7 Traditional Chinese New Year Desserts for Good Luck

By the way, New Year (Happy New Year 2019) has been celebrated at around 12 o'clock on 31 December. But in China, Happy New Year 2019 is also known as Spring Festival. Because this Chinese New Year 2019 falls between December and March. The date of celebrating the Chinese New Year (2019) is decided through the Chinese calendar.According to which the longitude of the sun and the phases of the moon are based on astronomical events. Not only this, it is also believed that at some stage around 2600 to 3000 BCE, the 'Chinese calendar' was introduced by Emperor Huang. Today, we are telling you the specialty and interesting things related to the Chinese New Year 2019 which started with the first day of the year.

Traditional or symbolic sweets to celebrate the new year

A New Year celebration would not be complete without sweet treats. Here are some Chinese desserts that are traditionally served during the New Year season, as well as fun recipes that include symbolic Chinese foods. Perfect for guests with a sweet tooth, sticky cake is a classic sugar dessert. And for the guests who want something lighter, they serve oranges which symbolize wealth in Chinese culture.

Sticky Cake (Sing Nian)

It is the most famous cake in China, traditionally fed to the Chinese kitchen god, so he will report favorably on family behavior when he returns to heaven before the start of the New Year season. In Chinese culture, cakes are a symbol of unity and prosperous life. The main ingredient in Nian Gao is glutinous rice flour, which is available in Asian grocery stores.

The cake is filled with dried fruits and boiled. If you are not comfortable with the idea of steaming the cake, you can try Bake Nan Gao. The cake is filled with red azuki beans, used in many Chinese festival dishes. And for a little extra help, there are step-by-step instructions with photos.

Almond Cookies

Without cookies! No Chinese New Year celebration would be complete .These almond cookies have a mild, delicate flavor that is not very potent. An almond is placed in each ball of cookie dough which is pronounced with a little almond extract.

Sesame Seed Balls (Jane Doy)

These are delicious balls of glutinous rice flour stuffed with red bean paste, laced with sesame seeds, and fried. While sesame seed balls are available year-round in Asian bakeries, they are particularly popular during the Chinese New Year season.

Five spices peanuts

Peanuts are a symbol of longevity in Chinese culture. In this easy recipe, peanuts are coated in a syrup mixture with brown sugar, corn syrup, and five spicy powders with a sweet and savory dessert treat.

Sweet Red Bean Soup

In any Chinese New Year celebration, you will see red everywhere, because the color red is a powerful symbol of joy and happiness in Chinese culture. Made with red Adzuki (Azuki) beans, this popular dessert soup is perfect for Chinese New Year. Lotus seeds and dried tangerine peel give the soup an interesting variety of texture and taste.

Kismat Cookies

Although they are truly an American creation, fortune cookies are a fun way to end a festive meal. Homemade fortune cookies taste a lot better than store bought, and you can write your own luck to keep cookies inside.

Kumquats

Kumquat is a small lemon fruit shaped like a rectangular orange and symbolizes prosperity for the coming year. This is a popular treat during the Chinese New Year season, and this recipe for preserved kumquats is a delicious way to bring the fruit to the holiday table.

Eight Treasure Rice Pudding

The number eight is a magic number in Chinese culture, representing wealth and prosperity. This dessert traditionally features eight different fruits garnished atop a rice pudding mold that has a center of red bean paste. It would be interesting if you use Chinese fruits found in the Asian market, but you can also use other dried fruits.

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Chinese New Year, also called the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, is celebrated with many delicious traditional desserts that symbolize luck, happiness, wealth, and family unity. Food plays an important role during the festival, and desserts are especially meaningful because many are believed to bring good fortune in the coming year.

One of the most famous Chinese New Year desserts is Nian Gao, also known as sticky rice cake. It is made from glutinous rice flour and sugar and has a soft, chewy texture. The word “Nian Gao” sounds similar to the phrase meaning “higher year” or “growth,” symbolizing progress, success, and improvement in life. Families often eat it to wish for promotions, better health, and prosperity.

Another popular dessert is Tangyuan, sweet rice balls usually filled with black sesame, red bean paste, or peanuts. Tangyuan is often served in warm sweet soup. Because the rice balls are round, they symbolize family togetherness, unity, and happiness. Many families enjoy this dessert during family gatherings.

Fortune cookies are also commonly linked to Chinese celebrations in many countries, though they are more popular in Chinese-American culture than in traditional China. These crispy cookies contain small messages or predictions inside, adding fun to celebrations.

Sesame Balls, also called Jian Dui, are another favorite sweet snack during Chinese New Year. These deep-fried treats are covered with sesame seeds and often filled with sweet bean paste. Their round shape represents completeness and family unity, while the puffed-up appearance symbolizes growing fortune and prosperity.

Sweet Rice Pudding is another traditional dish enjoyed in some Chinese households. It is often decorated beautifully with dried fruits, nuts, or red dates to symbolize luck and abundance.

Many families also enjoy candied fruits, especially Tanghulu, which are fruits coated in hardened sugar syrup. These sweet treats are colorful and festive, making them popular during celebrations.

Oranges, tangerines, and sweet pastries are also commonly served because they symbolize wealth, luck, and positive energy. Their golden color is associated with prosperity and good fortune.

In Chinese culture, desserts are not only eaten for taste but also for their symbolic meanings. Round shapes often represent family unity, sticky foods symbolize stronger relationships, and sweet flavors are believed to bring sweetness into life for the year ahead.

In conclusion, some of the most famous Chinese New Year desserts include Nian Gao, Tangyuan, sesame balls, sweet rice pudding, and candied fruits. These desserts are special because they combine delicious flavors with traditions that represent happiness, success, prosperity, and family togetherness during the New Year celebration.

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