Chinese Wife Cake Lo Paw Bang

Delight your taste buds with the enchanting flavors of Chinese Wife Cake (Lo Paw Bang), a beloved Cantonese pastry steeped in cultural tradition. These flaky, golden pastries feature a luscious filling made from sweetened winter melon, delicately enhanced with glutinous rice flour for a creamy texture. The dough is prepared using both a "water dough" and "oil dough," meticulously layered to create the signature melt-in-your-mouth flakiness. Finished with a glossy egg wash and optional sesame seeds for a nutty crunch, these pastries are baked to perfection in just 25 minutes. Whether served with tea or as a standalone indulgence, Wife Cakes are a must-try treat for any lover of Chinese bakery classics. Perfect for festivals, gifting, or simply savoring at home, this recipe brings traditional techniques to your kitchen in an accessible and satisfying way.

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:60 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:85 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 300 grams Winter melon
• 150 grams Granulated sugar
• 20 grams Glutinous rice flour
• 15 milliliters Vegetable oil
• 150 grams Cake flour (for water dough)
• 25 grams Powdered sugar (for water dough)
• 30 milliliters Vegetable oil (for water dough)
• 60 milliliters Water (for water dough)
• 120 grams Cake flour (for oil dough)
• 50 milliliters Vegetable oil (for oil dough)
• 10 grams Sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
• 1 Egg yolk (for egg wash)
• 10 milliliters Milk (for egg wash)

Directions

Step 1

Prepare the filling: Peel and shred the winter melon, then squeeze out excess water using a cheesecloth or clean kitchen towel.

Step 2

In a saucepan, cook the shredded winter melon with granulated sugar over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and most of the liquid evaporates (about 10-12 minutes).

Step 3

Add the glutinous rice flour and vegetable oil to the winter melon mixture, stirring well to combine. Remove from heat and let the filling cool completely.

Step 4

Make the water dough: In a mixing bowl, combine cake flour, powdered sugar, and vegetable oil. Gradually add water while kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Step 5

Make the oil dough: In another mixing bowl, combine cake flour and vegetable oil, mixing until it forms a soft dough. Cover and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Step 6

Divide both the water dough and oil dough into 8 equal portions. Flatten each piece of water dough, then wrap each piece of oil dough inside the water dough. Seal the edges tightly and roll into a ball.

Step 7

Flatten each dough ball into an oval shape using a rolling pin, then roll it up into a cylinder. Turn the cylinder 90 degrees, flatten it again into an oval, and roll it up one more time. Cover and let the dough relax for 10 minutes.

Step 8

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

Step 9

Assemble the pastries: Flatten each dough cylinder into a circle and place a spoonful of the cooled winter melon filling in the center. Wrap the dough around the filling, sealing the edges tightly. Gently flatten the stuffed dough into a disc.

Step 10

Place the discs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Whisk together the egg yolk and milk to make the egg wash, then brush it over the top of each pastry. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top if desired.

Step 11

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastries are golden brown.

Step 12

Allow the Wife Cakes to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(657.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2657.1

Total Fat 105.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 16.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 8.5g
Cholesterol 185.3mg	0%
Sodium 22.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 400.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 9.0g	0%
Total Sugars 176.6g
Protein 33.2g	0%

Vitamin D 24.7IU	0%
Calcium 174.5mg	0%
Iron 4.2mg	0%
Potassium 376.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 35.4%

Protein: 4.9%

Carbs: 59.6%