Description
Custard-filled sesame balls are a crispy, chewy Chinese dessert featuring a creamy custard center wrapped in glutinous rice dough and coated with sesame seeds. This recipe offers a modern twist on the traditional Jian Dui and is perfect for celebrations or sweet cravings at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups glutinous rice flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup warm water (plus 1–2 tbsp more if needed)
- 1 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or sunflower)
- ½ cup white sesame seeds (for coating)
- Oil for frying (peanut or canola)
- 2 egg yolks
- 3 tbsp sugar (for custard)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Gradually add milk while whisking until smooth.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
- Transfer custard to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap touching the surface, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- In a bowl, mix glutinous rice flour and sugar. Add warm water gradually and knead into a soft dough. Mix in oil until smooth.
- Divide dough into small balls, flatten each into a disc, and add 1 tsp of custard to the center. Pinch edges to seal and roll into smooth balls.
- Dip each ball in water, then roll in sesame seeds, pressing gently to coat evenly.
- Heat oil in a pot to 320°F (160°C). Fry balls in batches, stirring gently, for 5–6 minutes until golden and puffed.
- Drain on paper towels or wire rack and let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Keep dough covered with a damp towel to prevent drying out.
- Do not overfill with custard to avoid leakage during frying.
- Use a thermometer to maintain proper frying temperature.
- Matcha, coconut, chocolate, or taro can be used as alternative fillings.
- Can be frozen before frying; fry directly from frozen.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sesame ball
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: custard-filled sesame balls, jian dui recipe, Chinese dessert, sesame balls recipe, dim sum sweets
