Sugar Huoshao: Beijing’s Sweet “Caramelized Cookie”(糖火烧)
Dear travelers, if you smell warm caramel and baked dough in Beijing’s alleys, Sugar Huoshao is calling you!
This humble yet sweet snack is a favorite Beijing breakfast and a hidden street food treasure.
1. History & Cultural Significance
Sugar Huoshao is a traditional northern snack, popular in Beijing and Tianjin.
It dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties as a common folk pastry.
Originally made with simple ingredients for filling hunger, it became a “travelers’ dry snack” on canals and trade routes.
For old Beijingers, it’s a low-key breakfast star.
Paired with a bowl of soy milk or hot porridge, it evokes childhood memories.
It symbolizes northern people’s simplicity, turning humble ingredients into warm, comforting food.
2. Ingredients & Taste
Main ingredients: flour and brown sugar, with a secret touch of sesame paste.
The dough is kneaded and folded multiple times, baked until the outside is crispy and the inside soft.
It carries the combined aroma of caramel and nuts.
Flavor profile: first comes the crunchy exterior, then the moist filling.
The caramel sweetness and rich sesame paste melt in your mouth — sweet but not cloying, addictive with every bite.
3. How to Eat & Where to Find
Sugar Huoshao is best enjoyed with hot drinks like soy milk, porridge, or tea.
Cold eating also works — perfect as street food or nostalgic tea house snack.
You can find it in old Beijing snack shops, like Dashunzhai (century-old Sugar Huoshao specialty) and Huguo Temple Snack.
A piece costs only 3–5 RMB — excellent value! Order by saying: “Two Sugar Huoshao, please.”
Tips for travelers:
English name: Sugar Huoshao or Caramelized Baked Cake.
It’s naturally sweet, ideal for those who love caramel flavors.
Making Sugar Huoshao
- Mix brown sugar and sesame paste into a smooth filling.
- Knead flour with yeast, ferment, then roll into a large sheet.
- Spread filling, roll into long strips, cut and shape into round cakes.
- First bake on a griddle until golden, then finish in the oven until crispy outside, soft inside.
Explore Beijing’s alleys to discover this sweet “caramel ball”!
It may not look fancy, but its humble taste embodies the city’s warm street life.
Add Sugar Huoshao to your China food must-try list — spontaneous delicious finds make the best travel memories.
