FOOLPROOF RECIPE TO GET BLOOMING POT PAN CAKES

Superstition says that if your pot pan (fa gao) cakes bloom and “smile” while steaming, good fortune is on its way. And let’s be honest - who doesn’t want a little extra luck (or extra dough 💰) to kick off the year? We’ve got a foolproof recipe that guarantees beautifully blossomed fa gao every time. So, if you’ve ever made these before and ended up with… well, sad little pancakes instead of happy, fluffy cakes, don’t worry. This is the one recipe that won’t let you down!

​What is Pot Pan (Fa Gao)?

Fa gao, also known as prosperity cakes, is a staple during Lunar New Year celebrations. These lightly sweet, fluffy cakes are steamed to perfection and are believed to bring wealth and success. “Fa” (發) means prosperity, and “gao” (糕) means cake, so eating them is like taking a bite out of good luck!

We call them popo's cupcakes 😂 They are less sweet, steamed and as children we loved to eat them!

​Pot Pan (Fa Gao) Recipe

Ingredients

• 120g brown sugar
• 50g vegetable oil
• 200g warm water
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 220g self-raising flour
• 40g glutinous rice flour
• 1-2 drops red food colouring (optional)
• Oil for greasing

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Spatula
• Kitchen scale
• Tea cups / ramekins / single cupcake moulds
• Brush (for greasing)
• Food steamer

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, vegetable oil, warm water, and vanilla essence.
2. Add the self-raising flour and glutinous rice flour.
3. Whisk until the batter is smooth and thick.
4. (Optional) Add a drop or two of red food colouring - because red = good luck!
5. Grease your steaming cups and fill them about 4/5 of the way with batter.
6. Bring water to a boil in your steamer.
7. Steam the cakes for 18 minutes without opening the lid.

When you lift the lid (finally!), you should see beautifully “smiling” fa gao. If they’re grinning, it’s a sign that luck is officially on your side!

The Secret to Perfectly Blooming POT PAN

Extra tips

• Let the water in the steamer reach a rolling boil, as it will give your cakes the initial boost they need to rise and bloom on top.
• To help with the blooming, use your spatula or a toothpick to draw a cross on top before cooking in the steamer.
• Once in the steamer, DO NOT open the lid.
• For this recipe, I used exactly 10 cute Chinese tea cups which gave the perfect small size I was after.
• Make sure you use glutinous rice flour, not the regular one.

Pot pan is best enjoyed warm, fresh out of the steamer. Serve them with tea or as a sweet treat during your Lunar New Year feast. And if they turn out perfectly, don’t forget to send a picture to your family group chat -because flexing your baking skills is part of the tradition, right? 😉

Wishing you a year full of joy, prosperity, and lots of blooming fa gao! 🏮