Runcheng Jujube Cake

Runcheng Jujube Cake

　　Runcheng Town is located 7 kilometers east of Yangcheng County and is also known as "Little Town." It is a famous historical and cultural town. Runcheng Jujube Cake — these flower-shaped steamed buns — are made through a meticulous process. The wheat must be soaked in water at an appropriate temperature for 1–2 days until small sprouts emerge, then dried and ground into flour. Only buns made with this flour will have a subtle malt aroma and a hint of sweetness. When making the buns, an appropriate amount of flour is fermented to create a starter, which is then mixed with more flour and stirred thoroughly before being kneaded repeatedly. The dough is shaped into long strips, with a circular stick pressed down the middle to form a groove and patterns pressed on both sides. Two red dates are placed at one end of the dough, which is then rolled up — thus forming a jujube flower bun. The dough is left to proof for 40 minutes at a temperature of 36–40°C before being steamed. The resulting beautifully shaped, sweet-tasting jujube flower bun is what the people of Runcheng call a "jujube cake."