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You are here: Home / Desserts / Mooncakes / Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!)

Published: May 31, 2022 · Modified: Nov 12, 2023

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!)

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Gluten Free
Vegan
Nut Free
Egg Dairy Free
Oil-Free

Here's a quick and easy red bean snowskin mooncake recipe that only requires 3-Ingredients (glutinous rice flour, sweetened red bean paste and water) and just a microwave. NO wheat starch, and NO steaming required.

For a white snowskin mooncake version, go to my other recipe post here!

Quick & Easy microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes
Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

What is sweet red bean paste (koshi an)?

Red bean paste (also called Koshi An) is a thick and smooth sweet paste made from cooked adzuki red beans that's been pureed and then cooked down with sugar. The sweetened red bean paste has a sweet almost syrupy flavor with mild earthy notes. It has a creamy and hearty texture that pairs perfectly with East Asian dessert recipes, especially those made with rice flour. Red bean paste is also the main ingredient used in my Sweet Yokan (Bean Jelly) Recipe.

What does adding red bean paste do to the rice dough?

The addition of sweet red bean paste to glutinous rice flour does two things. First, it acts as a sweetener and sweetens the dough, but more importantly, the protein and fiber that form the bulk of the thick and creamy red bean paste helps to turn the sweet rice dough into a smooth, pliable dough that can be easily pulled apart and molded into desired shapes.

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Here's why I love this recipe

  • no-bake
  • easy to prepare
  • only 3 ingredients
  • customizable (so many filling options!)

Ingredients Used to Make Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes

**I've linked some of these ingredients to amazon.com to give you an idea of what they are, but you should also be able to find them in your local grocery store (usually, the natural & organic food section). They are also affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission as an Amazon Associate if you decide to purchase the items. The price will be the same for you, link or no link 🙂

  • Sweetened Red Bean Paste (a.k.a. Koshi An): You can find Sweetened Red Bean paste in most Asian grocery stores, and online (Amazon). There are Fine and Coarse kinds, but be sure to use fine koshi an for this recipe.
Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin
Koshi An
  • Glutinous Rice Flour - this goes by many names. You’ll see Glutinous Rice Flour and Mochiko Flour (my favorite brand) in Asian grocery stores, and Sweet White Rice Flour in most other stores. ***Please note that regular white rice flour or brown rice flour is NOT the same thing as glutinous rice flour!!!
  • Water - room temperature is perfect.

Filling Ingredients

  • I used the sweetened red bean paste leftover from making the snowskin dough as my mooncake filling, but you can also fill these mooncakes with lotus paste, mung bean paste or white bean paste.
  • Read more on the filling variations towards the end of this post!

Equipment for Mooncakes

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin
75g and 125g mooncake molds

The main highlight of mooncakes is their beautiful engraved patterns and shapes. Mooncake molds are readily available at different Chinese grocery stores. You can also find it online, especially on amazon. They are of premium quality and quite affordable. I got the 75g and 125g mooncake molds here

Step by Step Guide

How to Make Easy Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes

STEP 1

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

In a microwaveable glass bowl (like Pyrex), mix the sweetened red bean paste (koshi an) and sweet rice flour

STEP 2

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Mix until the red bean paste has been well incorporated into the flour.

STEP 3

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Add water and whisk until smoooth.

STEP 4

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Microwave the mixture for 1 minute

STEP 5

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Use a SOLID METAL spoon (wooden spoons might break!) to stir the cooked mixture so that the cooked and uncooked parts are evenly mixed.

Microwave the mixture again, this time for 1 minute

STEP 6

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Stir again, and pour the cooked glutinous rice dough onto a lightly greased baking pan

STEP 7

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Cut the glutinous rice dough into 6-7 pieces using scissors

STEP 8

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Fill with prepared sweetened red bean filling.

STEP 9

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Seal the ends

STEP 10

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Fit the filled pieces into a lightly greased mooncake mold** and press into shape. I used a 75 g mooncake mold, but you can also use any mold size you have at home

For the best texture, let cool in the freezer for 20-30 minutes before eating.

STEP 11

Quick & Easy microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes

Enjoy!

Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins for Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes:

There are many other types of fillings used in traditional mooncakes. Here are some ideas below:

  • Lotus paste – classic! You can buy these in the refrigerated section in a Asian grocery store, or buy them online (like Amazon, here)
  • Shiro-an (sweetened white bean paste) – on Amazon, here, or here's a Shortcut White Bean Paste Recipe I make when I’ve run out of Shiro An
  • Koshi-an (sweetened red bean paste) – on Amazon, here
  • Mung Bean paste - sweet and delightfully yellow, homemade mung bean paste is a perfect mooncake filling for those who are looking for a healthier bean paste alternative. Here's my 2-Ingredient mung bean paste recipe here
  • Coffee paste : ½ cup Shiro-an mixed with 2 tsp coffee extract (click on the link to see my 2 ingredient coffee bean paste recipe here)
banner link to variation post
10 more mooncake filling ideas cover page
The Ultimate List of 10+ Different Mooncake Fillings – Recipes, Ideas, and Tips for the Perfect Sweet Treat

How to Make Red Bean Paste Walnut Filling

I love the crunch and added texture of the walnuts in the red bean paste filling. To make, mix walnuts and red bean paste in a 1:1 ratio. Roll them into balls, and use as your filling!

red bean paste and walnut filling
Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin

Red Bean Snowskin Dough Variations

You can also play around with different snowskin flavors, too, to customize this red bean snowskin mooncake.

  • Chocolate mooncakes – add 1 Tbsp of cocoa powder to the glutinous rice flour before mixing with other ingredients; add some mini chocolate chips to the filling before rolling into tablespoon sized (about 30 gram) balls.
  • Coffee or mocha mooncakes? Yes please! Add either a teaspoon of coffee extract or espresso powder to the dough before microwaving.

See All of My Mooncake Recipes HERE

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskin
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Easy 3-Ingredient Shortcut Snowskin Mooncakes Recipe (Gluten Free, Vegan)
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Easy Matcha Green Tea Snow Skin Mooncakes Recipe
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Healthy Mung Bean Snowskin Mooncakes Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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save this recipe for later! Pin now at Pinterest
pin snowskin red bean mooncakes
Quick & Easy microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snow Skin Mooncakes (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Easy Microwave Red Bean Snowskin Mooncakes (Only 3-Ingredients!) - red bean snowskinAll Purpose Veggies
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 6 (75g) mooncakes
Calories 201 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 75g mooncake mold

Ingredients
  

Snowskin Mooncake Dough

  • 150 g sweetened red bean paste (koshi an)
  • 50 g mochiko flour, sweet rice or glutinous rice flour
  • 57 g water

Mooncake Filling

  • 300 g sweetened red bean paste (koshi an) , or other mooncake fillings of choice like mung bean paste. Check out my ULTIMATE LIST OF SNOW SKIN MOONCAKE FILLINGS post for more ideas!*

Instructions
 

Prep the filling (read note* for alternatives)

  • Prepare mooncake filling by rolling about 1-2 Tablespoons of sweetened bean paste filling into balls. Set aside.
  • NOTE: You can also use other mooncake fillings of choice like white bean paste. Check out my ULTIMATE LIST OF SNOW SKIN MOONCAKE FILLINGS post for more ideas!*

Make the Mooncake Skin

  • In a microwaveable glass bowl (like Pyrex), mix the sweetened red bean paste (koshi an) and sweet rice flour until the koshi an has been well incorporated into the flour.
  • Add water and whisk until smooth.
  • Microwave the mixture for 1 minute
  • Use a SOLID METAL spoon (wooden spoons might break!) to stir the cooked mixture so that the cooked and uncooked parts are evenly mixed
  • Microwave the mixture again, this time for 1 minute
  • Stir briefly, and pour the cooked glutinous rice dough onto a lightly greased baking pan

Shape the Mooncakes

  • Cut the glutinous rice dough into 6 pieces using scissors
  • Fill with prepared sweetened red bean filling.
  • Fit the filled pieces into a lightly greased mooncake mold** and press into shape. I used a 75 g mooncake mold, but you can also use any mold size you have at home
  • For the best texture, let cool in the freezer for 20-30 minutes before eating.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

*You can also use lotus paste, white bean paste, or mung bean paste as mooncake fillings.
For more ideas on mooncake fillings, check out my ULTIMATE LIST OF SNOW SKIN MOONCAKE FILLINGS post here.
**I used olive oil cooking spray to grease my mooncake mold. If you don’t have olive oil cooking spray you can use other vegetable oil sprays or melted coconut oil.
PLEASE NOTE: This snowskin mooncake recipe is based on my original shortcut snowskin mooncake recipe (link here) and does not adhere to most traditional recipes, where the mooncake dough is made using cooked glutinous rice flour, icing sugar, shortening and water. While this recipe may differ from the traditional preparation, it still produces delicious and unique mooncakes that are perfect for anyone looking to try something new. It's also less time-consuming and simpler.

Nutrition

Calories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 5mgFiber: 2gSugar: 31gCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mgZinc: 1mg***Net Carbs: 44g
Keyword mooncakes
Did You Like this Recipe?I'd love to know more about it! Please leave a rating or comment below so I know what to add and which recipes to share with you next!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dana Chiu says

    July 02, 2022 at 3:28 pm

    I haven’t made yet. Where did you get your moon cake molds? Are they plastic or wooden?

    Reply
    • All Purpose Veggies says

      July 07, 2022 at 12:21 pm

      Hi Dana, I got the 75g mooncake mold from Amazon which was plastic. The link is in the recipe card (under the equipment header), or you can also click here

      Reply
  2. LC says

    August 28, 2022 at 2:43 am

    Thanks for sharing the recipe! It’s easy to follow and the outcome looks and tastes great (: the snowskin is soft on the same day, but it turns hard after 1-2 days. Is there a way to maintain the soft texture? Thanks!

    Reply
    • All Purpose Veggies says

      September 03, 2022 at 9:19 pm

      Hi LC, thanks for trying this recipe! Glad you liked it 🙂 Unfortunately, confectionaries made with rice flours have a tendency to turn hard and waxy after some time, so it's best if you eat them within a day. If you want to store them for longer, you should freeze the mooncakes before they turn hard. The frozen mooncakes keep their texture from when they were fresh, so all you have to do is defrost them at room temperature for 1-2 hours, and you'll have the closest thing to a freshly made mooncake. Alternatively, you could revive the mooncakes by steaming them for 10-15 minutes on a steamer, but they probably won't hold their shape, so I highly recommend the freezing method.

      Reply

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