Mooncake

月饼 Also: Yue Bing, Mid-Autumn Festival Cake
Gluten: Likely contains restriction
Peanut: Likely contains restriction
Egg: Likely contains restriction

A dense Chinese pastry traditionally eaten during Mid-Autumn Festival, with a wheat pastry crust filled with lotus seed paste, red bean, or mixed nuts, with a salted egg yolk center.

Allergen data cross-referenced against published allergen databases.

Your dietary restrictions

The full allergen breakdown is below. Select your restrictions to see a personalized safety status.

Full allergen breakdown

Ingredients

  • wheat flour crust (Gluten)
  • lotus seed paste or red bean paste
  • salted egg yolk (Egg)
  • peanut oil (Peanut)
  • golden syrup
  • egg wash (Egg)

Hidden Ingredients

These ingredients are not typically listed on menus but are present in traditional preparations.

  • salted egg yolk inside every traditional mooncake
  • egg wash on the exterior
  • peanut oil in the dough
  • mixed nut filling versions contain peanuts, sesame, walnut, pine nut, almond

Allergen Breakdown

Dairy-Free

Likely OK

Traditional mooncakes do not use dairy.

Gluten-Free

Likely contains restriction

Wheat flour pastry crust is a defining component.

Peanut-Free

Likely contains restriction

Peanut oil is in the dough. Mixed nut mooncakes contain peanuts.

Tree Nut-Free

Likely contains restriction

Mixed nut mooncakes contain walnut, pine nut, almond. Even lotus paste versions may be processed with nut equipment.

Shellfish-Free

Likely OK

No shellfish in mooncakes.

Egg-Free

Likely contains restriction

Salted egg yolk is inside traditional mooncakes. Egg wash is on the exterior.

Fish-Free

Likely OK

No fish in mooncakes.

Soy-Free

Likely OK

Traditional lotus or red bean mooncakes do not use soy.

Sesame-Free

Likely contains restriction

Sesame seeds and sesame oil are in mixed nut mooncakes and some paste varieties.

Vegetarian

Likely OK

Traditional mooncakes are vegetarian (lotus/red bean versions).

Key risk: Mooncakes can contain five or more major allergens in a single pastry: wheat (crust), egg (yolk and wash), peanut (oil and in nut varieties), sesame (seeds and oil in nut varieties), and tree nuts (walnut, pine nut, almond in mixed nut varieties). The golden crust conceals what's inside.

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Important: Dish Scout is a reference guide, not medical advice. Traditional recipes vary by restaurant, region, and chef. Always verify ingredients with restaurant staff before ordering. When in doubt, don't eat it.