Fried sugar cakes, also known as guotie, are a classic traditional delicacy that can be found in street corners and alleys all over China. They are made from a mixture of flour, water, and sugar, fermented, and then fried until golden brown and crispy. The outer layer is crispy, while the inside is soft and chewy. With every bite, they offer a sweet but not overpowering flavor that melts in your mouth. Each bite releases a unique caramel fragrance, providing a warm and comfortable feeling. Whether enjoyed as a breakfast accompaniment or an afternoon tea snack, fried sugar cakes provide people with a wonderful taste experience.
Ingredients for fried sugar cakes
| low-gluten flour | 200g |
| Sugar | 40g |
| Edible oil | 350g |
Steps:
1.First, prepare 200 grams of low-gluten flour and add 10 grams of white sugar. Mix well and set aside. A tip: Adding sugar to the flour increases its sweetness and helps in achieving a good color when frying. Next, we need to scald the flour.
2.Heat water in a pot until boiling but do not turn off the heat. Pour the mixed flour into the pot while continuously stirring with a rolling pin. The flour will gradually turn yellow and stick together when heated. Keep stirring in one direction until there is no more dry flour, then turn off the heat. Continue stirring and beating the dough in one direction with the rolling pin until it makes a crackling sound.
3.Brush some cooking oil on a chopping board to prevent the dough from sticking, then take out the scalded dough from the pot and cool it down. Pull the dough into thin slices. After the slices have cooled, lightly coat them with vegetable oil. Coating with vegetable oil makes the sugar cakes crispy.
4.Prepare a small bowl and add 30 grams of white sugar, then mix in 10 grams of flour. Stir well. You can also add some black sesame seeds or shredded green and red toppings to the sugar filling for both visual appeal and taste.
5.Knead the cooled dough slices together repeatedly until they form a long strip. Divide the strip in half and continue kneading one half to form a thin strip. Once kneaded properly, pinch off pieces of dough and roll them into equal-sized balls.
6.Flatten each ball in your palm and make it into a smooth small round shape. After kneading all the balls, flatten each one and press the center with your thumb. Place a spoonful of sugar filling in the center.
7.Hold the dough at the opening and rotate it continuously, tightening the opening as you go. Finally, take a small piece of dough to seal the top to prevent the filling from leaking. Repeat this step for the remaining dough.
8.After wrapping the sugar filling in all the dough, coat the dough with another layer of cooking oil. Place the dough on the oiled chopping board and use your hands to press it into a thin slice, being careful not to press out the filling. The cooking oil helps in achieving crispiness when frying. Process all the dough using this method, and then we can start frying the sugar cakes.
9.Heat oil in a pan. When the oil temperature reaches 40% heat, add the sugar cakes one by one along the edge of the pan. Preheated sugar cakes will quickly take shape. Continuously shake the pan and gently flip the sugar cakes with a spoon. This prevents them from sticking to the bottom of the pan and ensures even heating. Fry on low heat for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, the sugar cakes will float up and turn golden brown on both sides, indicating they are crispy. Remove them from the oil and drain off excess oil. Arrange the sugar cakes on a plate and serve.
Tips
1.The oil temperature for frying sugar cakes should not be too high. Low and slow frying results in a better texture.
2.It is essential to use low-gluten flour for making sugar cakes. If high-gluten flour is used, the sugar cakes may explode like bombs when fried.
Whether made at home with your own hands or enjoyed from a street-side stall, fried sugar cakes always bring people immense happiness and satisfaction. They are not only a culinary delight but also a bond that brings together moments of joy with family and friends. In the fragrance of fried sugar cakes, we collectively savor the sweetness of life.