Chinese New Year Desserts and Treats

Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is just around the corner. Many Asian families have already started to prepare for the celebration. Shops and markets are stocking up on decorations and supplies. Bakers are taking orders for custom sweets, desserts, and gifts. I’m going to share with you some traditional Chinese treats and modern desserts! Don’t forget to check out delicious Chinese New Year dinner ideas and lunar new year traditions.

Traditional Chinese New Year Sweets

Let’s start with the traditional Chinese New Year sweets and snack. Way back in the days, people made sweets using gourds, fruits, and nuts. You’ll find these dried or candied items at local Asian Supermarkets or herbal shops like TS Emporium . Some comes in packaged platters/trays or you can buy them individually.

Candied coconut, ginger, carrots, mango, gourds, lotus seeds, sesame clusters, and soursops.

There are also sweet salted dried plums, haw flakes (fruit of the Chinese hawthorn), sesame puff, and salty melon seeds. Not into the candied gourd or coconuts? Don’t worry, you can get the famous White Rabbit and Lucky candy instead.

Traditional Chinese New Year Desserts

Sticky sweet rice Chinese New Year cake, in Mandarin is pronounced Nina Gao 年糕, is one of the many traditional Chinese New Year desserts. It symbolizes good luck and a better year. “Gao” is homonym for “high”, so people associate this with getting promotions, raises, kids grow taller, and get better grades The packaged rice cakes need to be cooked to give it the soft mochi texture. Here’s a simple egg covered rice cake recipe.

Modern Lunar New Year Treats

Want to stick with western dessert? No problem. You can order custom Chinese New Year cookies, French macaroons, chocolates, and cupcakes with Lunar New Year designs.

custom lunar new year cookies: qipao, red envelopes, tangerine, gold I-Ching coin, lantern, and firecracker designs.

custom macaroons with Chinese New Year designs: cute bao, red envelopes, plum and cherry blossoms, Chinese characters “fu” and “ji” symbolizing prosperity and lucky.

custom design chocolates and chocolate koi fish

cupcakes decorated in tradition red and gold coord.

Chinese New Year Gifts

It’s tradition that when you visit a friend or relative’s house to bring a gift to the host. Fruit baskets or tea are the most popular, but you can also get those delicious treats mentioned before and package them as gifts. Don’t forget to buy local and support small businesses!