Medium 50 min serves 8

Wife Cake (老婆饼)

Name: Wife Cake (老婆饼)
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Cantonese Dim Sum
Ingredients: Low-protein flour (cake flour); Winter melon paste (冬瓜蓉); White sugar; Lard or shortening; Water; White sesame seeds; Egg yolk (for wash)

老婆饼 · lǎo pó bǐng

家庭快手版 · Home version: 家庭版：冬瓜蓉馅，皮脆馅糯

Legend says a wife in Guangdong perfected this pastry for her traveling husband. The winter melon filling is sweet, chewy, and surprisingly complex. Despite the name, it's enjoyed by everyone — it's about love, not gender.

Recipe author: HǎoWèi Test Kitchen

Home-cooking research team

Reviewed by HǎoWèi editorial team · Last updated 2026-08-29

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Ingredients

Low-protein flour (cake flour)低筋面粉🛒 local150 g
Winter melon paste (冬瓜蓉)冬瓜蓉🏮 asian200 g
White sugar白糖🛒 local50 g
Lard or shortening猪油或起酥油🛒 local40 g
Water水🛒 local70 ml
White sesame seeds白芝麻🛒 local20 g
Egg yolk (for wash)蛋黄（刷面）🛒 local1

🌶️ Adjust to your taste

Pick a level and we'll show exactly how much to change — no more "适量".

Spice level

Saltiness

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Make it vegetarian

Instructions

1Make dough: mix flour, lard, water. Knead until smooth. Rest 30 minutes covered.
🔍 Look for
Visual: 面团应柔软如耳垂，不硬Dough should be soft, like earlobe, not stiff
You know it's right when: 面团光滑不粘手
2Prepare filling: if winter melon paste is dry, warm with sugar and 10ml water until spreadable.
🔍 Look for
Visual: 馅心应光泽能成型不流动Filling should be glossy and hold shape, not runny
You know it's right when: 馅心顺滑不稀
3Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each into circle. Place filling, wrap like dumpling, seal well.
🔍 Look for
Visual: 收口必须完全密封——有裂缝烤时会漏Seam must be completely sealed — any crack = leaking during baking
You know it's right when: 收口捏紧无裂缝
4Place seam-side down. Brush with water, press sesame seeds on top. Make 3 shallow slashes on top.
🔍 Look for
Visual: 刀口应浅——深了会漏馅Slashes should be shallow — deep cuts will leak filling
You know it's right when: 芝麻粘牢
5Brush with egg yolk. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20-22 minutes until golden.
🔍 Look for Medium heat 约20-22分钟
Visual: 酥皮应膨胀呈浅金黄色——深了会焦Pastry should puff and turn light golden — dark = burnt sugar
You know it's right when: 表面金黄、边缘微起

Tips

· Winter melon paste is available at Asian supermarkets — look for 'dong gua rong'
· The 3 slashes let steam escape — don't skip
· Egg yolk wash gives the signature golden color — whole egg makes it darker
· These are best day-of — they lose crispiness quickly

Sources & references

Quantities, technique notes, and substitution ratios are cross-checked against established Chinese cookery references and standard food-science sources.