Moon Cakes (月餅)

Ingredients

• 2 cups cake flour (低筋面粉)
• ¼ cups vegetable oil (植物油)
• ⅔ cup golden syrup (转化糖浆)
• 1 T custard powder (吉士粉)
• ½ tsp alkaline water (食用枧水)
• 1 egg, beaten (for glaze)
• fillings of your choice (lotus seed paste, red bean paste, etc; make sure that the fillings are rather oily because that helps soften the cake after baking)

To Prepare the Dough

1. Whisk the alkaline water into the golden syrup
2. Stir in the vegetable oil, then custard powder and cake flour
3. Knead dough until smooth (dough should hold its shape, but not be stiff; add flour if needed), wrap in plastic, and place in the refrigerator for 3 hours

To Prepare the Cakes

1. Separate the dough into 20 pieces, roll each piece into a ball, and use a rolling pin to create a thin disc of dough
2. Place a ball of filling in the center of each disc and wrap
3. Place each prepared cake in a moon cake mold and press; tap lightly to remove
4. Bake cakes on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes
5. Remove from oven, glaze tops with egg, place back in the oven for 12 minutes (or until golden brown)
6. Let stand, at room temperature, for two days (yes, two days - this allows the cakes to soften)