Mooncakes are a Chinese pastry traditionally eaten and given around the Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday for giving thanks for a bountiful harvest and spending time with family.
Mooncakes come in various shapes and sizes, with both sweet and savory fillings. To form the intricate designs the pastries are known for, they are pressed into unique molds before baking. Traditional mooncakes typically consist of a thick filling made from lotus seed paste or red bean, and contain salted duck egg yolks. Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges paired with a cup of tea.
There are also many modern variations of mooncakes. Some come in flakier, snow skin white or even ice cream sandwich crusts. Some include playful fillings such as taro, lychee, melon, sweet potato, pineapple, durian, coffee, lava custard, peanuts, black sesame, matcha, yogurt, jelly and ice cream.
From foodnetwork