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Wife Cakes (老婆餅)
5 from 36 votes

Wife Cakes (老婆餅)

Wife Cakes are traditional Chinese pastries filled with a finely textured mixture of candied wintermelon, ground sesame seeds, shredded coconut, and cooked glutinous rice flour. Wrapped in a layered pastry dough made from a water dough and an oil dough, the assembly involves coiling and flattening for a flaky, tender crust. A beaten egg wash and optional white or black sesame seeds top the cakes before baking to a golden finish. These pastries offer a subtly sweet, chewy filling balanced by a crisp, delicate outer shell.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Additional Time
1 hr 10 mins
Total Time
2 hrs
Servings: 8
Calories: 122 kcal
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Ingredients

Filling:
  • 120 g wintermelon diced up finely, candied
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds grounded up or blitz into a powder, roasted white
  • 1 tablespoon coconut unsweetened, shredded
  • 40 g glutinous rice flour koh fun, cooked
  • 5 ml coconut oil or unsalted butter
  • 50 g water
Water Dough:
  • 100 g cake flour or low-protein flour
  • 40 g pork lard or unsalted butter
  • 50 ml water
Oil Dough:
  • 80 g cake flour
  • 60 g pork lard or room temperature coconut oil
Egg Wash:
  • 1 beaten egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon water
Garnish:
  • white sesame seeds optional, or black sesame seeds, for sprinkling

Instructions

For visual step-by-step instructions, refer to the photos in the post.
Make the filling:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine finely chopped candied wintermelon, sesame seeds, shredded coconut, cooked glutinous rice flour (koh fun), coconut oil and water together in a bowl. Mix together.
  2. Divide the filling into 8 balls, about 28g each.
Make the Water Dough:
  1. Mix together cake flour, lard and water in a small bowl.
  2. Divide into 8 portions about 23g each. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Make the Oil Dough:
  1. In a separate bowl, mix together cake flour and lard.
  2. Divide into 8 portions about 16g each. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Assemble:
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F/204°C. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. Roll out the Water Dough into a round disc. Place 1 ball of Oil Dough in the centre of the water dough and gather the seams to enclose.
  3. Flatten dough into an oval/oblong shape with a rolling pin.
  4. Coil up the dough (jelly roll style). Repeat with the remaining dough, cover and let it rest for 20-30 minutes.
  5. After resting, rotate the coiled dough 90 degrees, flatten with a rolling pin and coil it up again (jelly roll style) to build up the flaky layers and let it rest for another 20 minutes.
  6. Push down the centre of the dough (seam-side up) with one thumb and pinch the two ends up together with the other thumb and forefinger.
  7. Flatten the dough with your palm.
  8. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin.
  9. Place the wintermelon filling in the centre of the dough and gather up the seams to enclose.
  10. Gently flatten the dough into a large disc using a rolling pin. Be careful not to puncture the dough.
  11. Make 2 parallel slits on the top of the disc.
  12. Combine the egg yolk and water to make an egg wash. Lightly brush the tops with egg yolk wash and sprinkle some sesame seeds (optional). Repeat with the remainder.
  13. Bake at 400°F/204°C for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and flaky.
  14. Remove from oven and cool on a rack.

Notes

  • Store the baked Wife Cakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
  • Use finely diced candied wintermelon and ground sesame seeds to achieve the characteristic chewy filling texture.
  • Rest both water dough and oil dough at room temperature before assembly to improve dough elasticity and layering.
  • Apply egg wash evenly before baking and sprinkle sesame seeds for an appealing golden finish.

Nutrition Information

Calories 122kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 21g (7%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 24mg (8%) Sodium 5mg (0%) Potassium 61mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 660IU (13%) Vitamin C 4mg (4%) Calcium 36mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 122

% Daily Value*

Calories 122kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 21g 7%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 24mg 8%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 61mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 660IU 13%
Vitamin C 4mg 4%
Calcium 36mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.