Mooncakes have long been an indispensable part of family reunions during festive seasons. Besides their exquisite taste and unique appearance, the question of how many calories mooncakes contain, and their nutritional composition, is something many people are interested in. If you're still wondering, let Minprice unveil the answers for you in the following article!
1. Calorie Content of Baked Mooncakes
Baked mooncakes, with their golden crust made of flour and sugar, are one of the two essential types of mooncakes every Mid-Autumn Festival. With the crust made from flour and sugar, in each 170g mooncake, approximately 100g constitutes the crust. According to research, it's estimated that every gram of starch can yield 4 calories. Following this calculation, a single baked mooncake can provide between 400 – 500 calories to the body, not even accounting for the filling.
However, to know the specific calorie count of mooncakes, Minprice will list the most popular types of mooncakes nowadays for your reference:
Image: Collection
Assorted filling baked mooncakes
- Around 800 – 900 calories
Crafting a mixed filling baked mooncake requires basic ingredients such as Chinese sausage, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, candied squash, lotus seeds, salted eggs, and lime leaves. Additionally, depending on the recipe, bakers may innovate and add other components. With such a 'whopping' composition, a mixed filling baked mooncake contains around 800 – 900 calories, equivalent to 2 bowls of instant noodles and 2 eggs!
Image: @nawngthu
Mooncake with lotus seed filling
- Approximately: 716 – 860 calories
Certainly, the soft lotus seed filled baked mooncakes are a favorite for many. Made from finely ground fresh lotus seeds, sugar, and optionally salted eggs/pumpkin seeds, depending on preference. So, how many calories are in a lotus seed filled mooncake?
The calorie content in a lotus seed filled baked mooncake is typically around 716. Adding salted egg lotus seeds brings it to about 788 – 860 calories. To burn off this calorie intake, you would need to run for approximately 60 – 80 minutes!
Image: Collection
- More: Review of mooncakes: which brand is the best?
Mooncake with mung bean filling
- Approximately 650 calories
A mooncake with mung bean filling contains around 650 calories – among the traditional baked cakes with the least calorie content. However, if you're in the process of losing weight, it's advisable to consume only 1 – 2 small pieces or enjoy it with green tea to reduce sweetness.
Image: Collection
Mooncake with red bean filling
- Approximately 825 calories
Red beans are nutrient-rich, with a dense texture and a pleasantly sweet taste. With such nutritional value, the calorie content in 1 mooncake with red bean filling is 825 calories, equivalent to 2 large servings of bubble milk tea.
Image: BeeMart
Mooncake with taro filling
- Approximately 799 calories
According to calculations, a mooncake with taro filling has slightly fewer calories than one with red bean filling, at around 799 calories. Mooncakes with taro filling offer a harmonious blend of the sweet taste of taro and the distinctive savory flavor of salted egg. The soft, fragrant crust with a tempting buttery aroma completes the delightful experience.
Image: Collection
Mooncake with lava egg filling
- Approximately 783 calories
Originating from Hong Kong, mooncakes with lava egg filling are beloved by many young people. Made from simple ingredients like butter, milk, sugar, and notably salted eggs, these mooncakes captivate with their rich buttery flavor and the smooth, melting texture of the egg inside. So, how many calories are in mooncakes? The figure of 783 calories represents the average count for one enticing mooncake with lava egg filling.
Image: Collection
- Digi tip: How to make Lava egg custard mooncakes
2. Calorie content of sticky rice cakes
If you're a fan of soft and sweet cakes made from smooth glutinous rice flour, sticky rice cakes are the choice for you. The cakes have a crust made from finely ground roasted glutinous rice flour mixed with sugar syrup and pomelo essence for a distinctive aroma. So, how many calories do sticky rice cakes have? Let's explore the information about some basic types of cakes below with Minprice!
Image: MeNgheHomemade
Assorted filling sticky rice cakes
- Approximately 700 – 800 calories
Similar to baked mooncakes, the filling of an assorted sticky rice cake also includes Chinese sausage, candied squash, lotus seeds, lard, coconut, etc. Therefore, the calorie content in assorted sticky rice cakes ranges from 700 to 800 calories, equivalent to 2 bowls of beef pho. If you finish one cake, you'll need to spend about 70 to 80 minutes to burn off all that energy.
Image: Hoi An Mooncakes
Sticky rice cake with mung bean and lotus seed filling
- Around 983 calories
Made from highly nutritious ingredients, it's no surprise that a sticky rice cake with mung bean and lotus seed filling boasts a whopping calorie count: 983 calories. These cakes are typically sweeter than baked mooncakes, so they're often enjoyed with tea to balance out the sweetness and add a refreshing touch.
Image: Hoi An Mooncakes
Other types of sticky rice cakes
In addition to traditional fillings, many producers have innovated with various flavors of sticky rice cakes such as green tea, chocolate, black sesame, purple sweet potato, black bean, and more. According to information from manufacturers, the average calorie content of a 170g sticky rice cake is around 570 calories. However, this calorie count may vary depending on the ingredients.
Image: Collection
3. How to enjoy mooncakes without worrying about weight gain
Owning a considerable number of calories, many people worry that eating mooncakes will affect their weight. Therefore, besides being concerned about how many calories mooncakes contain, Minprice will share some tips to enjoy mooncakes while also being mindful of your figure.
Avoid eating mooncakes when not hungry
When your stomach is rumbling due to hunger, it's best to avoid eating mooncakes. This is because your stomach is more likely to absorb nutrients at this time.
Divide mooncakes into smaller portions for enjoyment
Finishing an entire mooncake not only leads to weight gain but also poses many health risks. Therefore, you should slice the mooncake into small pieces and enjoy them at different times. This helps limit the amount of sugar, fat, and calories entering your body at once.
Avoid eating mooncakes after 7 p.m.
After 7 p.m., the body's organs are usually less active. Eating mooncakes at this time will turn that energy into excess. Instead of being used for activities, it will accumulate as fat and lead to weight gain.
Image: Collection
Engage in light exercise after eating
After indulging in mooncakes or any delicious dish, it's advisable to engage in light exercise to aid digestion. Sitting still or being inactive after eating is also one of the reasons for uncontrollable weight gain.
Choose 'healthy' mooncake options
Nowadays, the trend of eating healthy is favored by many young people. To meet the ever-changing market demands, many producers have introduced low-calorie mooncake options. However, since they are made from 'eat clean' ingredients with more complex techniques, the price of these mooncakes is also quite high, with some costing over 300,000 VND each. (You can also opt for mooncakes specifically designed for diabetics to limit sugar intake for the body)
Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, has your family prepared the boxes of baked and sticky mooncakes yet? With the insights on how many calories mooncakes contain above, Minprice hopes you have found the most suitable answer. Wishing you and your family a joyful Moon Festival!
You may also be interested:
- 9 Top-notch 5-star hotel mooncake brands
- The meanings behind mooncakes you might not know