Thursday, February 08, 2007

Kueh Kapit ~ Love Letters

Kueh Kapit aka love letters are a traditional Chinese New Year biscuit. This recipe is from my aunts who have been making these for decades. The love letters are a fragile, crispy and crunchy biscuit and very addictive. Making kueh kapit is not for the faint hearted. It is hot work and very fiddly.


chinese love letters


Makes 4 milk powder tins

Ingredients

220 gm sugar
130 gm rice flour
1 tsp tapioca flour
4 large eggs
250 ml thick coconut milk
60-80 ml water


Method
1. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to mix well until sugar has dissolved. Strain the batter and set aside for at least an hour.

2. Lightly grease both sides of love letter moulds with cooking oil. Heat kueh kapit moulds over a moderate charcoal fire to get a more even coloured golden love letters.

3. When heated, pour a ladle of batter onto the mould. Close the mould tightly and bake over charcoal fire for about half a minute on each side.

Process of making kuih kapit
kueh kapit with a chimera

4. When golden in colour, trim the edges before removing the kueh kapit and immediately fold into a quarter. Press lightly with a tin cover to level the surface.

5. Cool and store in air-tight containers.

kuih kapit

Note : If the batter is too thick, add more water or thin coconut milk.

25 Comments:

Anonymous said...

wow...your love letters looks really delicious! They remind me of the good old memories of eating them as a kid. I am really wishing to eat some right now. Your "outdoor oven"..is that what it is call? looks really unique and pretty. Can they be use for only grilling or for other purpose? Thanks.

Sinner said...

sharon

thank you. The 'oven' is actually a chiminere outdoor patio heater. We have not tried grilling or baking in it.

Anonymous said...

Great idea on the outdoor griller!!! I went out and saw one and was grabbing it when I realised, CNY is dead in the middle of winter for us GRRRRRR. Guess I will have to eat Kuek kapit in summer.

Sinner said...

PutuPiring

I personally would have preferred to do this in winter - the heat blasting out from the chiminere would be so pleasant and would keep you nice and warm. I find it too hot cooking this in summer.

Anonymous said...

years before, i used to enjoy these biscuits every chinese new year's but i never knew how they were made. thanks for putting the recipe and photos up! these are beautiful and i'm so pleased i know a little more about them love letters now. :)

pigpigscorner said...

Wow this is amazing! I love these and never knew they were made this way.

Sunshine said...

I love Kuih Kapit very very much. I've heard that making it is a lot of work but I have a question where do you get that mould? Is there a way I can make it without the mould?

Sinner said...

Sunshine, I bought my moulds from Msia. Without the kuih kapit mould I don't think you would be able to make it thin enough.

Sunshine said...

Thanks!I'll see if I can get my parents to get me some moulds.

TR Cunning said...

These remind me quite a bit of an Italian cookie called pizelle.
I haven't tried your recipe in my pizelle maker (a modified waffle iron) yet but I'll report back after I do.

Sinner said...

trcunning, looking forward to your report :)

Textbook said...

Hi,
My late mom used to make this kuih which we Peranakans called Kuih Belanda.There is another way of making it which is to dip the mould in hot oil in a deep wok.Surprisingly,the kuih belanda will not be oily but it cannot be kept for long.This method is used by the malay ladies as it is easier and faster without the hassle to 'jaga' the fire.Nowadays,due to the popularity of this kuih,you can buy an electric kuih kapit/belanda mould much like the electric waffle maker.My family actually like to soften the kuih by airing it as it is more chewy than crunchy....what a waste of good kuih and also dipping it with F&N orange.

Sharpei Puppy said...

Hi Sinner,

I am looking forward to make this someday!! Cuz I just bought the mould recently from overseas!!

Sinner said...

Hi Sharpei Puppy,

It is hot work but well worth it !

Sharpei Puppy said...

Yes, Hehe..I will try it when I am free!! =) And let u know the result..Recently I am just busy with my work so have to miss out lots of cooking..

lady lavender said...

Sinner -- you are amazing! I have been dying to make kueh kapit..but mom gave away her mould to a neighbour. Did you get yrs from Malaysia? Love your No 8 chiminere use!

Sinner said...

Hi Lady L,

You have to stop saying I am amazing or else my head will be so big it won't go through the door !
Yes, mine is from Msia. Pity though it is too hot to make kapit in summer.

lady lavender said...

Mom has given me her Kueh Kapit recipe, but I havent ever tried it...wonder if a panini maker will do if it is spread initially over a cookie cutter to retain shape then roll out (NO 8 kiwi mah!) LOL

And you are one heck of an amazing lady...freezing 5 ducks, my oh my...that's like me hoarding free range chooks fm pak n save! LOL

Sinner said...

Hmmm...you might end up with brandy snaps or like those rolled up wafers they sell at Christmas with chocolate inside. lol Very delicious.

You are another person now who is telling me about a special on free range chooks. I must be the only person who missed that ! The 5 ducks didn't last long. Should have bought more. lol

lady lavender said...

Hi sinner I was wondering whether you think making this using a BBQ cooker with gas and grill will work? Or cooking this under the grill in the oven?

Definitely miss this kuih! Mum used to make cans and cans of this!

Sinner said...

Hi Lady L, it would be great if this can be made with a bbq. It would be so much easier if it does work and not get so hot and flustered too while making it.

But I dare say cooking under the oven grill would not work.

Do let me know if your bbq idea works !

lady lavender said...

Hi sinner, I will try when my friend brings the mould. Mum had 20 of them but gave to her dear friend! Lucky I inherited her kuih bang kit moulds. I am looking forward to the experiment. Made some tarts already and some peanut cookies. Definitely missing the festive build up to cny!
I had also considered doing it in my fireplace!

Sinner said...

Hi Lady L, those moulds are so precious but these newer ones are not so long lasting. One of mine snapped already.
Agree totally - no CNY mood at all.

The fireplace is a brilliant idea. That would most definitely work. Put 2 bricks and an old oven rack in and you are all go !

jazzfashionhouse said...

Hi sinner can i use a hot oil wok instead as i dont hv a charcoal stove

Thanks a bunch

Sinner said...

Hi jazzfashionhouse, need more information as I can't visualise it?

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