These Simple Chinese New Year desserts are ideal for cheering in the new year, but they’re also delicious any time of year.
Chinese New Year is an important event in Chinese culture when families meet to eat the most important meal of the year – tuán niánfàn, or New Year’s Eve dinner.
Dessert is a course meal that most people take at the end of their meal to round out their meal. It is mostly made up of sweets and occasionally fruits. It may also include a beverage, which is typically in the form of wine or another type of liquor.
Chinese New Year desserts Ideas
Chinese desserts differ from those seen in the West. Their texture, form, flavor, and makeup composition are all completely different.
Another significant distinction is that, unlike Western desserts, which are typically served after the meal, Chinese desserts are typically served between meals.
You’ll come across treats throughout the day. Other desserts, on the other hand, are even eaten for breakfast.
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Best Chinese New Year’s Desserts Ideas
1. Tang Yuan (Chinese glutinous rice balls)
Photo Credit: redhousespice.com
Traditionally, Chinese New Year celebrations last 15 days, with a wonderful dessert known as Tang Yuan (Chinese glutinous rice balls) eaten as part of the family reunion supper on the last day, known as the Lantern Festival.
Tang Yuan is one of my favorite Chinese sweet treats, with a unique texture and flavor that I make year-round as a dessert for dinner parties.
Get the recipe: Red House Spice
2. Homemade Chinese Sesame Peanut Brittle (Chinese New Year desserts)
Photo Credit: thewoksoflife.com
A handcrafted Chinese Sesame Peanut Brittle and a Sesame Walnut Peanut Brittle are Chinese New Year desserts that symbolize sweetness and happiness for the future year.
Get the recipe: The Woks of Life
3. Eight-Treasure Glutinous Rice Pudding (Ba Bao Fan)
Photo Credit: whattocooktoday.com
Ba bao fan is a sweet and sticky glutinous rice pudding with candied fruits, nuts, and seeds. An easy-to-make Chinese New Year dish.
This dish may be prepared in an Instant Pot as well.
Get the recipe: What To Cook Today
4. Nian Gao (Chinese New Year desserts)
Photo Credit: healthynibblesandbits.com
Nian Gao, a steamed rice cake consisting of glutinous rice flour and brown sugar, is a Chinese Lunar New Year treat.
Get the recipe: Healthy Nibbles
5. Rose Ginger Steamed Sponge Cake (Ma Lai Go)
Photo Credit: goodiegodmother.com
It’s also quite cool to bake a cake without really baking it.
Steaming gives this cake its airy, bouncy texture.
Because I didn’t have a steamer, I used two large stock pots with aluminum foil wrapped over the bottom as an improvised insert to keep my 6′′ bamboo steamer baskets above the water.
Get the recipe: Goodie God Mother
6. Sesame Seed Dessert Balls (Jian Dui – Chinese New Year desserts)
Photo Credit: thespruceeats.com
Sesame seed balls are a traditional dessert in China and Taiwan, where they are sold by street vendors and eaten in dim sum restaurants.
The outside is crispy, the middle is chewy, and the flavor is toasted, nutty, and sweet.
The balls are deep-fried till golden brown after being wrapped in a basic dough of sugar, water, and rice flour and filled with red bean paste.
Get the recipe: The Spruce Eats
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7. Easy Hokkien Bak Chang (Zongzi-Sticky Rice Dumplings)
Photo Credit: whattocooktoday.com
Zongzi made with glutinous rice is sticky in nature, so it will be sticky when eaten with hands.
Hokkien bak chang is much darker in color because dark soy sauce is used, and I know some have black-eyed peas added to the filling.
I didn’t use that. The meat filling is also cooked in five-spice powder, and chestnuts and salted egg yolk are added.
The glutinous rice grain is usually stir-fried in five-spice powder and dark soy sauce for that dark appearance.
Get the recipe: What To Cook Today
8. Fried Dough Twists (Chinese New Year desserts)
Photo Credit: chinesenewyear.net
Fried dough twists come in both savory and sweet varieties. They’re usually fried till golden brown.
They’re made up of huge, thick strips that are packed with a variety of healthy and tasty ingredients.
Get the recipe: Chinese New Year
9. Chinese Fa Gao (Fortune Cake)
Photo Credit: chinasichuanfood.com
Fa Gao is a popular steamed cake found across China, both north and south.
Every spring festival in China is celebrated at several different sites. “Wealth and development” is how its name translates.
Get the recipe: China Sichuan Food
10. Chinese Almond Cookies (Chinese New Year dessert recipes)
Photo Credit: simplyrecipes.com
Chinese almond cookies are buttery, sweet cookies that are similar to sugar cookies but are prepared with almond flour for a distinct, nutty flavor.
They are essential during the Chinese New Year!
Get the recipe: Simply Recipes
11. Taro Ball Soup
Photo Credit: pandacheffy.medium.com
Taro Soup is a popular snack in the Fujian region, and it is part of Fujian cuisine.
It is also one of Taiwan’s most popular snacks. Taro soup can be served hot or cold, and it is appropriate for both winter and summer, as well as Caramel Cashew Clusters.
Get the recipe: Panda Cheffy
12. Hong Kong Egg Tarts (Chinese New Year desserts)
Photo Credit: thewoksoflife.com
Hong Kong egg tarts are small, flaky pastries (about 3 inches across) with a smooth, lightly sweet egg custard filling.
You’ll often find them at dim sum spots and Chinese bakeries.
These tasty treats are popular in Hong Kong, Macau, China, and Chinatowns all over the world.
Get the recipe: The Woks of Life
12 Easy Traditional Chinese New Year Desserts Recipes
Ingredients
- Tang Yuan (Chinese glutinous rice balls)
- Homemade Chinese Sesame Peanut Brittle
- Eight-Treasure Glutinous Rice Pudding (Ba Bao Fan)
- Nian Gao
- Rose Ginger Steamed Sponge Cake (Ma Lai Go)
- Sesame Seed Dessert Balls (Jian Dui)
- Rice Dumplings (TANG YUAN)
- Fried Dough Twists
- Chinese Fa Gao (Fortune Cake)
- Chinese Almond Cookies
- Taro Ball Soup
- Hong Kong Egg Tarts
Instructions
- Select your choice of Chinese New Year desserts from the article.
- Click on the link to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Get ready to prep, cook, and enjoy!
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I hope this list of 12 Chinese New Year dessert recipes helps you plan your menu this Holiday season.
What are your favorite Chinese New Year desserts? Tell me more about them in the comments!
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Perfect treats for the New Year!
Thanks for sharing!
You chose desserts full of tradition and warmth.
Great selection, every dessert feels celebration ready.
So festive!