Ever since I started making my own mooncakes at home, I now eagerly anticipate the arrival of the Mid-Autumn Festival each year. It might be partly related to me being anxious for (the endless and very hot) summer to be over, such that I welcome autumn and all the baking-related cosiness with open arms.
This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 17 September 2024. It is also known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, the latter because it is a time when families gift mooncakes to one another to symbolise family, love and celebration.
My favourite filling is the classic lotus seed paste, although I have a soft spot for Mooncakes with Red Bean Paste too.
My kids love my Chocolate Fudge Mooncakes the best, and no surprises for guessing why! I have also made a version with a chestnut filling, inspired by their love of Japanese Anpan buns with chestnuts, which was a real hit. I hope to post the recipe soon!
My kids are slowly coming to like more and more the Asian-style cakes and desserts, and I always encourage them to try new things, especially since we don’t always have so many opportunities here in Zurich when it comes to Asian sweets.
Mooncakes are typically made a few days in advance to allow the dough to soften and meld with the filling. But once you have tried a freshly-made mooncake, which is a bit crunchy once it has cooled completely, you may never go near a shop-bought mooncake again ☺️
My mooncake recipes have full step-by-step photos, including recipes to make the Lotus Seed Paste and Red Bean Paste from scratch. I also have recipes on how to make Lye Water and Salted Egg Yolks from scratch.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
Make your own beautiful homemade mooncakes with my step-by-step recipes!
Oh do you have a recipe for black sesame seed paste? That's our family favourite - we love it in tangyuan as well.