Ningqiang Walnut Crispy Cake

Ningqiang Walnut Crispy Cake

　　Ningqiang Walnut Crispy Cake is made by peeling walnut kernels and mixing them with salt and pepper, sesame seeds, and other ingredients to form a filling paste. The oil-based dough is fermented three times before being spread with the walnut paste and then baked in an oven. This pastry has a crispy texture and sweet flavor, making it especially suitable for the elderly and children.

　　　　The Wang family’s Walnut Crispy Cake has a long history. According to oral tradition from the Wang family, after a military defeat, a military governor from Tianjin named Zhou Yují was punished. His son fled to Ningqiang with the chef and became a son-in-law of the Wang family. The chef worked in the Wang household, primarily preparing seafood sauces, pickles, and pastries. Over time, the chef became familiar with the local conditions in Ningqiang and incorporated the area’s abundant walnuts and traditional method of making walnut crisps into his own pastry production.

　　　　This marked the initial form of the Ningqiang Walnut Crispy Cake.

　　　　Recently, according to the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service Management Office, the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government recently announced the first batch of the province’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. While the production technique of Hanzhong noodle skin surprisingly did not make the list, the production technique of the Ningqiang Fuxing Time-Honored Wang Family’s Walnut Crispy Cake was included.

　　　　The Ningqiang Wang family’s “Fuxing Time-Honored” Walnut Crispy Cake has a history of nearly 300 years, dating back to the Qianlong era. These small, tile-sized cakes have a rich color and strong aroma, with a crispy and fragrant bite that leaves a lingering aftertaste. Particularly remarkable is their shelf life—even after many days or even over ten days, they remain as fresh as newly baked. In the old days, this was widely praised. Because of these qualities, travelers heading north to Xi’an or south to Chengdu who sought out its fame would buy several packages to give as gifts to family and friends or to enjoy at home, adding delight to daily life.