Chinese New Years are definitely not what they used to be. Sometimes, I really wished that I could get it all back; the anticipation, the excitement, the noise, the sounds, the smell – but I can’t. I don’t even think it really has anything to do with being in a western country. I think for me (for us, for my extended family) the magic of Chinese New Year ended when my grandfather passed away.

These days, it’s all I can do to drag myself out of bed and bake some peanut cookies. Well, at least I still do that, I suppose.

Although, what I wish I really could do is roast a giant suckling pig. Maybe next year 😉

Panu and I always talk about spending Chinese New Year in an Asian country – maybe Hong Kong or KL or Singapore – not so much to re-capture what I remember, but to experience the excitement, festivities and most importantly, the food. I’m looking forward to that, whenever it may be.

For now, we celebrated Chinese New Year eve with an impromptu and very quickly tossed together yee sang (made a big mess, which is still fun)…

… and these delicious peanut cookies.

Gong xi fa chai, everyone!

Chinese New Year peanut cookies
Adapted from Bread et Butter

2 cups peanuts
2 cups plain flour
1 cup icing sugar (or castor sugar)
1 cup (250g) butter, melted
1 egg, beaten

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C/355°F.
  2. Spread the peanuts out on an oven-proof dish. Bake dry in oven for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from oven and using either a food processor or pestle and mortar, grind the peanuts to a fine powder. (I used a pestle and mortar and well, my peanuts were not really what you’d call a “fine powder” but it worked.)
  4. In a large bowl, combine the peanuts, flour and sugar and mix well.
  5. Slowly add the butter and mix with a wooden spoon (or hands – I used my hands) until a dough is created.
  6. Roll the dough into tiny balls about 1.5cm round and lay on a baking paper lined tray.
  7. Indent the top of the balls with the back of a chopstick. Glaze with the beaten egg.
  8. Bake in oven for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool before storing in an airtight container.
Makes about 90 cookies.

20 Thoughts on “recipe | peanut cookies: happy Chinese new year!

  1. Happy Chinese New Year!

    For me, it’s missing family and it’s missing spending it in Hong Kong where there is the anticipation in the lead-up where there are decorations in shopping malls and festive foods for sale. I guess, much like how people rush about prior to Christmas here.

  2. Happy New Year Catty! Have a brilliant year!

    Those peanut cookies look AMAZING. My hair salon makes them to sell to customers! Super yummy! (LOL Can you guess that its in Chinatown?!)

  3. Happy new year!! Your peanut cookies look fabulous, as does the yee sang! As for CNY in an Asian country- absolutely do it!! I did CNY in Malaysia once when I was little and it was awesome!!!

    Gong xi fatt chai!!

  4. The cookies look great Catty! Happy Chinese New Year to you my dear! xx

  5. Happy CNY Cat 🙂
    The peanut cookies look great ~ I dun think i’ve had any lately it’s not really a big thing over here in HK.

    And there’s not a lot of action here in HK everythings closed and everyone is on holiday ~

  6. Rita: yeah i think it’s more the anticipation too – how everyone gets so excited and you decorate your house etc. I kinda miss that!!

    yinnie: Thank you! Haha, they don’t give you any for free during new years??

    Sarah: I know, I SOOO need to. Singapore or HK would be awesome too although someone just commented that everything is dead cos people are on holidays!!

    Maria: thanks Maria! x

    Daisy: Ahhh I didn’t think people would take holidays dammit! Well, i still want to go!

  7. happy new year maaaate! and roasted suckling pig sounds like an awesome idea!

  8. Happy Chinese NY Catty and Panu! May I pretty please have one of these? I just made myself a cup of tea! 😉

  9. chocolatesuze: gong xi fa chai! yo, you married, do you give me ang pows??? 😉

    Lorraine: you’re married too! Do YOU give me ang pows? Does everyone?? WOOHOO! (ps yes you may have a cookie. I’ll give you one in person – we should catch up again soon!)

  10. Happy New Year and your cookies look delectable

  11. Happy CNY! Maybe it is like Christmas – always better when you are a kid.

  12. Sara: Thank you!

    Gourmet Chick: True! That makes me feel less sad 🙂

  13. Happy CNY! Can’t believe it’s been a year since ‘those’ pineapple tarts! 😛

    p.s. Come to Penang for CNY, and stay till the 9th day a.k.a Hokkien New Year, when the MOST fireworks/firecrackers go off!

  14. Hope some of the magic was found in those cookies. They look pretty darn special to me.

  15. It sounds a bit like when you find out that Santa ain’t real (or rather that he’s your dad, sneaking presents into a stocking while a bit squiffy on sherry). Certainly Xmas has lost it’s childhood glow and anticipation for me…

    Nice recipe though, i mean, if the occasion isn’t what it used to be, at least the food is still exciting 😉

  16. Tori: there sure were!

    Grubworm: Yeah maybe you’re right, maybe I shouldn’t be so sentimental and just focus on the foodage 😉

  17. Tried your receipe… it really is good.. just that i didn’t expect it to expand or flatten when it was in the oven and the shape turned out weird…

    will have to readjust it better in the future… but the recipe is really simple and the biscuits are tasty… but preparing the peanuts really take a lot of time!

  18. Pingback: Happy Chinese New Year - ThermoFun | making decadent food at home |

  19. Pingback: ThermoFun - Happy Chinese New Year - ThermoFun | MAKING DECADENT FOOD AT HOME

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