Traditional Wedding Cake
Xi bing (喜饼) are traditional items used in Chinese wedding customs. After the groom receives the bride's dowry, he presents xi bing to the bride as a return gift; they are also given as betrothal gifts to the bride's family. Today they are used at other celebratory occasions as well, to "spread good news and share good fortune." The most renowned variety in China is Rushan xi bing (乳山喜饼), made from wheat flour, eggs, peanut oil, and sugar—without any water or additives. They are celebrated for their soft, sweet texture, elegant appearance, affordability, nutritional value, and long shelf life.
As a food enthusiast, I like to preserve the original character of a dish while adapting the recipe to personal taste and adding my own signature—for me, this is what gives food soul.
This recipe uses egg whites in the dough. Since xi bing is a high-oil, high-sugar traditional Chinese pastry, I use Australian wheat-core flour: its high protein and gluten content give the finished cakes a stronger wheat aroma and a chewier bite, while the fine milling yields a softer color.
The recipe below makes 9 xi bing, baked in a 28 × 28 cm (about 11 × 11 in) pan.
Ingredients
medium wheat flour
330g
fine sugar
50g
egg white
18g
peanut oil
50g
yeast powder
5g
black sesame filling
as needed
Instructions
1
Step 1
Prepare all ingredients in advance
2
Step 2
First add the dry ingredients to the bread bucket
3
Step 3
Then add the remaining ingredients (except the black sesame filling)
4
Step 4
Start the kneading function and knead until a smooth dough forms, then let it ferment at room temperature until it doubles to 2.5 times in size
5
Step 5
Remove the dough, sprinkle a little dry flour on the work surface, and continue kneading into a smooth dough
6
Step 6
Divide the dough into 9 equal portions, roll them into balls, and let them rest on the board for 5 minutes
7
Step 7
Wrap in black sesame filling
8
Step 8
Place on a baking tray for final fermentation, about 20 minutes
9
Step 9
When the dough has risen to about 1.5 times its original size as shown in the picture, it is ready
10
Step 10
Cover the wedding cakes with a layer of aluminum foil, then place another baking tray of the same size on top, filled with small stones (this keeps the baked wedding cakes flat)
11
Step 11
Preheat the oven to 180°C (upper and lower heat) and bake for 28 minutes
12
Step 12
Enjoy after cooling
