How do you use mooncake press mold?

FAQ

How do you use moon cake press mold?

What size us a moon cake mould?

How do you clean moon cake molds?

How do you use wooden cookie press mold?

Moon cake press kit?

In this article we will be answering all the questions mentioned above.

I have been using moon cake press for a long time now. I have used it for making food preparations like duhhh mooncakes but with a Indian twist over here we call something similar to mooncake as thekua or a sweet preparation but most Indian household do not have oven so we fry it.

I have a different set that I use for bath and body products like shampoo bars, syndet soaps or bath bombs or even shower steamer. I love to make bath and body products and love to use moon cake press to give that beautiful unique top.

Its an art to make mooncake and so is the use of mooncake press mould or mold ( whatever you want to call it ). Moon cake press gives such intricate design to the the already delicious recipe of mooncake.

It is said that we first eat through our eyes and when we I make mooncakes for my family their mouth starts watering right when they see it.

Where did mooncake press originate?

History of Mooncakes

First we hear of mooncakes is in Chinese tradition. The Mid-Autumn Festival which is a harvest festival for that part of world. The Moon is at the center stage on this festival when moon watching is considered auspicious. Mooncakes are shared among friends and family. The shape of the cake was round which according the chinese traditions meant unity ( read unity of Yin and Yan) resembled moon so it was called mooncake.

There are sweet as well as savory mooncakes they are stuffed with lotus seed paste or red bean paste or jujube paste, mixed nuts or custard. There is no end to things that you can fill it with. Let your imagination run wild.

Now that said let come to our main topic Mooncake Press Molds

Mooncake Press Molds

Now to make this beautiful delicacy molds or moulds are used to give that intricate shape and design. They give a visual appeal to the delicacy plus make all the cakes even in shape size and weight which is more technical aspect of the mould.

Materials Used for making mooncake press

1.Wooden mold with paddles – these are traditional molds
2.Silicon moulds
3.Plastic molds that have a press on the top – We are more interested in this type of Mooncake Press Mold

What size is a mooncake mould?

Mooncake Press Mold are found in variouse sizes and shapes. Following are the some of the examples

1.Round Mooncake Molds
50g – Usually used for bite size mooncakes that can be individually served.
75g – This is commonly used as a standard now a days
100g – This is for a large size of mooncakes
150g – For an extra large mooncake

There are bigger presses as well but I guess they are more for industrial use.

2.Square or Rectangle Mooncake Molds

These also come in similar weights as round ones only change will be the shape and design.

How do you use mooncake press mold?

Step by Step guide to use Mooncake Press Molds

Step 1 : Prepare the Mooncake Dough and filling

For a food preparation the dough will be a combination of flour, sugar, water and oil. The dough should be soft and pliable.

For Bath and body product that I make I will use the same consistency with the ingredients. The dough should be soft and pliable.

Step 2: Prepare the Mooncake Press
Plastic mooncake press has different parts like.
Mooncake Press Kit
1.Stamp – this gives that beautiful shape on the top. There can be a variety of stamp provided in the same kit
2.Body
3.Spring
4.Plunger

Please watch the video to understand more about this system and arrangement

How to use mooncake press mold?

Step 3 : Divide the Dough

Now as per the preparation divide the dough. I would ideally recommend to use a weighing machine to do so.
For mooncakes the ideal ration is 1:1 example 1 part dough 1 part filling.
For bath and body products you can use the whole weight of the recommended mold.

Step 4: Dust the Mold

For Food make sure you dust the mold properly. This will help the dough from sticking to the mold and will help release the mooncake.

For bath and body products. I like to stick a cling flim to the inner layer to the mold where the intricate design is so that the bar comes out smooth and beautiful.

Step 5: Place in the Mold and Press
Place the assembled mooncake into the mold and ensure it is centered nicely.
Now firmly press the mold you can use the table top to flatten it out nicely. This will help the imprint to be clear and visible on the surface.

Step 6: Trim Excess Dough

Usually if your measure is right you wont have excess but if you have any trim the excess aroung the edges.

Step 7: Release the Mooncake

If everything goes correctly then you should be able to press the plunger and release the mooncake from the mold.

Protip – if you tap the mold a little on the table you would be able to take out the mooncake easily

How do you clean a mooncake mold?

It is fairly easy to clean a moon cake mold. I like to separate all the parts out the plunger, stamp, body and spring. If the dought is not hardend then just dishwashing soap and a little scrub down will be enough. For stamp that has intricate design I like to use a toothbrush to clean as the design is usually delicate and some dought might be stuck in there. But if the dough has hardened as you kept it out for a little while then I would let it soak in water for sometime and then wash it like before. If you have a dishwasher you can toss it in there too but I am not sure how the stamp will be cleaned throughly.

I hope I have satisfied all your queries regarding mooncake press still if you have them then please comment below and I will get back to soon.