Traditional Chinese Steamed Cake (Fa Gao)

Description

This is a recipe I came up with after searching through many different versions. It’s light and fluffy, yet still traditional, representing prosperity during the New Year.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • ½ cup warm water
  • 1 egg
  • ⅓ cup melted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 ½ cups cake flour
  • ½ cup cornmeal
  • ⅓ cup superfine sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup raisins (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle the yeast over 1/2 cup of warm water in a small bowl. The water should be no more than 100 degrees F (40 degrees C). Let stand for 5 minutes until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam.
  2. Beat egg
  3. melted butter
  4. vanilla extract
  5. and milk together in a large bowl
  6. until smooth. Sift cake flour
  7. cornmeal
  8. sugar
  9. and salt together in a small bowl
  10. then stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture
  11. mixing until just combined. Stir in the yeast mixture until smooth. Cover with a light cloth and let rise in a warm place (80 to 95 degrees F (27 to 35 degrees C) until doubled in volume
  12. 1 to 2 hours. Pour mixture into a 9 inch round pan lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with raisins.
  13. Place a steamer insert into a saucepan
  14. and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover
  15. and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the cake
  16. recover
  17. and steam until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
  18. about 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins

Servings: 8

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