ice skin mooncake as it is best eaten cold and fresh, while paired with a hot cup of Chinese tea. If you ever find yourself in a traditional Chinese home and are served with this joyous sweet treat, you know you are experiencing the culture just right!

Easy home-cooked mooncakes

Traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節), this popular no-bake snowskin mooncake originated in Hong Kong and has since expanded to include many different varieties. For snowskin mooncakes, almost anything goes - from durian filling to the traditional lotus paste filling.

These mooncakes became highly popular especially as a healthier alternative to the sweeter traditional baked mooncakes that are made from salted duck egg yolks and lotus seed paste. Experimenting with fruit for filling, the bakers in Hong Kong also created these icy mooncakes that could hold less oil and fat and still deliver an exceptional taste for the Chinese palate.

The core ingredient in the snowskin mooncake is cooked glutinous rice flour which is known well for its health benefits owing to its high zinc, fiber and vitamin content. It also plays an important role in promoting the health of the liver, heart and bones.

What also makes the snowskin mooncake popular is its no-bake recipe. This means that more home cooks can enjoy this cold treat without having the need to use the oven which is required for the traditional versions. It is also relatively simple to make at home, with less mess and fuss.

Whether you want to make snowskin mooncakes for an upcoming festival or just to enjoy them as a family snack, our recipe will surely get you excited. It is easy and straightforward to follow, and just as delicious. Try it at home today!

Frequently Asked Questions about Snowskin Mooncake

How long can the snowskin mooncake be kept?

Since the mooncakes are not baked, minimal heat is used in the cooking process as well as in the ingredients used. As such, the mooncakes can be easily contaminated with bacteria and germs. Moreover, the snowskin mooncakes use less oil, sugar and salt - these are the natural preservatives in foods that play a role in lengthening the shelf life of edible products which snowskin mooncakes lack in. Therefore, you will need to ensure that the mooncakes are stored appropriately so that you can enjoy them over a longer period of time.

You must not leave snowskin mooncakes in room temperature for more than two hours. They should be kept in the freezer for 10 to 20 days and thawed in the refrigerator before eating. Once thawed, they should be consumed within two hours. We would advise against refreezing them thereafter.

Is the snowskin mooncake a good alternative for those with diabetes?

While the snowskin mooncake uses less oil, sugar and fat, we would still advise those with diabetes to limit their consumption to every 100g of a mooncake, or one-eighth of a piece. You may cut the mooncake into bite-sized portions for more to share instead of devouring an entire mooncake.

How can I make snowskin mooncakes with reduced sugar?

If you want to reduce the sugar content of the snowskin mooncake, you can use fruits or dried fruits as filling. You may add nuts or seeds to boost fiber and nutrient values.

Tips on how to make Snowskin Mooncake

1. Observe consistency of dough: As different brands of glutinous flour have varying water absorption levels, you must keep a lookout of the consistency of the dough (it should be soft with a smooth texture) when pouring in the liquid. You may not need to use all the water as stated in our recipe. You are also advised to stir the flour mixture forcefully to prevent it from caking.
2. Kneading the dough: This is a very important step in making the dough soft. The dough may also become sticky after having set aside in the refrigerator. As such, you may coat your hands with cooked glutinous rice flour or use plastic kitchen gloves when kneading and rolling the dough before you prepare them for the filling.
3. Cook filling over low-temperature: You may purchase ready-made mooncake fillings from the supermarkets. However, if you are making your own, be sure to cook them over low-temperature so that the sugar and oil are fully incorporated into the mixture. This is necessary to prevent your filling from turning greasy.
4. Use natural foods for coloring: The best snowskin mooncake is one that is made from natural ingredients. You can substitute artificial food coloring with boiled carrot or beetroot juice to give it the color and flavor. You may also prepare pandan extract from pandan leaves for green coloring.
5. Coat mooncake mold with glutinous rice flour: To prevent the dough from sticking to the mold when preparing the mooncake in their desired shape and pattern, you should coat the mold with cooked glutinous rice flour.