Chinese New Year is a season of reunion with relatives and friends and of proving happiness and prosperity. It is also a time to treat yourself to tasty and scrumptious local delicacies that have been taken through generational recipes which offer quite an entertaining and tasty experience. CNY goodies are not only tasty edibles but also have cultural importance and are served during CNY season. These treats are tremendously enjoyable for the kids and help them get a sense of what is a joyful occasion. Here, we list five of the best CNY goodies for kids so that these children will have even more fun on Chinese New Year.
1. Nian Gao – Sticky Rice Cake
Nian Gao, also referred to as Steam Sticky Rice Cake is a delicacy that is mostly most Children and the elderly take during festive periods especially Chinese New Year. They convey connotations of vitality, wealth, and advancement, so it is favorable to have it in the home during the celebrations. This cake is produced from glutinous rice flour and sugar; as a result, the end product is very smooth and sticks in the mouth thus can be considered a chewy cake.
Another interesting thing about this food is that it can be eaten in almost any meal of the day. On its own, it is delicious but toppings like sesame seeds, peanuts, or furikake work well, and are suggested. It can also be also included in other foods commonly taken by children such as French toast or even shaved ice in place of the conventional desserts.
2. Pineapple Tarts
Pineapple tarts are yet another product that remains popular in the celebration of Chinese New Year till this day. These crisp, buttery and mildly sugary tarts are available in two primary types, either with pineapple conserve or without it. Pineapple jam-filled tarts are especially served and requested withinChinese New Year celebrations because the fruit itself represents prosperity.
Children will relish in the overly sweet and sour filling that offers an outburst of taste in the mouth with each bite taken, the pasty is easily manageable by the little kids. These tarts are best serve hot and fresh hence suitable for occasions that have many people like festivals.
3. Love Letters
Love letters also called “Love Locket” or “Ang Pow Cookies”, are thin, crispy butter cookies sandwiched with honey–sesame center. Such cookie form is in fact emulate to resemble the old Chinese paper money that are used to be given to the elderly and they use in paying their needs in after life.
Love letters are a favorite snack for children because they are tender, crispy, and not very sweet. Also, they are tasty because when you bite into it, there’s the crispy of the cookie and then the stickiness of the sweet stuff in the center. Furthermore, because of their relative complexity they appeal to the eye, especially of the children who might consider them as toys.
4. Almond Cookies
Another traditional Chinese New Year goodie is almond cookie, which is another favorite of children as well. These cookies are tender and highly tender and the taste is enriched by almond paste with a hint of almond flavoring and sweetness. Almond cookies represent long life, thus should be taken to the elderly members of the family.
But not only are almond cookies tasty, but they are so light that children with celiac disease can eat them without fear. They also do not have any complicated shapes or designs and are also appealing to the eyes – which makes them ideal for CNY snack trays and acceptable to all ages.
5. Tang Yuan – Sweet Rice Balls
Tang Yuan is a famous dessert made from glutinous rice which is more popularly eaten during Chinese New Year. These are derived from glutinous rice flour and may be stuffed with any sweeting such as red bean paste, black sesame among others. In Tang Yuan, rounding is a very important parameter because it visually represents family and its wholeness.
Children will appreciate when they are able to put their chewy and soft rice balls in sugar syrup sweetened black sesame soup. Furthermore, toppings on this dessert are vivid in color, which makes this particular treat interesting to kids.
6. Black Glutinous Rice Pudding
Pulut Hitam, or black glutinous rice pudding, is one of the Chinese New Year specialties that people will like. This pudding is easy to make, sold throughout the island using black glutinous rice, thick coconut milk and palm sugar; it’s is rich, creamy and slightly sticky and nutritionally, it is a powerhouse.
This recipe is best suited for young children because it is a rich tasting custard and best of all the sweetness of the Pulut Hitam is not overpowering. For an added touch you can even serve it with ice cream or garnish the dish with fresh fruits to make this dessert cooler.
7. CNY Shaped Snacks
CNY shaped snacks are and interesting way of enjoying the festivals.” Pineapple tarts in the form of flowers and Love Letters in Chinese lanterns make good bites that perk up children interest in food creatively styled to look like something colorful and edible.
Not only do these snacks enhance the taste of the Chinese New Year celebration but also the children will remember the occasion with relish. Also, they create great table centerpieces and will certainly put a smile to the face of anybody who will view them.
8. Coconut Drops
Coconut drops or Ketan Pulut is a dessert that involves grated coconut, glutinous rice and palm sugar. This Nyonya dessert of all times is not only tasty but quite sentimental to many during the Chinese New Year period.
Many children will appreciate the sugary/nutty taste of the cookies and the chewing gum consistency of each piece. Coconut drops are also relatively sundry that can be offered either hot or cold, then appropriate for any event.
Chinese New Year is a wonderful time for families to come together and enjoy delicious treats rich in symbolic meaning and tradition. From Nian Gao to Pineapple Tarts, the festive season offers a delightful variety of CNY goodies for kids and adults alike to savor. These sweet and adorable snacks not only add flavor to the celebrations but also help create cherished memories, connecting generations through shared traditions. This Chinese New Year, be sure to include these super tasty CNY goodies to fill hearts with warmth, joy, and happiness, making the occasion truly unforgettable. Happy Chinese New Year!