Chinese Pastry Recipes

Crispy Flaky Pastries

These traditional Chinese flaky pastries feature delicate layers created with water-oil dough and pastry dough. The crisp, golden exterior surrounds a rich sweet filling, creating a perfect balance of texture and flavor. Ideal for tea time, holidays, or special occasions, these pastries are known for their beautiful flaky layers and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Total
Several Hours
Crispy Flaky Pastries finished dish
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Quick Recipe Summary

Cuisine
Chinese
Category
Chinese Pastry Recipes
Method
Baking
Total Time
Several Hours
Difficulty
Advanced
Main Ingredient
All-Purpose Flour

About This Recipe

These traditional Chinese flaky pastries feature delicate layers created with water-oil dough and pastry dough. The crisp, golden exterior surrounds a rich sweet filling, creating a perfect balance of texture and flavor. Ideal for tea time, holidays, or special occasions, these pastries are known for their beautiful flaky layers and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Written with clear home-cooking steps so the process is easier to follow from start to finish.
  • Breaks the method into manageable steps instead of assuming you already know the technique.
  • Includes clear preparation cues that help with texture and consistency.
  • Gives the dish a clear sweet and savory flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.
  • Useful as a reference recipe because the steps explain both what to do and what to watch for.

Ingredients

  • 50 grams All-Purpose Flour
  • 10 grams Maltose Syrup
  • 33 grams Lard
  • 1 gram Salt
  • 85 grams Warm Water
  • 100 grams All-Purpose Flour
  • 50 grams Lard

Ingredient Notes

These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust.

All-Purpose Flour

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Maltose Syrup

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Lard

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Salt

This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Prepare all filling ingredients and set aside.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 1: Prepare all filling ingredients and set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Prepare the ingredients for both the water-oil dough and the pastry dough.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 2: Prepare the ingredients for both the water-oil dough and the pastry dough.

  3. Step 3

    Combine all filling ingredients and mix thoroughly.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 3: Combine all filling ingredients and mix thoroughly.

  4. Step 4

    Mix until evenly combined, then refrigerate the filling until firm.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 4: Mix until evenly combined, then refrigerate the filling until firm.

  5. Step 5

    Mix the water-oil dough ingredients until no dry flour remains.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 5: Mix the water-oil dough ingredients until no dry flour remains.

  6. Step 6

    Knead until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 6: Knead until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

  7. Step 7

    Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 7: Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.

  8. Step 8

    Mix the pastry dough ingredients together.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 8: Mix the pastry dough ingredients together.

  9. Step 9

    Rub the flour and lard together until crumbly, then knead into a smooth dough.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 9: Rub the flour and lard together until crumbly, then knead into a smooth dough.

  10. Step 10

    Divide the water-oil dough into 20-gram portions and the pastry dough into 14-gram portions. Cover and rest for 5 minutes.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 10: Divide the water-oil dough into 20-gram portions and the pastry dough into 14-gr

  11. Step 11

    Wrap each pastry dough portion inside a water-oil dough portion and seal completely.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 11: Wrap each pastry dough portion inside a water-oil dough portion and seal complet

  12. Step 12

    Flatten each dough ball gently.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 12: Flatten each dough ball gently.

  13. Step 13

    Roll into a long oval shape.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 13: Roll into a long oval shape.

  14. Step 14

    Roll up tightly and cover. Rest for 20 minutes.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 14: Roll up tightly and cover. Rest for 20 minutes.

  15. Step 15

    Roll out vertically once more into a long strip and roll up again.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 15: Roll out vertically once more into a long strip and roll up again.

  16. Step 16

    Cover and let rest for another 15 minutes.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 16: Cover and let rest for another 15 minutes.

  17. Step 17

    Press the center, fold the ends inward, flatten, and roll into a round wrapper.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 17: Press the center, fold the ends inward, flatten, and roll into a round wrapper.

  18. Step 18

    Place about 30 grams of filling in the center.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 18: Place about 30 grams of filling in the center.

  19. Step 19

    Seal the dough completely around the filling and place seam-side up.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 19: Seal the dough completely around the filling and place seam-side up.

  20. Step 20

    Flatten gently and arrange on a baking tray.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 20: Flatten gently and arrange on a baking tray.

  21. Step 21

    Bake in a preheated 200°C (390°F) oven on the middle rack for 10 minutes.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 21: Bake in a preheated 200°C (390°F) oven on the middle rack for 10 minutes.

  22. Step 22

    Flip the pastries once the tops become lightly golden.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 22: Flip the pastries once the tops become lightly golden.

  23. Step 23

    Continue baking for another 15 minutes until crisp, flaky, and golden brown.

    Crispy Flaky Pastries step 23: Continue baking for another 15 minutes until crisp, flaky, and golden brown.

Cooking Tips

  • Resting the dough between rolling stages is essential for creating distinct flaky layers. Keep unused dough covered at all times to prevent drying out. Chilling the filling before shaping makes assembly easier and helps maintain a neat pastry shape.

Serving Suggestions

  • Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
  • Pair it with one vegetable dish and one soup or tofu dish for a balanced Chinese meal.
  • Use the recipe card below when you want a quick cooking reference after reading the full notes.

Recipe Card

These traditional Chinese flaky pastries feature delicate layers created with water-oil dough and pastry dough. The crisp, golden exterior surrounds a rich sweet filling, creating a perfect balance of texture and flavor. Ideal for tea time, holidays, or special occasions, these pastries are known for their beautiful flaky layers and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Ingredients

  • 50 grams All-Purpose Flour
  • 10 grams Maltose Syrup
  • 33 grams Lard
  • 1 gram Salt
  • 85 grams Warm Water
  • 100 grams All-Purpose Flour
  • 50 grams Lard

Method

  1. Prepare all filling ingredients and set aside.
  2. Prepare the ingredients for both the water-oil dough and the pastry dough.
  3. Combine all filling ingredients and mix thoroughly.
  4. Mix until evenly combined, then refrigerate the filling until firm.
  5. Mix the water-oil dough ingredients until no dry flour remains.
  6. Knead until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
  7. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 20 minutes.
  8. Mix the pastry dough ingredients together.
  9. Rub the flour and lard together until crumbly, then knead into a smooth dough.
  10. Divide the water-oil dough into 20-gram portions and the pastry dough into 14-gram portions. Cover and rest for 5 minutes.
  11. Wrap each pastry dough portion inside a water-oil dough portion and seal completely.
  12. Flatten each dough ball gently.
  13. Roll into a long oval shape.
  14. Roll up tightly and cover. Rest for 20 minutes.
  15. Roll out vertically once more into a long strip and roll up again.
  16. Cover and let rest for another 15 minutes.
  17. Press the center, fold the ends inward, flatten, and roll into a round wrapper.
  18. Place about 30 grams of filling in the center.
  19. Seal the dough completely around the filling and place seam-side up.
  20. Flatten gently and arrange on a baking tray.
  21. Bake in a preheated 200°C (390°F) oven on the middle rack for 10 minutes.
  22. Flip the pastries once the tops become lightly golden.
  23. Continue baking for another 15 minutes until crisp, flaky, and golden brown.

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