thousand layer mooncake

Thousand Layer Mooncake

Mooncakes are not just food. They are a cultural tradition. Creamy sweet custard wrapped in a soft flaky dough, these mooncakes are the perfect things to share with family on a mid-autumn night.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Chilling time 40 mins
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 16 mooncakes

Ingredients
  

Custard Filling

  • 2 eggs
  • 3 TBSP sugar add more if you prefer a sweeter custard
  • 2 TBSP custard powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup pastry flour can substitute with a 2:1 ration of all purpose flour and cake flour
  • 3 TBSP butter softened and cubed

Water Dough

  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 TBSP powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1/4 cup water

Oil Dough

  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 TBSP sesame powder *optional
  • food coloring *optional

Instructions
 

For Custard Filling

  • Beat eggs and sugar until pale and frothy
  • Add in custard powder and mix until dissolved and there are no lumps
  • Add in milk and sifted flour. Mix lightly until incorporated
  • Add in butter
  • Warm custard mixture over a pot of simmering water for 10 mins, stirring every 2 min. The mixture will come together into a soft dough
  • Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely

For Dough

  • For water dough , mix all the ingredients and knead into a dough. Don't knead too long, just until the ingredients are mixed nicely. Cover with cling wrap and leave it to rest for about 30 minutes
  • For oil dough, mix all the ingredients and add sesame powder and food coloring (if desired). Mix and knead into a dough. Wrap with cling wrap and leave it to rest for 30 minutes
  • Divide both dough into 8 equal dough balls
  • Roll water dough into a flat round shape, then wrap the oil dough into it. Pinch it closed and shape it into a round ball. Repeat for all the dough balls
  • Shape the round sphere dough into a rectangular shape, and roll it flat lengthwise as thin as possible. Do it gently and slowly to prevent it from tearing.
  • Roll it up diagonally into a log.
  • Roll out the log lengthwise a second time
  • Roll up the long dough like a sleeping bag. Cut the dough in half using a very sharp knife. Do not use a sawing motion as it will smear the layers and colors
  • Slightly flatten the dough using palm . Then FLIP IT OVER making sure that the CUT side is facing DOWN.
  • Roll the dough into a flat circle
  • Wrap the filling into the dough , gently pull the dough upwards and around the filling . (Use your thumb to gently apply pressure on the filling) Seal it once the filling is fully covered with the dough
  • Bake mooncakes in a preheat oven at 325' F for about 20- 25 minutes.
Keyword mooncake, thousand layer mooncake, Totoro