This soft and fluffy Pumpkin Fa Gao, also known as Pumpkin Prosperity Cake, is lightly sweetened and beautifully steamed to perfection. With simple ingredients and minimal effort, this recipe will bring a golden touch to your table.
Chinese people love Fa Gao
If you’ve seen my Brown Sugar Fa Gao recipe, you’ll know that Fa Gao has a deep cultural significance for Chinese people.
“Fa Gao” translates to “Prosperity Cake” in English, where “Fa” symbolizes wealth and success, often eaten during Chinese festivals like the Lunar New Year.
Pumpkin Fa Gao, also known as Pumpkin Prosperity Cake, is a traditional Chinese steamed cake made with pumpkin puree.
The addition of pumpkin not only gives the cake a beautiful golden hue but also adds a natural sweetness and moisture to the soft, fluffy texture.
I leave out the sugar in this recipe to keep it healthier for my child, as the pumpkin provides natural sweetness. But feel free to add sugar if you prefer.
I suggest using white granulated sugar, as other types like brown sugar can change the color, as seen in my Brown Sugar Fa Gao.
I also like to top the Fa Gao with red dates and black sesame seeds for added flavor and texture.
Note: You may need to adjust the amount of all-purpose flour based on the moisture of the pumpkin. I suggest adding it gradually to the pumpkin purée and adjusting it as needed.
In the summer, the batter typically ferments for about 30 minutes during the first rise and an additional 10 minutes during the second rise, but the timing may vary depending on conditions.
Ingredients:
- 100g Steamed pumpkin puree
- 1g Yeast
- 1 Egg
- 100g All-purpose flour
- Red dates (chopped) – for topping
- Black sesame seeds – for topping
- Corn oil – for greasing
- Sugar – optional, to taste
Instructions:
Steam the Pumpkin: Peel and slice the pumpkin. Place the slices into a steamer and steam for 15-20 minutes until soft. Once done, measure out 100g of the steamed pumpkin and mash it into a smooth puree using a spoon or smasher. Allow the puree to cool.
Prepare the Batter: Once the pumpkin puree has cooled, add 1g of yeast and one egg. Mix well until combined. Gradually add 100g of flour, stirring until a thick, smooth batter forms with no lumps. Cover the batter with plastic wrap and let it ferment until it doubles in size, usually about 30 minutes.
Prepare the Steamer: While the batter is fermenting, fill your steamer with water, but don’t turn on the heat yet. Lightly grease the foil cups with a thin layer of corn oil.
Shape and Fill the Cakes: Once the batter has fermented, stir gently to release the air. Transfer the batter into a piping bag. Pipe the batter into the prepared foil cups, filling them about 70% full. Top each cake with chopped red dates and black sesame seeds for decoration.
Final Fermentation: Place the filled cups into the prepared steamer. Let them ferment for an additional 10 minutes.
Steam the Cakes: Cover the steamer with the lid and steam the cakes over medium heat for 25 minutes. Avoid lifting the lid during steaming to ensure the cakes rise properly.
Cool and Serve: Once done, remove the cakes from the steamer and allow them to cool slightly. The cakes should be released easily from the mold. Enjoy the soft, fluffy, and sweet pumpkin fa gao while still warm.
Pumpkin Fa Gao (Pumpkin Prosperity Cake) Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g Steamed pumpkin puree
- 1 g Yeast
- 1 Egg
- 100 g All-purpose flour
- Red dates chopped – for topping
- Black sesame seeds – for topping
- Corn oil – for greasing
- Sugar – optional to taste
Instructions
- Steam the Pumpkin: Peel and slice the pumpkin. Place the slices into a steamer and steam for 15-20 minutes until soft. Once done, measure out 100g of the steamed pumpkin and mash it into a smooth puree using a spoon or smasher. Allow the puree to cool.
- Prepare the Batter: Once the pumpkin puree has cooled, add 1g of yeast and one egg. Mix well until combined. Gradually add 100g of flour, stirring until a thick, smooth batter forms with no lumps. Cover the batter with plastic wrap and let it ferment until it doubles in size, usually about 30 minutes.
- Prepare the Steamer: While the batter is fermenting, fill your steamer with water, but don’t turn on the heat yet. Lightly grease the foil cups with a thin layer of corn oil.
- Shape and Fill the Cakes: Once the batter has fermented, stir gently to release the air. Transfer the batter into a piping bag. Pipe the batter into the prepared foil cups, filling them about 70% full. Top each cake with chopped red dates and black sesame seeds for decoration.
- Final Fermentation: Place the filled cups into the prepared steamer. Let them ferment for an additional 10 minutes.
- Steam the Cakes: Cover the steamer with the lid and steam the cakes over medium heat for 25 minutes. Avoid lifting the lid during steaming to ensure the cakes rise properly.
- Cool and Serve: Once done, remove the cakes from the steamer and allow them to cool slightly. The cakes should be released easily from the mold. Enjoy the soft, fluffy, and sweet pumpkin fa gao while still warm.
