One of the major highlights of this festive season is Desserts. Here are  ‘SHC TOP 10 Chinese New Year Homemade Dessert Recipes’ that are traditionally served during the New Year season which typically falls between January & February. As well as fun recipes featuring symbolic Chinese treats.

The yearly tradition of visiting a relative or friend's house will usually include endless snacking, from addictive peanut cookies to pineapples tarts & ‘Bak Kwa’. We doubt that it will be any different this year. Perfect for guests with a sweet tooth, the sticky cake is a classic Chinese dessert that is full of authentic flavours. However, for guests who want something a bit lighter, you can serve oranges, which symbolize wealth in Chinese culture.

Currently, it is certainly not uncommon to simply go out and purchase your cookies for the New Year Celebrations. However, this year, you might consider attempting to make some of the cookies yourself. If you have absolutely no idea how to go about doing so, this article aims to provide you with some guidance. Adding a little practice into the mix, you should be able to whip up a batch of Chinese New Year cookies! If you want to be the popular host, here are some recipes for your favourite CNY DESSERTS!

1. NYONYA PINEAPPLE TART Best traditional pineapple tarts recipe to bake during the festive season especially during Chinese New Year. I was told by my late Granny that in Malacca, the best pineapple tarts are made using homemade jam. If you are looking for flaky and crispy pastry that melts in the mouth, this is the recipe for you!
2. TRADITIONAL CHINESE ALMOND COOKIES They're Traditional Chinese Almond Cookies that are so buttery tasting, I can never eat just one!  And after trying these, I'm pretty sure you'll pass on the store-bought kind.
3. HONEYCOMB COOKIES aka KUIH LOYANG Honeycomb cookies also are known as rose cookies, beehive cookies or ‘Kuih Loyang’ (in Malay) is not actually cookies! It is sweet but most of us would equate cookies as something bake not fried like chocolate chip cookies or custard cookies etc. In the Malay language, everything is 'Kuih', regardless whether it's savoury or sweet, with exception of baked 'cookies' and that, we call it biscuits.

4. HOMEMADE CHINESE PEANUT CANDY

A Chinese New Year treats representing sweetness and happiness for the coming year welcomes a homemade Chinese Sesame Peanut Brittle and a Sesame Walnut Peanut Brittle.
5. STICKY CAKE (NIAN GAO) ‘Nian Gao’ is a traditional Chinese New Year cake that is somewhat unique. It is steamed instead of baked and does not contain butter, eggs, or other ingredients normally found in a cake batter. This recipe is Westernized in that it is baked and includes the expected cake ingredients. It is also an ideal recipe if you are short on time, or don't like standing over the stove worrying if the steamer will boil dry, or if you want to share this dessert with non-Asians who might be used to a more familiar type of cake. Even with these alterations, however, this baked cake will give you the taste of traditional ‘Nian Gao’, if not the same texture.

6. EIGHT TREASURE RICE PUDDING

Eight Treasures Rice Pudding is a traditional Chinese New Year pudding. Eight treasures topping is made up of eight different kinds of dried fruits, raisin and sweets. You can choose any ingredients which are easy for you to buy. Of course, you don’t have to use “eight” different toppings but the number of toppings you use is down to personal preference.
7. CHINESE SESAME COOKIES Sesame cookies, like almond cookies and other types of Chinese cookies, were traditionally made with lard. Using butter/shortening (or a combination of both, as in this recipe) gives us a healthier cookie with just over 75 calories. For extra flavour, try incorporating a few tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds into the cookie dough before baking.
8. EGG TARTS Baked Egg Custard Tart is considered the all-time classic British tart.  I have fond memories of my late mum baking Egg Custard Tarts for Sunday tea and it is something I cook regularly for my family. This recipe though is rather special and takes the humble baked egg custard to another level altogether.

9. TANG YUAN (GLUTINOUS RICE BALLS)

Tang Yuan is a dessert made of glutinous rice balls in a sweet clear soup usually served during the Winter Solstice Festival to mark the arrival of winter.
10. MA LAI GAO (CHINESE STEAMED SPONGE CAKE) A very easy-to-follow recipe for a Chinese dim sum favourite, ‘Ma Lai Gao’ or Chinese steamed sponge cake, that’s extremely soft and springy, fluffy & tasty! SweetnessHaven HAPPY BAKING & BELLISIMO!