🍽️ Sun Cake

Flaky malt-filled pastry, Taichung souvenir.

The Sun Cake is Taichung's most famous souvenir pastry, named for its round, sun-like shape. Lard-based flaky pastry wraps a smooth malt filling, then is rolled, folded and baked until crisp. The crust shatters into delicate layers that melt on the tongue, while the center holds a sweet, soft, slightly sticky malt paste with a gentle sweetness that never feels heavy. Originally a plain malt flavor, it now also comes in sesame and cream variations. Best eaten fresh from the oven with a cup of tea, its portable, sweet charm has made it a long-standing favorite among visitors to central Taiwan and a classic example of Chinese pastry adapted to local taste.