Old Beijing Horseshoe-Shaped Sesame Cake

Old Beijing Horseshoe-Shaped Sesame Cake

　　An iconic snack from Old Beijing, the "horseshoe sesame cake," was originally brought to Beijing from Jinan, Shandong, and has a history of over two hundred years. However, it has almost disappeared today because it is baked in a hanging oven that requires molds. I remember when I was a child, my uncle took me to buy these cakes. We saw the sweat-drenched masters reaching deep into the scorching oven with their bare hands to individually press the dough onto the molds for baking—it was incredibly labor-intensive. Once baked, the cake splits into two crispy layers with a soft interior. It’s deliciously crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. You can enjoy it stuffed with meat or paired with Old Beijing’s deep-fried cruller (焦圈), offering a wonderfully crisp and fragrant bite.