Chinese New Year cookies are traditional treats enjoyed during the Lunar New Year celebration. These cookies symbolize prosperity, good fortune, and happiness for the coming year. Here are the top 12 Chinese New Year cookies, their significance, and how to make them.
1. Pineapple Tarts
Pineapple tarts are a staple of Chinese New Year celebrations. These golden treats symbolize wealth and prosperity.
Significance
The Hokkien and Cantonese word for pineapple, “ong lai,” sounds similar to “prosperity arrives.” The golden color of the tarts represents good fortune.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Flour
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Pineapple jam
How to Make
- Make a buttery pastry crust.
- Prepare sweet pineapple filling.
- Form the crust into small discs.
- Add pineapple filling to each disc.
- Bake until golden brown.
Pineapple tart snacks come in various shapes, such as flowers or balls. Their sweet and tangy flavor, combined with a buttery crust, makes them irresistible.
2. Almond Cookies
Almond cookies are a popular Chinese New Year treat, known for their crisp texture and nutty flavor.
Significance
The round shape of almond cookies represents coins, symbolizing wealth and prosperity for the coming year.
Ingredients
- Almond flour
- All-purpose flour
- Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Almond extract
How to Make
- Mix almond flour, all-purpose flour, and sugar.
- Add softened butter and mix until crumbly.
- Add egg and almond extract, mix until a dough forms.
- Roll dough into small balls.
- Press an almond into the center of each cookie.
- Bake until golden brown.
These cookies have a delightful crunch and a rich almond flavor that melts in your mouth.
3. Peanut Cookies
Peanut cookies are a traditional Chinese New Year treat loved for their nutty flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Significance
Peanuts symbolize longevity and good health in Chinese culture, making these cookies a popular choice for the New Year.
Ingredients
- Roasted peanuts
- All-purpose flour
- Powdered sugar
- Peanut oil
- Egg yolk (for glazing)
How to Make
- Grind roasted peanuts into a fine powder.
- Mix ground peanuts with flour and sugar.
- Add peanut oil and knead into a dough.
- Form small balls with the dough.
- Brush with egg yolk.
- Bake until golden brown.
These cookies have a rich peanut flavor and a crumbly texture that dissolves on the tongue.
4. Kueh Bangkit (Coconut Cookies)
Kueh Bangkit are light, airy coconut cookies that are a staple of Chinese New Year celebrations in Southeast Asia.
Significance
The white color of these cookies symbolizes purity and new beginnings.
Ingredients
- Tapioca flour
- Coconut milk
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Pandan leaves (optional)
How to Make
- Toast tapioca flour until fragrant.
- Heat coconut milk with pandan leaves (if using).
- Mix cooled flour with sugar and coconut milk.
- Add egg yolks and form a dough.
- Press dough into molds.
- Bake until set but not browned.
These cookies have a delicate coconut flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
5. Love Letters (Egg Rolls)
Love Letters, also known as egg rolls or Kuih Kapit, are thin, crispy wafer cookies.
Significance
These cookies symbolize the exchange of love and good wishes during the New Year.
Ingredients
- Flour
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Coconut milk
- Vanilla extract
How to Make
- Mix all ingredients into a thin batter.
- Heat a special mold or iron.
- Pour a small amount of batter onto the mold.
- Close the mold and cook for a few seconds.
- Remove and quickly roll into a cylinder or fold into a fan shape.
These delicate cookies are crisp and fragrant, with a subtle egg and coconut flavor.
6. Sesame Seed Balls (Jian Dui)
Sesame Seed Balls are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, filled with sweet red bean paste.
Significance
The round shape symbolizes family unity, while the golden color represents wealth.
Ingredients
- Glutinous rice flour
- Water
- Sugar
- Red bean paste
- Sesame seeds
- Oil for frying
How to Make
- Mix glutinous rice flour, water, and sugar to form a dough.
- Flatten a piece of dough and add red bean paste in the center.
- Seal the dough around the filling to form a ball.
- Roll the ball in sesame seeds.
- Deep fry until golden and crispy.
These treats offer a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.
7. Nian Gao (New Year Cake)
Nian Gao is a sticky rice cake that’s often sliced and pan-fried during Chinese New Year.
Significance
The name “Nian Gao” sounds like “higher year,” symbolizing progress and advancement in the coming year.
Ingredients
- Glutinous rice flour
- Brown sugar or white sugar
- Water
How to Make
- Mix glutinous rice flour with sugar and water.
- Pour the mixture into a greased pan.
- Steam for several hours until set.
- Cool, slice, and pan-fry before serving.
Nian Gao has a chewy texture and can be sweet or savory depending on the preparation.
8. Butter Cookies
Butter cookies are a popular modern addition to Chinese New Year celebrations.
Significance
The golden color of these cookies represents wealth and prosperity.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Sugar
- Flour
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
How to Make
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla extract.
- Mix in flour to form a dough.
- Pipe or shape the dough into desired forms.
- Bake until golden brown.
These cookies are crisp, buttery, and melt in your mouth.
9. Green Pea Cookies
Green Pea Cookies are a unique and colorful addition to Chinese New Year cookie platters.
Significance
The green color symbolizes vitality and new beginnings.
Ingredients
- Green pea flour
- All-purpose flour
- Sugar
- Oil
- Green food coloring (optional)
How to Make
- Mix green pea flour, all-purpose flour, and sugar.
- Add oil and knead into a dough.
- Form small balls with the dough.
- Press each ball with a fork to create a pattern.
- Bake until set but not browned.
These cookies have a unique, slightly savory flavor and a crumbly texture.
10. Cashew Nut Cookies
Cashew Nut Cookies are rich, buttery treats that are popular during Chinese New Year.
Significance
Cashews symbolize gold, representing wealth and prosperity.
Ingredients
- Cashew nuts
- Flour
- Sugar
- Butter
- Egg yolk (for glazing)
How to Make
- Grind cashew nuts into a fine powder.
- Mix ground cashews with flour and sugar.
- Add softened butter and mix until a dough forms.
- Shape the dough into small balls.
- Brush with egg yolk and top with a cashew piece.
- Bake until golden brown.
These cookies have a rich, nutty flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
11. Honeycomb Cookies (Kuih Loyang)
Honeycomb Cookies, also known as Kuih Loyang or Beehive Cookies, are intricate, flower-shaped treats.
Significance
The intricate pattern symbolizes the sweetness and complexity of life.
Ingredients
- Flour
- Eggs
- Coconut milk
- Sugar
- Salt
How to Make
- Mix all ingredients to form a thin batter.
- Heat a special honeycomb mold in oil.
- Dip the hot mold into the batter.
- Immediately submerge the coated mold in hot oil.
- Cook until golden, then remove from the mold.
These cookies are crispy and light, with a subtle coconut flavor.
12. Fortune Cookies
While not traditionally Chinese, fortune cookies have become associated with Chinese cuisine and are often enjoyed during New Year celebrations.
Significance
The hidden message inside symbolizes good fortune and wisdom for the coming year.
Ingredients
- Flour
- Sugar
- Egg whites
- Vanilla extract
- Melted butter
How to Make
- Mix flour, sugar, egg whites, vanilla, and melted butter.
- Spread thin circles of batter on a baking sheet.
- Bake until the edges turn golden.
- Remove from oven and quickly fold in half.
- Place a fortune inside and fold again over the edge of a glass.
These cookies are crisp and lightly sweet, with a satisfying crack when broken open.
FAQs About Chinese New Year Cookies
When should I start making Chinese New Year cookies?
Start making Chinese New Year cookies about 2-3 weeks before the celebration. This allows time for preparation and ensures the cookies stay fresh.
How long do homemade Chinese New Year cookies last?
Most homemade Chinese New Year cookies can last for 2-4 weeks when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Can I make Chinese New Year cookies ahead of time and freeze them?
Yes, many Chinese New Year cookies can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw them at room temperature before serving.
Are there any vegan options for Chinese New Year cookies?
Yes, some traditional cookies like pineapple tarts can be made vegan by using plant-based butter. Many other recipes can be adapted using egg substitutes and plant-based milk.
What’s the significance of giving cookies during Chinese New Year?
Giving cookies during Chinese New Year symbolizes sharing prosperity and good fortune with family and friends for the coming year.
Can I add my own twist to traditional Chinese New Year cookie recipes?
Yes, many people add their own flavors or ingredients to traditional recipes. Just remember that certain elements, like shape or color, may have cultural significance.
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