Huangqiao Sesame Cake

Made with medium-gluten flour, lard, peanut oil and sesame, the cake is sesame-coated outside and laminated within, golden on both faces, with both savoury and sweet fillings.

The cake comes from Huangqiao town in Taixing, Jiangsu, and won wide fame when townsfolk baked them to supply troops during the 1940 Battle of Huangqiao under Chen Yi and Su Yu. As a noted Jianghuai pastry it has long been sold by Nanjing houses such as Yongheyuan.

Best eaten warm, with crisp layers and toasted sesame, it suits both breakfast and tea.

It keeps the traditional 'golden on both sides, sesame outside and shortening within', and has grown to more than ten fillings including spring-onion, pork floss, sugar and bean paste.