[recipes] Homemade Mooncake Part II - Jelly Mooncakes

[Homemade Mooncakes] Chocolate Jelly Mooncake

After the first post of our Homemade Mooncake Recipes, here is the second part which features non-baked Jelly Mooncakes using agar agar powder (or you can replace it with konnyaku jelly powder) which makes into refreshing jelly dessert that resemble mooncake in a lighter version. Although making these jelly mooncake might seems a little time consuming due to the different layers of colour but when you get the hang of it, the steps are actually quite straightforward to follow too.

[recipes] Homemade Mooncake Part I - Traditional Mooncake vs Snow Skin Mooncakes

Assorted Homemade Mooncakes

Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) is just another two weeks from now. This year due to a mooncake project I made some variety of homemade mooncakes ranging from those traditional ones with lotus paste that are wrapped with melon seeds and salted egg to refreshing Jelly Mooncakes that are made using agar agar powder with flavour such as rose and lychee.

[Mid-Autumn] Mooncake Festival 2013

[Crystal Jade] Mystical Treasure Set

Time flies, in another month's time most of us will be celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival where friends and family gather to enjoy assortment of mooncakes and food. And during this period of time getting mooncakes for friends and business associates has also become a tradition routines. Below are some Traditional and Contemporary mooncake variety which you might be keen to take a look while placing your orders.

[Crystal Jade] Magnificent Five

[Photo: Crystal Jade] With gifting in mind, this year Crystal Jade has introduce their Mystical Treasure Set (SG$89.00 per box of 4 pieces) which comprises four premium flavours of Gold Leaf Mooncakes encased in a newly-designed, limited-edition treasure chest (shown on the first photo above). Each set includes Crystal Jade’s premium offerings such as: Gold Leaf White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk, Gold Leaf Red Lotus Paste with Double Yolk, Gold Leaf Plain White Lotus Paste, and Gold Leaf Mixed Nuts and Ham.

On top of that The Magnificent Five (SG$69.00 per box of 5 pieces) also makes another great gift that is packaged in a luxuriously quilted gold box. This set includes: Super Five Yolks with White Lotus Paste, Plain White Lotus Paste, White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk, Red Lotus Paste with Double Yolk, and Mixed Nuts and Ham.

[Crystal Jade] Snow Lotus Konnyaku Mooncake

[Photo: Crystal Jade] For a twist and something with lighter taste, you might want to consider the new Snow Lotus Konnyaku Mooncake (SG$20.00 per box of 4 pieces) which is under Crystal Jade Floral Tea Konnyaku Mooncakes range.

Crystal Jade Mooncake
Hotline: (65) 6512 0800
Online Brochure: Mid-Autumn Festival 2013

Mondays to Fridays: 
9am – 6pm

[Thye Moh Chan] Mid-Autumn Pastries

For something different than the usual baked mooncakes, you might consider getting one of these handmade Teochew pastries that comes with a selection of silky-smooth fillings wrapped with a layer of flaky pastry skin  from Thye Moh Chan. Below are the range (detail here) that you can choose from:-

Sweet or Salty Tau Sar (single yolk)
Pick your choice between sweet or savoury mung bean filling which has been prepared from scratch. Each piece of mooncake is wrapped with a single salted egg yolk with the sweet rendition topped with white sesame. Whereas for the savoury one, it is blend with salty mung bean paste, fried shallots, white sesame and seasoned with white pepper.
Medium (4 pieces per box) @ SG$24.80, Large (1 piece per box) @ SG$22.80

Yuan Yang
Make with generous filling of savoury mung bean paste, fried shallots, white sesame, spicy pork floss and salted egg yolks, this novel creation is also accented with a proprietary spice mix.
Medium (4 pieces per box) @ SG$24.80; Large (1 piece per box) @ SG$22.80

Double Delight
Wrapped with double delights of red bean paste and a unique ‘crystal’ filling made with winter melon, melon seeds, dried orange peel, white sesame, spring onions, and glutinous rice flour.
Medium (4 pieces per box) @ SG$24.80

Durian
For durian lovers, this is a contrast between smooth D24 durian-infused bean paste and crispy pastry.
Medium (4 pieces per box) @ SG$35.20

Traditional Teochew Mooncake
An old-time  favourite with combination of maltose, white sesame, dried kumquat and five-spice powder, rendering a unique and unforgettable taste.
Large (1 piece per box) @ SG$18.00

Promotions:
From 13 July to 31 August, enjoy 25% discount for purchase of 10 or more mooncake vouchers. Mooncake collection date: 5 August – 15 September

Corporate Sales Discount:
- 25% for 10 boxes and above
- 30% for 50 boxes and above

OCBC Cardmembers Privileges:
From 13 July to 31 August, OCBC Cardmembers enjoy 20% discount for purchase of 2 boxes or more.

THYE MOH CHAN
Chinatown Point
133 New Bridge Road, #01-45
Singapore 059413
Telephone: (65) 6604 8858

Operating hours:
10am – 10pm daily

[BreadTalk] Hello Kitty Mini Mooncakes

[Photo: BreadTalk] This year BreadTalk will be lunching their "limited edition" Hello Kitty Mini Mooncakes @ SG$25.00 per box of 4 pieces from 07 - 19 September 2013. These mooncakes comes in 4 different flavour such as:- Azuki Milk and Nuts, Green Tea Apricot, Chocolate Walnut and Glutinous Rice Yam specially packed in the Hello Kitty designed carrier so fans remember to grab them while stock last.

[Mandarin Oriental] Green Tea Paste and Japanese Kyoho Grapes

[Photo: Mandarin Oriental] This year apart from the traditional baked mooncakes, Cherry Garden also introduces the Homemade Mooncake with Green Tea Paste and Japanese Kyoho Grapes. This pairing between the sweet green tea and refreshing plum wine-infused grapes is pricing at S$62.00 per box of 4 pieces.

[Mandarin Oriental] Snow Skin Mooncake with Ginseng Egg Custard

[Photo: Mandarin Oriental] As for the premium snow skin selection, Cherry Garden also introduces Imperial Treasure Mooncake with Mangosteen Rind and Durian Paste as well as the Snow Skin Mooncake with Ginseng Egg Custard which is a luscious yellow delight that captures the velvety smooth essence of egg custard, along with crunchy bits of pine nuts, tinged with the aromatic herbal notes of the ginseng pricing at SG$62.00 per box of 8 pieces

CHERRY GARDEN
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue
Marina Square
Singapore 039797
Telephone: (65) 6885 3541
Enquiry: mosin-mooncakes@mohg.com

[Photo: Din Tai Fung]

[Din Tai Fung] Baked Mini Mooncakes Treasure Set

Fans of Din Tai Fung, for this coming Mid-Autumn Festival you will be able to try their very first Baked Mini Mooncakes which comes in two new flavours such as White Lotus Seeds Paste with pineapple fillings or pine seeds and orange peels. Personally I prefer the one with orange peels which balance the sweet, savory and tangy taste of this festive treat.

[Din Tai Fung] White Lotus Seed Paste with Taiwan Songshan Pineapple Filling (left) vs White Lotus Seeds Paste with Pine seeds, Orange Peels and Quarter Yolk (right)

Each box of their Baked Mini Mooncakes Treasure Gift Set consists of four mini mooncakes (two of each flavour) pricing at SG$23.80 nett and it will be available from 01 August - 19 September 2013 at all Din Tai Fung Outlets islandwide.

[Updated on 31st August 2013]

[Eater Palace (食珍)] Flaky Teochew Yam Mooncake

Eater Place (食珍) is one of the pioneer brand that offers Flaky Teochew Yam Mooncake or also known as Or Nee Mooncake.  This has always being my favourite mooncake because it's quite different from the usual baked mooncake that is make with lotus seeds paste. I love it's layers of flaky skin which enclosed the smooth and fragrance yam paste and pumpkin which makes it just like having my favourite Or Nee (yam paste).

[Eater Palace (食珍)] Yam and Pumpkin Flaky Teochew Mooncake

The mooncake comes in a box of either two or four pieces with flavour such as:-
- Yam
- Yam And Pumpkin
- Yam Salted Egg Yolk
- Vegetarian Yam

You can sample these flaky mooncake at Takashimaya Mid-Autumn Festival (basement event hall) and grab a box or two back as gift too.

[St Regis - Yan Ting] Royal Milk Tea Snowskin Mooncake with Red Bean Paste and White Chocolate Champagne Truffle @ SG$68.80 per box of 8

[St Regis - Yan Ting] Assort Snowskin Mooncake

This year Yan Ting has introduce five new snowskin creations  using quality ingredients with flavours such as "Mao Shan Wang" durian (SG$108.00 with box of 8 snowskin mooncakes), mixed berries, green tea, purple sweet potato and royal milk tea with chocolate champagne.

And if you can't decide on what flavour to choose, you can also grab a  box of a Assorted Snowskin Mooncake (excluding durian snownkin mooncake) shown above at SG$67.80 with 8 mini mooncakes in it.

[St Regis - Yan Ting] Four Traditional Baked Mooncakes Premium Gift Set

Yan Ting also offers exclusive premium gift box set together with your selection of 8 snowskin (SG$138.00) or 4 traditional baked mooncakes (SG$158.00). The gift set comes with a charming oriental teapot with two tea cups and a canister of Dongding Oolong Tea.

Yan Ting mooncake will be available at Yan Ting Restaurant located at level 1U or the Mooncake counter next to The Drawing Room located at the lobby from 19th August to 19 September 2013.

Yan Ting - Fine Cantonese Cuisine
The St. Regis Singapore
Level 1U
29 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247911
Telephone: (65) 6506 6887

[Hong Kong Mei Xin Mooncake] Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with 2 Egg Yolks

Mei-Xin Mooncake (美心月饼) is the Hong Kong's leading brand of mooncakes and this year I an si glad to receive a box of the Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with 2 Egg Yolks (retail price: SG$51.00 for a box of 4 mooncakes) from our Hong Kong relative who visit Singapore two weeks ago. Indeed their lotus seed  paste is smooth with a delicate fragrance and it pairs well with the salted egg yolks in it.

If you are keen to sample of their baked and snowskin mooncakes, do visit their booth at Takashimaya Mid-Autumn Festival (basement event hall) from Now to 19 September 2013, 10.00am – 9.00pm.

{Quick Guide} Mooncakes For Mid Autumn Festival 2012

Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the few most important holidays in the Chinese calendar that many still celebrate today. Every years during or before the festival, you would be able to see different types of mooncake available ranging from either traditional baked mooncakes or modern fusion of yoghurt or ice cream mooncakes.

Above shows the Baked Mooncake with Mixed Nuts and Jamón Ibérico (伊比利亚火腿五仁果子月饼) from Mandarin Court which is baked to golden brown perfection with chockfull of crunchy goodness.  I love its rich nutty flavour which makes Spanish delicacy pairs perfectly with the assorted nuts in this traditional delight. Each box is S$62.00 / 4 pieces.

MANDARIN COURT

Other popular flavours include the Baked Mooncake with Double Yolk and White Lotus Paste (双黄白莲蓉月饼) and Baked Mooncake with Single Yolk and White Lotus Paste (单黄白莲蓉月饼).

Photo Credit:- Mandarin Court

If you can't decide on which flavours to get, perhaps the Assorted Mini Snow Skin Selection (四喜映月), containing two of each snow skin mooncake flavour such as:-

~ Mini Snow Skin Raspberry Mooncake (NEW)
~ Mini Snow Skin Cheese with Citrus Mooncake (NEW)
~ Mini Snow Skin Green Tea and Melon Seeds Mooncake
~ Mini Snow Skin Lychee Martini Mooncake

would be great to satisfy your sweet craving. Each box is at S$58.00 / 8 pieces.

For orders or enquiries, please call 6831 6320 or 6831 6262 or email mandarincourt.orchard@meritushotels.com.

PARADISE GROUP

Photo Credit:- Paradise Group

This Mid-Autumn Festival, Paradise Group features a fine selection of exquisite new snowskin mooncakes creations and traditional baked treasures specially created by Executive Pastry Chef Fung Wing Sang. These mooncakes are available from 19 August to 30 September 2012 at selected Paradise Group outlets from 19 August to 16 September 2012.

For your information, ANZ and Citibank credit cardholders, as well as Paradise Gourmet Rewards members will enjoy 20% early bird discount (19 August - 16 September 2012) on the mooncakes. Ordering details and price lists HERE.

PRIMA DELI

Photo Credit:- PrimaDeli

With PrimaDéli celebrates it's 20th anniversary this year they have introduce new family favourite mooncakes (full list HERE) for family to enjoy the delightful trio of mini Toffee Cappuccino, Chocolate Hazelnut and Raspberry Truffle snowskin mooncakes at most of their outlets island.

As a special debut, PrimaDéli has a limited edition Mao Shan Wang snowskin mooncake (S$16.95 each or S$67.80 per box) which comes with a satisfying filling of Mao Shan Wang and lotus paste for durian lovers. Furthermore there is also a 15% OFF with minimum purchase of 1 box of 4 pieces (regular size) or 9 pieces (mini size).

To order you could visit their outlets or website @  http://www.primadeli.com
 

SWENSEN'S ICE CREAM MOONCAKE

Photo credited to Swensen's

Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with cool Swensen’s ice cream mooncakes that comes in six authentic flavors.  This year, let these sweet affair at both Swensen's and Earle Swensen's filled you with mouth-watering Swensen’s signature smooth and full dairy ice creams which encased in a unique pastry skin. Read more over at this post HERE.

CRYSTAL JADE MOONCAKE

This year Mid-Autumn Festival, Crystal Jade offers a limited edition Premium Gold Treasure Box (S$88.00 / 4 pieces) which features four individual boxes with lids of silk, each adored with with words "Fei Cui (翡翠)" which means Crystal Jade in Chinese. Read more at this post HERE.

Crystal Jade Celebrate 2012 Mid-Autumn Festival with Limited Edition Treasure Box

This year Mid-Autumn Festival, Crystal Jade offers a limited edition Premium Gold Treasure Box (S$88.00 / 4 pieces) which features four individual boxes with lids of silk, each adored with with words "Fei Cui (翡翠)" which means Crystal Jade in Chinese.

The set comprises of:- Gold Leaf White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk, Gold Leaf Red Lotus Paste with Double Yolk, Gold Leaf Plain White Lotus Paste, and Gold Leaf Mixed Nuts and Ham.

Mixed Nuts and Ham is always one of the flavour that I always look forward to. And this one from Crystal Jade has a stronger ham taste compared to the other few that I have tried which is more on the orange peel scented.

For a modern and healthier choice, perhaps you could consider this Kindred Bliss (S$22.00 / 4 pieces) with a selection of four yoghurt and pudding flavoured mooncakes such as Mango (yellow), Mixed Berries (purple), Apple (green) and Original (white).

Original Yoghurt Pudding Mooncake with Nata De Coco.

Photo Credit:- Crystal Jade

For your information, Crystal Jade's selection of 23 mooncake varieties will be available from 27 August till 30 September 2012 at most Crystal Jade Outlets. There is also a 15% OFF exclusively for DBS/POSB Credit And Debit Cardmembers.

Orders or enquiry can be made via Crystal Jade Mooncake Hotline at 6512 0808, Monday - Friday (9am - 6pm).

Mid Autumn At Swensen's plus Giveaway

Photo credited to Swensen's

Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with cool Swensen’s ice cream mooncakes that comes in six authentic flavors.  This year, let these sweet affair at both Swensen's and Earle Swensen's filled you with mouth-watering Swensen’s signature smooth and full dairy ice creams which encased in a unique pastry skin.

In addition, their special Disney ice cream mooncakes are back again this year which I am sure it will bound to be a winner especially for the little ones.

Photo credited to Swensen's

These cool ice cream mooncakes are presented in an elegant keepsake box that featured the unique Swensen’s Tiffany lamp designs which we all familiar with. And these delightful ice cream mooncakes also come in a box of four (S$29.80 per box / S$8.60 per piece), with a choice of six delicious flavours shown below which you can mix-and-match:-

~ Strawberry Fields Forever
~ Durian Royale
~ Yummy Yam
~ Sticky Chewy Chocolate
~ Cookies 'N' Cream Dreams
~ Mocha Almond Delight

Photo credited to Swensen's

As for Disney fans or parents with kiddo, you can consider to get a box of this adorable Mickey Ice Cream Mooncakes (S$16.90 per box) which is available exclusively at Swensen’s. These mooncakes come in a box of two, with a choice of  either Strawberry Fields Forever and Sticky Chewy Chocolate (or you can also request for one flavour each).

And furthermore, these Disney ice cream mooncakes are thoughtfully packaged in a unique and colourful Mickey die-cut box that features attractive printouts which is perfect for the young ones to keep as a memento.

GIVEAWAY

Swensen's Ice Cream Mooncakes

Photo credited to Swensen's

So if you are a Swensen's ice cream fans who love to try their signature smooth full dairy ice creams which encased in a unique pastry skin. Here is your chance, I would be giving away a box (4 regular ice cream mooncakes) of Swensen's Ice Cream Mooncakes to ONE lucky reader;

To win:

1. Like the Swensen's Ice Cream Mooncakes photo on Cuisine Paradise Facebook Page, AND
2. Leave a comment on the Facebook photo, name TWO flavours of  Swensen's Ice Cream Mooncakes (clue:- answer can be found in this post).

Closing Date: 29 July 2012 (Sunday), 9pm.

*only for readers living in Singapore*

A Cooling Gift for Mid-Autumn Festival

This Mid-Autumn Festival if you do not intend to get those traditional baked or snowskin mooncakes(read more HERE) perhaps a box or two of these Häagen-Dazs mooncakes will be a great treat for the whole family or friends. As you can see Häagen-Dazs have given traditional mooncakes a bold new twist with 4 different flavours  such as:-  Chocolate and Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, Strawberry and Coffee and Macadamia Nut. And each was created to look alike like the traditional mooncake with a "yellow" yolk in the middle using Mango Sorbet.

In addition to their Classic Gift Set(S$58+ for 4 pieces) or Petite Gift Set(S$32+ for 2 pieces), these mooncakes are also available as dine-in creations (range from S$18++ - S$20++), accompanied by exquisitely handcrafted fruits at all Häagen-Dazs outlets.

For your information Häagen-Dazs mooncake promotion starts from now to 12th September 2011. For more promotion details please refer to their website HERE.

Thank you Häagen-Dazs and WOM for the lovely mooncakes.

Crystal Jade Tea And Wine Mooncake for Mid-Autumn

With Mid-Autumn festival around the corner, Crystal Jade has a wide selection of traditional mooncakes as well as some New contemporary ones. Their traditional flavours include White Lotus Paste, White Lotus Paste with Double or Four Yolks, Red Lotus Paste with Single Yolk or Double Yolk, Mixed Nuts and Ham(翡翠金华火腿) and Mini Traditional Mooncakes.

As for its more contemporary offerings, Crystal Jade has combined two distinctive flavours into one creation with its Cognac Coffee Mini Snow Skin Mooncake - 干邑咖啡 (brown colour, middle row), Red Wine and Cranberry Mini Snow Skin Mooncake - 红酒蔓越莓 (pink colour, top row) for wine lovers with it's full-bodied blend of red wine leaving a lingering note on the tongue together with coupled with a sweet cranberry goodness.

If liquor is not your choice, perhaps some Crystal Jade’s tea-infused snowskin mooncake such as Green Tea and Plum Mini Snow Skin Mooncake - 绿茶梅子 (green colour, front row) that comes with a lovely concentration of forest aromas will be a refreshing treats for you. We love its hint of plum taste lingering between those fragrant green tea paste which balance the overall sweetness.

For some light and healthier version of Mooncake, you can also try this New Crystal Jade’s Western Konnyaku Jelly Mooncake floral tea series (S$4.80/ each). These include the Roselle And Hawthorn Konnyaku Mooncake - 洛神花山楂蒟蒻月饼, Honey Chrysanthemum Konnyaky Mooncake - 菊花蜜蒟蒻月饼, Jasmine Green Tea Konnyaku Mooncake - 茉莉绿茶蒟蒻月饼 and Osmanthus and Plum Konnyaku Mooncake - 桂花乌梅蒟蒻月饼.

Or if floral tea series is not towards your desire, then go for their Aloe Vera Konnyaku Mooncake - 芦荟蜜蒟蒻月饼 which consists juicy bits of aloe vera that adds a refreshing and delicious texture to your bites.

For DBS/POSB Credit and Debit Cardmembers, there is a n exclusive 15% discount for all traditional and western mooncake gift sets. You can refer to Crystal Jade on-line "Mooncakes Leaflet" for more details on the pricing and flavour available HERE.