Brown Sugar Fa Gao (Chinese Prosperity Cake)

Brown Sugar Fa Gao, also known as Chinese Prosperity Cake, is a beloved treat that’s soft, fluffy, and even more delicious than bread. This traditional Chinese cake, often enjoyed during festive occasions for its symbolic meaning of prosperity and good luck, is surprisingly simple to make.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Chinese

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Resting Time 30

Servings

Calories 237kcal

Ingredients

40 g brown sugar
150 ml hot water around 80°C
1 egg
2 g yeast
200 g flour
Chopped red dates

Instructions

Prepare the Brown Sugar Mixture: Dissolve 40g of brown sugar in 150ml of hot water (around 80°C) in a bowl. Stir until the brown sugar is completely dissolved. Let it cool to below 35°C.
Mix the Batter: Add 1 egg, 2g of yeast, and 200g of flour to the cooled brown sugar mixture. Stir until you have a batter with some resistance. Cover with plastic wrap and let it ferment in a warm place for about 30-45 minutes.
Deflate the Dough: Once the dough has doubled in size, stir it thoroughly with chopsticks to release the air.
Prepare the Molds: Grease the molds and pour in the batter, filling them only up to about 80% full. Lightly tap the molds to distribute the batter evenly. Sprinkle chopped red dates on top.
Steam the Cake: Add cold water to the pot and place the fa gao in a bamboo steamer. Start timing once the water boils and steam for 20 minutes. Let it sit for 5 minutes before removing.

Nutrition