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Baked Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake)

Baked Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake): A chewy, bouncy sweet cake made from glutinous rice flour, eaten for a 'higher' year ahead.
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A chewy, bouncy sweet cake made from glutinous rice flour, eaten for a 'higher' year ahead.

Makes: One 9 × 9-inch cake (16 squares) · Pan: 9 × 9-inch pan · Oven: 350 °F (175 °C) · Holiday: Lunar New Year

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Ingredients

VolumeGrams
1 lb glutinous rice flour, one box, e.g. Mochiko454 g
1 cup packed brown sugar213 g
2 tsp baking powder8 g
2 large eggs100 g
1 1/2 cups milk340 g
1 2/3 cups coconut milk, one 13.5-oz can—
1/4 cup vegetable oil50 g
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds18 g

Gram weights use the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart; amounts given in lb or oz are converted by weight (1 lb = 453.6 g, 1 oz = 28.35 g); “—” means the ingredient isn’t on the chart, so measure it by volume or count. Measure flour by spooning it into the cup and leveling, or better, weigh it.

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 350 °F and grease the pan.
  2. Whisk the rice flour, brown sugar and baking powder. Whisk in the eggs, milk, coconut milk and oil until smooth.
  3. Pour into the pan and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  4. Bake 45–55 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean (it will be slightly sticky).
  5. Cool completely before cutting into squares with an oiled knife.

Tips

  • Use glutinous (sweet) rice flour, not regular rice flour, or it won't be chewy.
  • Leftovers firm up; warm briefly in the microwave or pan-fry slices.

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