moon cakes?

Question

Heya, does anyone know what is in a moon cake?
As I was just given a present from a chinese friend for a festival.
Do these have meat in them?

Answer 1

no, unless you consider egg yolk meat.

It's a tradition for the moon festival, kind of the same concept as the harvest moon. If you wanna look up more about these tasty things here's a few links to start you up...

Mind you, I don't usually like them that much because they are usually a bit too salty for a dessert, but there are sweeter kinds, so you are best off cutting it in half to see what the filling is like.

Answer 2

Mid-Autumn Moon Cakes
Makes 24 cakes
Recipe © Yan Can Cook, 2004

Ingredients Amounts
For the Dough:
All-Purpose Flour 4 cups
Non-Fat Dried Milk Powder 1/2 cup
Baking Powder 3 tsp.
Salt 1/2 tsp
Eggs 3 each
Sugar 1 cup
Solid Shortening, melted and cooled 1/2 cup
Egg Yolk, lightly beaten 1 each
For the Filling:
Lotus Seed Paste 1 can (17.5 ounces)
Walnuts, finely chopped 1/4 cup

Method
Preheat your oven too 375 ° F.

For the Filling:

Mix lotus seed paste and walnuts together in a bowl; set aside.

For the Dough:

1. Sift flour, milk powder, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.

2. In large bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs on medium speed until they are light and a lemon colored . Add sugar, beat for 10 minutes or until mixture falls in a thick ribbon. Add melted shortening; mix lightly.

3. With a spatula fold in flour mixture (from step 1).

4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board (or counter). Knead dough for 1 minute or until smooth and satiny.

5. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a log shape. Cut each log into 12 equal pieces.

6. To shape each moon cake, roll a piece of dough into a ball. (Dust counter/board lightly with flour so the dough doesn't stick too the counter/board and rolling pin.) Roll out each ball too make a 4-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick.

7. Place 1 tablespoon of the filling mixture into the center of the dough circle. Fold in sides of dough too completely enclose filling; press edges to seal.

8. If you have a moon cake press, lightly flour the inside of the press (with 2 1/2 inch diameter cups). Place moon cake, seam side up, in the mold. Flatten dough to conform to the shape of the mold. Bang one end of the mold lightly on your work surface, to dislodge the moon cake.

9. Place moon cakes on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat to shape remaining cakes. Brush tops with egg yolk.

10. Bake in oven (375 ° F) for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

11. Let the cakes cool before you eat them.

Enjoy!!

Answer 3

I believe the traditional filling is sweetened red bean paste. There are probably others, but that's the one that I'm familiar with.