Nian gao, also niangao (年糕 /nyen-gao/ 'year cake'), is a sweet rice cake made of glutinous rice flour and sugar with an auspicious meaning. It is a popular dessert eaten during Chinese New Year. Find out its meaning, legends, types, and recipe here. Nian Gao's Meaning: Why Chinese Eat Nian Gao. Niangao is 年糕 in Chinese. The character Nian Gao Recipe Instructions. Prepare two 8-inch round baking pans by brushing the insides with vegetable oil.. Add 2 cups of water and the ginger to a medium-sized pot, bring it a boil, then let it simmer for 10 minutes over low to medium heat with the lid covered. Every year, Mama Lin makes a nian gao (年糕, neen go in Cantonese) for Lunar New Year. The character “年” means “year” and “糕” roughly translates to “cake.” Put together, 年糕 means new year’s cake. In Chinese culture, you eat dishes that carry auspicious meanings during new year celebrations. Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Sticky Rice Cake) Nian gao is perhaps the most popular and well-loved dessert associated with Chinese New Year. I can never say no to this sweet and sticky rice cake! Legend says that families would offer the cake to the Chinese Kitchen God in the hope that he’ll put in a good word for them when he goes back to heaven. The term Nian/年 literally translates as “year” while Gao/糕 refers to “cake” which shares the same pronunciation with the character 高 which means “tall” or “high.” So this sweet treat is a must-have Chinese New Year delicacy for many families as eating it on this special occasion symbolises prosperity and a better year ahead. 🥗 Other Chinese New Year Recipes; EASY Chinese New Year Cake (Baked Nian Gao) 💬 Comments; ⭐ Why This Recipe is a Star. Baked: the steaming method is traditional when making Chinese New Year Cake but can take up to 20 hours in a bamboo steamer! And this Chinese New Year dessert is a bit tricky, as you need to get the duration and heat The Chinese new year is around the corner and I plan to end the year by making a lovely steamed Nian Gao recipe. Every year, Chinese people worldwide celebrate their new year with a traditional dessert called “Nian Gao cake.” Nian gao, also known as rice cake or New Year cake, is a traditional Chinese dish like turnip cake, taro cake, pineapple cake, braised mushrooms and sesame balls. It is commonly consumed during the Chinese New Year celebration. The name nian gao (年糕) is a homonym for "higher year" or "advancing year" in Chinese. Keyword chinese new year cake, nian gao, sweet rice brown sugar cake Prep Time 10 minutes. Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes. Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes. Author Sharon Enjoy the soft chewy rice cake fresh from the steamer or pan fry them for a smoky caramelized coating! Get into the spirit of the Lunar New Year with Aunty’s Smiling Sesame Cookie Balls (笑口棗) and Chinese Almond Cookies (杏仁餅)! A New Year snack to cherish for days Wednesday, January 29th, will kick off the start of the Year of the Snake with celebrations of fireworks, family, and feasts all across the world. In a small saucepan, melt 250g cane sugar, 60g brown sugar in pieces in 1½ cup of cold water slowly over medium heat. Pro Tip #1 – To Speed Up the Process: break down the sugar pieces once the water starts to warm. 11 Sweet Chinese Treats for a Lucky Lunar New Year. Celebrate the Spring Festival with Chinese sweets and treats. What are the dates of the Chinese New Year holiday in 2025? Chinese New Year 2025 begins on January 29. The official holiday period in China lasts from January 28 to February 4. This week-long break allows families time to gather and celebrate. How is Chinese New Year celebrated in Honolulu? Honolulu hosts several events for Chinese New Year. Nian gao (Chinese: 年糕; pinyin: niángāo; Jyutping: nin4 gou1), sometimes translated as year cake [1] [2] or New Year cake [1] [3] [4] or Chinese New Year's cake, is a food prepared from glutinous rice flour and consumed in Chinese cuisine. It is also simply known as "rice cake". [3] The Lunar New Year is this Friday, January 31, 2014. One of the traditional dishes eaten during the New Year for Chinese people is a New Year Cake. It’s a very simple steamed cake, made with glutinous rice flour for a mochi-like chewy texture and sweetened with brown sugar. 2025 Chinese Snake Cake Topper Happy Chinese New Year Party Favors Happy Chinese New Year Party Supplies Happy Chinese New Year Cake Topper $12.99 $ 12 . 99 Test InstaPay $10.00 off Watch Daddy Lau teach us how to make nian gao with red bean, also known as nìhn gōu or Chinese New Year Cake. This video includes our family's nian gao recip Chinese New Year Cake, also known as Nian Gao or Lunar New Year Cake, is a traditional Chinese delicacy that holds a special place in the celebrations of the Lunar New Year. It is a type of steamed rice cake with a soft and chewy texture, typically made from glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water. Method:. Use a saucepan to bring 1 cup of water to boil. Add brown sugar and cook until completely dissolved. Stir in coconut cream and oil. Drain syrup through a fine sieve to make the mixture smoother.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |