🧇 Why are lattice biscuits topped with butter and condensed milk? Let us reveal the delicious secret behind this!

✨ Preface: Sweet Scenery on the Streets of Hong Kong

Hey fellow foodies~ When you think of Hong Kong street food, what comes to mind? 🤤 Some might say fish balls, others egg waffles, but for me, the most classic and comforting one is definitely the checkered biscuit !
Walking through the food stalls in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay, the aroma of hot chequered cookies always hits your nose. Each golden chequered cookie is baked to a crispy exterior and soft interior, generously slathered with butter and topped off with sweet condensed milk – a true Hong Kong sweet treat! 🍯🧈

So the question is: **Why do checkered biscuits have to be made with butter and condensed milk? **🤔

🧇 The origin story of checkered biscuits

Shadow from the West

The checkered biscuit is a variation of the Western pastry "waffle." During the colonial era, Western culinary culture was introduced to Hong Kong, and local vendors used simple tools to refine the dish into a more accessible "checkered biscuit."
It is not as thick as Western waffles, but thinner and crispier, which is more suitable for the "street culture" style of Hong Kong people who eat while walking.

The birth of Hong Kong style

Hong Kong people have always loved innovation and tweaking flavors. Eating plain, simple chezhai biscuits alone proved too bland, so vendors began adding butter and condensed milk to enhance the aroma and sweetness of these small biscuits. This recipe gradually became a tradition and remains the most popular version today.

🧈 Butter's magical role

Why add butter?

1. Add fragrance 🌸

   • As soon as the butter is spread on the hot checkered cake, it melts immediately and seeps into the gaps between the checkered cakes, emitting a rich milky aroma.
   • This "heat + fragrance" effect makes people want to take a bite as soon as they smell it.

2. Rich taste 😋

   • The fat in the butter makes the crust smoother on the outside and softer on the inside.
   • Each bite has a contrast between crispy and soft, making it more satisfying to eat.

3. Balanced sweetness ⚖️

   • Condensed milk alone may be too sweet, but butter has a salty and milky aroma that can neutralize the sweetness and make the taste more durable.

🍯 The sweet soul of condensed milk

Why add condensed milk?

1. Hong Kong people's obsession with sweetness 🍬

   • Many street snacks in Hong Kong are sweet, such as egg waffles and pot cakes.
   • Condensed milk is highly sweet and can instantly enhance the "happiness" of the checkered biscuits.

2. Color and appearance👀

   • When condensed milk is poured over the checkered cake, it forms a layer of bright white syrup that is very eye-catching.
   • Just the sight of the "shiny" checkered cake is enough to make your mouth water.

3. Cultural habits🥛

   • Condensed milk has long been popular in Hong Kong's food culture. For example, silk stocking milk tea, Yuanyang, and ice and fire pineapple buns often contain condensed milk.
   • Adding condensed milk to the checkered cake is also a habit that continues the "soul of Hong Kong desserts".

💑 Butter + condensed milk: the golden combination

I think butter and condensed milk are a perfect match. The butter brings a savory and rich flavor, while the condensed milk provides a sweet and alluring sheen. The combination of the two creates a complex and unique flavor, making the chequered cake one of the most classic Hong Kong street desserts. 🧈➕🍯＝💖

🍴 The emergence of variations

In recent years, many new varieties of checkered cakes have appeared:

• Chocolate sauce 🍫
• Peanut butter 🥜
• Matcha sauce 🍵
• Cheese 🧀
  Although the flavors are more diverse, "butter and condensed milk" is always an irreplaceable classic because it is the combination that best reminds people of the flavors of Hong Kong streets.

💡 Editor's Summary

In fact, adding butter and condensed milk to checkered biscuits isn't just a random choice, but a combination that's been refined over time. The butter adds flavor, while the condensed milk sweetens the dish; the two complement each other to create this simple yet unforgettable delicacy. 💭
Next time you eat a checkered cake, you might as well savor it carefully. It is not only a snack, but also a taste memory that belongs to Hong Kong. 🇭🇰

🎤 Let me tell you

👉 Do you prefer the classic butter and condensed milk flavor, or the innovative checkered biscuits? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with us! 📩