Been super busy the past few days, but here is a quick post on pineapple cakes. I went home a few weeks ago in order to see my grandmother who was visiting from Taiwan. She brought with her a lot of snacks including mochi, preserved plums, dried beancurd snack and pineapple cakes.
Pineapple cakes don’t really taste like cakes. They are maybe more like a cookie. The outside is like a shortbread crust and the inside is filled with pineapple jam-type filling. You can find pineapple cakes at Ranch 99, and you can even find them with other flavors. I don’t particularly like the ones at Ranch 99. You can usually find them at chinese bakeries as well, which taste a lot better though also cost more.
I used to love pineapple cakes when I was little, but then for a while I didn’t like them too much. A few years ago, my close friend, who is originally from Taiwan, and I were having a discussion on our favorite snacks from Taiwan and she said her favorite was pineapple cake. I was so surprised. I didn’t know why she wanted pineapple cakes when they were readily available in chinese grocery stores. Then she went to Taiwan and came back with all these pineapple cakes and gave me a few. And then realized what she was talking about. The cakes she brought back were so good! Each was individually wrapped in pretty cold boxes. The crust was rich and buttery and the inside was sweet and chewy.
Since then, the last few trips to Taiwan, I’ve always bought back pineapple cakes. My aunt has taken us to all different stores specializing in pineapple cakes. I’ve sampled ones with pine nuts inside, cranberries, and others. I’ve had ones with all different types of pretty packaging.
Chia Te Bakery has been voted #1 for pineapple cakes. I’m not sure if they are # 1, but they do make pretty good pineapple cakes. I only wish that their packaging was a bit prettier.
They are good aren’t they? I haven’t found any in the US that are quite as good as the best ones in Taiwan, but if you have any chinese bakeries near you, you might try that. Or Kee Wah Bakery makes pretty good ones as well. They have several locations in the US. You can also order them online https://keewah.us/pineapplepastecakes.aspx
I just finished a box brought back for me by my relative. Now, I’m scouring the internet to see where I can order some more. I can not wait for someone to go to Taiwan. This pineapple pastry is very addictive. 🙂
If you know of a place, please send me an email. Thanks.
I try not to look at the nutrition information. 😉 Last time I went to Taiwan and we wanted to bring a whole bunch home but apparently a lot of people were buying it and they limited it to one box per person.
Oh man, Chia Te is the brand we always buy too. It’s gone around the 3rd day we’re back from Taiwan.
They’re so fresh, soft and delicious! But oh man the calories…
I would recommend trying ones from a nice bakery. Kee Wah, which has some locations in the Bay Area makes decent ones.
Hi Carol! I don’t know what it is about the local Asian market ones that make them taste so bad. I love dried bean curd snacks! My jaw is getting sore from snacking on so many.
I’ve never had pineapple cakes like these. I’ll have to search them out. But thanks for the tip to avoid the ones at 99 Ranch. Will definitely pass those by.
Aren’t grandmothers the best? It’s been a long time since I’ve had pineapple cakes and I don’t particularly like the ones at the local Asian markets. But dried bean curd snacks, those are darn good!