Red Date Glutinous Rice Cake

A New Year's Delight
Portions:1 8-inch cake
Preparation Time: 45 minutes
Cooking Time:1 hour
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Ingredients

  • 5 Chinese dried red dates
  • Cold water
  • 11 oz. brown candy about 5 slabs
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 7 cups glutinous rice flour
  • Vegetable oil
  • White sesame seeds to garnish optional

Instructions

  • Soak the dried red dates in cold water until soft, about 30 minutes.
  • Remove from water, cut into halves, and remove the pits.
  • Set aside.
  • Cut each slab of brown candy into two or three pieces and place them in a glass or metal mixing bowl.
  • Carefully add 2 cups of boiling water and let the candy dissolve and cool.
  • Place glutinous rice flour in a large bowl.
  • Make a hollow in the center of the flour and pour the cool dissolved sugar (brown candy) into this hollow.
  • Stir the flour and sugar together.
  • When a dough begins to form, use your hands to knead it gently.
  • If necessary, add cold water one tablespoon at a time until the dough is smooth and shiny.
  • Lightly grease an 8-inch cake pan with vegetable oil.
  • Place the dough in the pan and mold it to fill the pan.
  • Decorate the top of the cake with red dates.
  • Sprinkle sesame seeds over all if desired.
  • Place the pan in the rack of a steamer, cover, and steam over high heat until the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 35 to 50 minutes.
  • While steaming, check the water level and add more if necessary.
  • Remove the cake from the steamer and pour off any water that has collected on top.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • When completely cool, run a knife along the edge of the cake and turn it out of the pan.
  • Wrap the cake loosely in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to eat.
  • (The cake is best if eaten the day after cooking.
  • )
  • To serve, cut the cake into small slices (not wedges).
  • Serve at room temperature or warm up by resteaming pieces on a plate.

Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:

If you don’t have a steamer, you can improvise by using a rack in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid. Ensure the pot is large enough to accommodate the cake pan and follow the steaming instructions.
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Course Cake / Rice
Cuisine Chinese
Holliday New years eve