Sticky Mifan

To celebrate lunar new year I wanted to make these Chinese cupcakes, also known as Fa Gao. These steamed cupcakes are a favorite amongst many as their unique shape draws in prosperity for all who eat them. Once steamed, the cupcakes bloom, resembling a flower like shape. The more the cupcakes bloom, the more good luck one will have for the new year.

Inspired by Kristina Cho’s recipe passed down to her from her Pau Pau, follows a quick & easy recipe using a secret ingredient cutting the prep and steam time down. By using pancake mix such as the Bisquick brand, these cupcakes will be ready in just 20 minutes and are guaranteed to bloom every time. Here is the link to the original recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pau-paus-steamed-cupcakes-fa-gao-12252657

To add a fun spin to this recipe, I decided to add some Asian inspired flavoring to make this cupcakes unique in flavor and color. I chose to incorporate ube and pandan flavoring, including the regular base flavor, I combined these 3 flavors to create half and half flavors as well as some pretty swirl designs.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups pancake mix like Bisquick brand
• 1 1/4 cups AP flour
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/3 cups water
• Flavoring of choice: ube and pandan (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare your steamer, grab a big pot and pour water about 1/3 way, bring this water to a light boil. Place another smaller pot on top on the water pot making sure there in enough room for a steamer basket to fit inside with a lid that seals the top. (Note, also consistently check on the amount of water in your pot to make sure you don’t run out of water and burn your pan like I did lol).
2. In a bowl, mix together all of your ingredients until all of the ingredients are combined together.
3. Next, using small egg tart mold with or without cupcake liners (you can also just grease the tart mold so that the batter doesn’t stick to the mold), fill up the molds about 2/3 full. Note that the batter will rise and poof so don’t fill them up to much.
4. Once you have filled up your steamer basket, cover with the lid and let the cupcakes steam for 15 minutes. Afterwards remover your cupcakes and let them cool.

And that is all for this recipe, I was able to make some many fa gao. This recipe was pretty straightforward and easy enough for beginner bakers to make. You can mix and match with different flavors of your choice, the combination are endless! I hope you try out this fun and easy recipe, let me know what kind of flavors you created.