Red bean paste sesame cake

Last updated 2026-11-08 — Red bean paste sesame cake is a common variety of Beijing snack, named for its red bean filling. During baking, the edges of the cake naturally crack open, causing the filling to ooze out and cling to the sides — hence the vivid nickname "toad spitting honey." The book *Poetic Descriptions of Foods from the Old Capital* includes a verse that reads: “Crispy dry sesame cakes, salty-sweet in taste, come in round or square shapes piled in baskets. Their thin, crisp layers emit a fragrant aroma, perfect for savoring — a refreshing treat from Xuanwu.”