Banh Trung Thu (Vietnamese Mooncakes)

Ingredients

Egg

1, beaten (for egg wash)

Melon seeds

1/4 cup

Salted egg yolks

12

Lotus seed paste

1 cup

Water

1/2 cup

Vegetable oil

1/4 cup

Glutinous rice flour

2 cups

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour, vegetable oil, and water. Knead the mixture until a smooth, pliable dough forms.
2. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball.
3. Flatten a dough ball with your palm, creating a small well in the center. Place a salted egg yolk and a spoonful of lotus seed paste in the well.
4. Carefully wrap the dough around the filling, ensuring it is completely sealed. Roll the filled dough into a smooth ball. Repeat this process with the remaining dough and filling.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Brush each mooncake with a generous amount of egg wash. This will give your mooncakes a beautiful, glossy finish.
7. Sprinkle melon seeds on top of each mooncake, gently pressing them into the dough to secure.
8. Bake the mooncakes for 25-30 minutes, or until they turn a lovely golden brown.
9. Remove the mooncakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely before serving. The flavors deepen as the mooncakes cool, making for a more enjoyable eating experience.