Hello, Good News! Welcome to our blog, where we share with you the best recipes, tips, and tricks for baking and cooking. Today, we are going to show you how to make Chinese tea cookies, also known as pake cake or fortune tea cakes. These are soft and chewy cookies that are flavored with brown sugar, honey, and Chinese tea. They are perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee, or as a snack anytime.
Chinese tea cookies are not very common in the West, but they are very popular in Hawaii and other places where there is a large Chinese or Polynesian influence. They originated from the Chinese bakeries that catered to the local communities, and they have a simple but satisfying taste. They are also very easy to make at home, with just a few ingredients and steps. In this article, we will show you how to make Chinese tea cookies from scratch, as well as some variations and tips to make them even better.
What You Need to Make Chinese Tea Cookies
Ingredients
To make Chinese tea cookies, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of water
- 5 slabs (about 13 ounces) of wong tong (Chinese brown sugar) or 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of white sugar
- 5 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons of baking powder
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons of loose leaf Chinese tea or 4 tea bags of your choice (we recommend black, green, or oolong tea)
Equipment
To make Chinese tea cookies, you will need the following equipment:
- A small saucepan
- A large mixing bowl
- A wooden spoon or an electric mixer
- A cookie scoop or a tablespoon
- A baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat
- A wire rack for cooling
- An airtight container for storing
How to Make Chinese Tea Cookies: Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare the baking sheet
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the brown sugar syrup
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the water to a boil. Break the wong tong (or brown sugar) into pieces and add to the water. Stir to dissolve. If using loose leaf tea, add it to the syrup and simmer for about 10 minutes. If using tea bags, turn off the heat and steep the tea bags in the syrup for about 10 minutes. Strain the syrup and discard the tea leaves or bags. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add the white sugar, honey, oil, and eggs. Mix well with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until a smooth dough forms. Gradually add the brown sugar syrup and mix until well combined. The dough should be soft but not sticky. If it is too dry, add more syrup. If it is too wet, add more flour.
Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between them. Flatten them slightly with your fingers or a spatula. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. The cookies will spread slightly as they bake.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.
Variations and Tips for Making Chinese Tea Cookies
Variations
You can customize your Chinese tea cookies by using different types of tea or adding other ingredients to the dough. Here are some ideas:
- Use jasmine, chrysanthemum, rose, or any other floral tea for a fragrant and delicate flavor.
- Use Earl Grey, chai, or any other spiced tea for a warm and cozy flavor.
- Add some chopped nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, or coconut flakes for some extra crunch and sweetness.
- Sprinkle some powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or sesame seeds on top of the cookies before baking for some extra decoration and flavor.
- Dip the cookies in melted chocolate or drizzle some glaze or frosting on top for a decadent treat.
Tips
Here are some tips to make your Chinese tea cookies even better:
- Make sure to measure your ingredients accurately, especially the flour and the baking powder. Too much flour will make the cookies dry and crumbly, while too much baking powder will make them bitter and cakey.
- Do not overmix the dough, as this will develop gluten and make the cookies tough and chewy. Mix just until everything is well combined.
- Do not overbake the cookies, as they will continue to cook and harden as they cool. They should be soft and moist in the center.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing them, as they will become soggy if stored while still warm.
A Detailed Table Breakdown Related to Chinese Tea Cookies
To help you understand more about Chinese tea cookies, here is a detailed table breakdown that compares them with other types of cookies:
Cookie Type | Origin | Main Ingredients | Texture | Flavor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chinese Tea Cookies | Hawaii/Polynesia/China | Brown sugar, honey, oil, eggs, tea | Soft and chewy | Sweet and mild with a hint of tea |
Fortune Cookies | USA/Japan/China | Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla | Crisp and crunchy | Sweet and vanilla-like with a paper fortune inside |
Gingerbread Cookies | Europe/USA | Flour, sugar, butter, molasses, eggs, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg | Soft or crisp depending on thickness and baking time | Sweet and spicy with a dark color and a festive shape |
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies | USA/UK | Oats, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla | Chewy and moist with a rough texture | Sweet and nutty with a fruity burst from the raisins |
Peanut Butter Cookies | USA/Canada | Peanut butter, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, salt | Dense and crumbly with a crosshatch pattern on top | Sweet and salty with a rich peanut flavor |
Source: [20](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cookie) |
Cookie Type | Origin | Main Ingredients | Texture | Flavor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chinese Tea Cookies | Hawaii/Polynesia/China | Brown sugar, honey, oil, eggs, tea | Soft and chewy | Sweet and mild with a hint of tea |
Fortune Cookies | USA/Japan/China | Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla | Crisp and crunchy | Sweet and vanilla-like with a paper fortune inside |
Gingerbread Cookies | Europe/USA | Flour, sugar, butter, molasses, eggs, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg | Soft or crisp depending on thickness and baking time | Sweet and spicy with a dark color and a festive shape |
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies | USA/UK | Oats, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla | Chewy and moist with a rough texture | Sweet and nutty with a fruity burst from the raisins |
Peanut Butter Cookies | USA/Canada | Peanut butter, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, salt | Dense and crumbly with a crosshatch pattern on top | Sweet and salty with a rich peanut flavor |
Source: [20](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cookie) |
Cookie Type | Origin | Main Ingredients | Texture | Flavor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chinese Tea Cookies | Hawaii/Polynesia/China | Brown sugar, honey, oil, eggs, tea | Soft and chewy | Sweet and mild with a hint of tea |
Fortune Cookies | USA/Japan/China | Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla | Crisp and crunchy | Sweet and vanilla-like with a paper fortune inside |
Gingerbread Cookies | Europe/USA | Flour, sugar, butter, molasses, eggs, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg | Soft or crisp depending on thickness and baking time | Sweet and spicy with a dark color and a festive shape |
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies | USA/UK | Oats, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla | Chewy and moist with a rough texture | Sweet and nutty with a fruity burst from the raisins |
Peanut Butter Cookies | USA/Canada | Peanut butter, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, salt | Dense and crumbly with a crosshatch pattern on top | Sweet and salty with a rich peanut flavor |
Source: [20](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cookie) |
Cookie Type | Origin | Main Ingredients | Texture | Flavor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chinese Tea Cookies | Hawaii/Polynesia/China | Brown sugar, honey, oil, eggs, tea | Soft and chewy | Sweet and mild with a hint of tea |
Fortune Cookies | USA/Japan/China | Flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla | Crisp and crunchy | Sweet and vanilla-like with a paper fortune inside |
Gingerbread Cookies | Europe/USA | Flour, sugar, butter, molasses, eggs, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg | Soft or crisp depending on thickness and baking time | Sweet and spicy with a dark color and a festive shape |
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies | USA/UK | Oats, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla | Chewy and moist with a rough texture | Sweet and nutty with a fruity burst from the raisins |
Peanut Butter Cookies | USA/Canada | Peanut butter, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, salt | Dense and crumbly with a crosshatch pattern on top | Sweet and salty with a rich peanut flavor |
Source: [20](https://www.britannica.com/topic/cookie) |