Food & Receipts

The Ultimate Guide to Making Songpyeon: A Delicious and Unique Korean Mid-Autumn Festival Treat

The Korean Mid-Autumn Festival delicacy, Songpyeon, is a colorful treat made from rice flour. These vibrant rice cakes are a delightful twist on the traditional mooncakes, offering a unique taste experience for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Learn how to make these eye-catching treats and bring a burst of color and flavor to your celebrations this year.

Administrator

18 August, 2024

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Check out: A Collection of All Mooncake Recipes

This Mid-Autumn Festival, try something different with these delicious Korean Songpyeon cakes. Made with soft and sticky rice flour, these colorful treats will be a wonderful snack for the whole family. The following article will share an easy recipe to create these delightful Korean Songpyeon cakes, perfect for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Preparation
180 minutes Cooking
45 minutes Serves
3 – 4 people

1 Ingredients for Korean Songpyeon Cakes

5 cups of glutinous rice flour
15 chestnuts, 1 cup of white sesame seeds, 1 cup of ground black sesame seeds
Seasonings: 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder

Tip:
– You can easily find honey, chestnuts, and glutinous rice flour in stores, supermarkets, or online.
– If you want to add more color to your cakes, you can divide the dough and add mugwort powder to create a green leaf color or strawberry powder for a pink hue during the mixing process.

Ingredients for Korean Songpyeon Cakes

2 How to Make Korean Songpyeon Cakes

Step 1 Prepare the Ingredients

Prepare the ingredients for Songpyeon cakes

Soak the black beans in water for about 3 hours to soften them, which will reduce the cooking time later.

Boil the chestnuts until they are soft, then peel off the shells. (Boiling time is approximately 30 minutes)

Step 2 Mix the Dough

Mix the dough for the Korean Songpyeon cakes

Place the glutinous rice flour in a bowl and add a teaspoon of salt. Mix well, then sift the flour to ensure a smoother texture.

Gradually add hot water to the bowl of flour, adjusting the amount as needed to achieve the right consistency. The dough should not be too dry or too wet. Knead the dough thoroughly until it becomes soft and pliable. Once it’s ready, cover the dough with a thin cloth and let it rest.

Step 3 Make the Fillings

Make different fillings for Songpyeon cakes

Black Bean Filling: Cook the soaked black beans in a pot with water, adding a tablespoon of brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes until the beans are soft, then drain and set aside to cool.

Sesame Filling: In a bowl, mix the ground white sesame seeds with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of honey, and ½ teaspoon of salt.

Chestnut Filling: Mash the boiled chestnuts in a bowl and add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of honey, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Mix well.

Step 4 Shape the Cakes

Shape the Songpyeon cakes

Take a small portion of the dough and roll it into a ball. Use your thumb to create an indentation in the center to hold the filling. Spoon the desired filling into the indentation and gently seal the opening.

Note: The tighter the seal, the less air will get into the cake, resulting in a better-shaped and more delicious cake.

To shape the cake like a pumpkin, use a bamboo skewer to create crisscross marks on the surface. You can also add a small strawberry-colored flower on top to complete the pumpkin look. Alternatively, use the skewer to create leaf-like patterns on the cakes.

Step 5 Steam the Cakes

Steam the Songpyeon cakes for about 15 minutes

Line the bottom of a steamer with a wet cloth and a few pine leaves, then arrange the cakes on top. Cover and steam for 15-20 minutes until the cakes are cooked.

Note: Avoid overcrowding the steamer and placing the cakes too close together, as they may stick to each other. The cakes are ready when they develop a glossy sheen. If you don’t have pine leaves, you can simply use a thin cloth to line the steamer.

Once the cakes are steamed, rinse them under cold water, let them dry, and then brush each cake with a little sesame oil.

For more information:

3 The Final Product

Delicious and visually appealing Korean Songpyeon cakes

These Korean Songpyeon cakes are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. With their colorful and unique shapes, soft and sticky texture, and a variety of flavorful fillings, both adults and children will love them.

For more information:

4 Where to Buy Authentic Mooncakes Online?

For authentic and delicious mooncakes at great prices, head to Bachhoaxanh.com. They offer a range of renowned mooncake brands, including:

Dong Khanh
Hanh Phuc Hong Kong
Banh Nuong Hai Ha
Banh Nuong Kinh Do
Banh Trung Thu Thuy Trang
Banh Trung Thu Anh Khieu

Where to buy authentic mooncakes online?

For more information: 4 simple and convenient steps

With just 5 simple steps, you can make delicious and beautiful Korean Songpyeon cakes. This Mid-Autumn Festival, impress your family and friends with these homemade treats. Good luck, and happy baking!

Frequently asked questions

Songpyeon is a traditional Korean dish, consisting of small half-moon shaped rice cakes that are typically enjoyed during the Chuseok holiday, which is the Korean Mid-Autumn Festival.

The main ingredients are rice flour, water, and pine needles. Additional ingredients for the filling can vary, but commonly include sesame seeds, honey, beans, chestnuts, jujubes, and cinnamon.

The process starts by mixing rice flour and hot water to form a dough, which is then shaped into small balls. These balls are filled with the desired filling and then carefully shaped into half-moons. The pine needles are then used to create a broth, which is poured over the shaped rice cakes and steamed together.

Songpyeon holds cultural and symbolic significance during Chuseok. The half-moon shape of the rice cakes is said to resemble the shape of the full autumn moon, bringing good fortune and prosperity. Additionally, the act of making Songpyeon is often a family affair, with multiple generations coming together to prepare this traditional treat.

Yes, Songpyeon can be made in advance and frozen. When ready to serve, simply steam the frozen Songpyeon for a few minutes to warm them up.

Absolutely! While the traditional recipe is a beloved classic, modern interpretations and variations exist. Some popular variations include using different types of fillings, such as red bean paste, peanut butter, or even chocolate. Additionally, some creative chefs experiment with different shapes beyond the traditional half-moon, adding their unique twist to this timeless treat.