Hui-style Crispy Cake

Hui-style Crispy Cake

　　Hui-style Crispy Cake originated in the Qing Dynasty and was first created by the Hui people at Jiang Yida Grocery Store. Later, the version made by Da Cui Xiang became the most famous.

　　 The crispy cake is primarily made with cooked flour, refined sugar, sesame seeds, and osmanthus. A suitable amount of clean warm water is mixed with fragrant oil to blend the flour, then refined sugar mixed with a small amount of cooked flour is used as the filling. The process is done manually, shaping the mixture into small, round copper-plate-like forms. The surface is brushed with sesame oil, and then the cakes are baked over a low flame until done.

　　 The crispy cake is not only a delicacy among the Hui and Han peoples of Mianyang, but also a treasured food for Hui people residing in cities such as Jingzhou, Yichang, Wuhan, and Shanghai. Whenever they return home to visit relatives and friends, seek their roots, or pay homage to ancestors, they always bring some back to give as gifts.

　　 The high reputation of Hui-style Crispy Cake is also tied to a legend. One year, Emperor Qianlong, accompanied by his mother and a hundred officials, traveled to the south again, staying at the Hangzhou imperial palace. After viewing the scenery of the Six Bridges, he found the lake and mountain views so beautiful that he was reluctant to leave.

　　One day, it was suddenly reported that Chen Guolao of Haining had sent his son to welcome the emperor. Emperor Qianlong was somewhat hesitant, but his mother cheerfully urged him to accept the invitation. Who was this Chen Guolao? He was none other than Qianlong’s biological father. Back then, while serving in the court, he had a son, but Prince Yongzheng’s consort, Lady Niuhuru, used a clever trick to have the baby secretly brought into the palace and swapped with her own daughter of the same age. Therefore, Chen Guolao’s decision to send his son to welcome the emperor was entirely sincere, and especially approved by Lady Niuhuru.

　　 The Chen family hosted a grand reception for the emperor, setting up more than two hundred tables. The tables were laden with all kinds of delicacies from land and sea—there was no rare dish missing. Unfortunately, the emperor had little appetite, which put “his father” in a dilemma. The next morning at breakfast, Chen Guolao suddenly came up with an idea and served a folk snack—Hongmiao Crispy Cake from Mianyang Prefecture. Without even mentioning that this was a halal delicacy, Emperor Qianlong was enticed by the aroma, took a bite, and ate half of one. Immediately, he found it crisp, sweet, melting in the mouth, rich yet not greasy, with a long-lasting aftertaste. He ate eight in a row, finding the taste endlessly delightful, and highly praised, “This is a fine folk delicacy; I wish to share it with the people!” Hui-style Crispy Cake had the rare honor of being tasted by Emperor Qianlong. From then on, its status soared, becoming even more popular across the south. Cargo boats loaded with Hongmiao Crispy Cakes shipped them all the way from Hongmiao to Suzhou and Hangzhou, crisscrossing the great river—an achievement they took great pride in back then.