15 Chinese Lunar New Year Snacks To Celebrate In 2025

Golden and fragrant, pineapple tarts stand as the quintessential symbol of prosperity during Lunar New Year celebrations. Each buttery pastry cradles slow-cooked pineapple jam that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tart notes.

The magic happens when teeth sink through the crumbly exterior, revealing jam that's been carefully caramelized to develop deep, complex flavors.

Home kitchens come alive with the scent of these baking tarts, often made from recipes passed down through generations.

The Chinese word for pineapple sounds like "arrival of prosperity," making these treats particularly special during the festivities.

Neighbors exchange these morsels, packaged in decorative boxes, spreading wishes for wealth and good fortune.

The smoky sweetness of bak kwa fills the air as you explore a Chinese neighborhood during the festive New Year season. This prized barbecued meat jerky transforms simple cuts into delectable treasures through patient marination and careful grilling.

The meat takes on a deep red-brown glaze, glistening with caramelized edges while maintaining a tender bite.

Seasoned with the perfect blend of soy sauce, five-spice powder, and honey, each piece delivers an intense savory-sweet flavor that makes it impossible to stop at just one.

While traditional pork versions reign supreme, modern variations include chicken and beef, though purists swear by the original.

During the festivities, long queues form outside famous bak kwa shops, with families willing to wait hours for their share of this cherished delicacy.

Sweet, bright, and perfectly sized, mandarin oranges hold a special place in Lunar New Year traditions. These golden fruits grace every household, arranged in decorative bowls or exchanged during visits.

Mandarin health benefits also make them a favorite, as they are packed with nutrients that support overall well-being.

Their significance runs deeper than their refreshing taste - dating back to the Qing dynasty, parents would place these fruits beside their sleeping children's pillows alongside red envelopes, believing they ward off evil spirits.

The fruit's round shape speaks of completeness, while its golden hue promises prosperity. Modern celebrations continue this centuries-old culture, with households exchanging mandarin oranges as gestures of goodwill.

Their easy-to-peel nature makes them perfect for sharing during festivities, while their sweet-tart taste offers a refreshing break during heavier treats.

These distinctive crimson discs bring childhood memories flooding back for many Chinese families. Made from hawthorn fruit, these candies deliver an unforgettable combination of sweet, tart, and slightly fruity flavors.

Traditional medicine values hawthorn health benefits - making these treats both delicious and purposeful. The flakes come stacked in paper tubes, perfect for sharing during New Year visits.

Each thin wafer dissolves slowly on the tongue, releasing layers of complex flavor. Local bakeries have started incorporating these beloved candies into modern desserts, creating innovative treats while honoring tradition.

During festivities, these portable snacks become particularly popular with children, who often trade them like precious tokens.

Delicate and crisp, these intricate wafer rolls showcase the artistry of traditional Chinese snack-making. Called "love letters" for their romantic history, these treats require skilled hands and patience to create.

Using specially designed molds, thin batter transforms into lacy, golden rolls that shatter delightfully with each bite. The aroma of coconut and pandan leaves fills kitchens as families gather to make these time-honored treats.

Their light, airy texture makes them irresistible during Lunar New Year snacks exchanges.

Many households still use cherished family recipes, passing down the techniques of achieving the perfect crispness and delicate patterns that make each piece unique.

These pillowy steamed buns represent comfort food at its finest during New Year celebrations. Pure white mantou symbolizes prosperity and good fortune, while their cloud-like texture delivers pure satisfaction.

Some versions incorporate subtle pandan flavoring, adding another layer of fragrance to these beloved buns. Served warm, they can be enjoyed plain, spread with butter, or dipped in condensed milk.

During cold winter celebrations, nothing beats tearing open a freshly steamed mantou, watching the steam escape, and savoring its soft, fluffy texture.

Modern variations include colorful versions and creative fillings, though traditionalists prefer the simple elegance of the classic white bun.

Born in Shanghai during the 1940s, White Rabbit Candy holds a cherished spot in Chinese hearts and homes. These milky-white treats, wrapped in edible rice paper, deliver pure creamy goodness with every bite.

The candy's texture starts firm then transforms into a satisfyingly chewy delight that slowly melts away. Beyond the classic milk flavor that launched its fame, modern varieties include coffee, red bean, peanut, and various fruit flavors.

During New Year visits, bowls of these sweets welcome guests, their twisted white wrappers creating an inviting display.

The brand's iconic rabbit logo brings nostalgic smiles to those who grew up with these treats, while new generations discover their charm.

Many Chinese families living abroad make special trips to Asian markets just to stock up on these candies before the New Year, ensuring their celebration includes this beloved taste of home.

This traditional sweet rice cake carries centuries of meaning in every chewy bite. The name itself speaks to aspirations for the new year - 'nian' means year while 'gao' sounds like 'high' in Chinese, symbolizing growth and progress.

Made from glutinous rice flour and brown sugar, these sticky cakes develop a deep, caramelized sweetness during steaming. Their glossy surface and amber color make them particularly attractive when presented as gifts to family and friends.

Some families pan-fry slices until golden, creating a crispy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the chewy center. Traditional steaming in bamboo baskets adds subtle fragrance to these festive cakes.

Modern versions might incorporate red dates, lotus seeds, or even savory ingredients, though the classic sweet version remains most popular during New Year celebrations.

The time-consuming preparation process makes store-bought versions increasingly common, though nothing quite matches the satisfaction of making them at home.

These golden-brown twisted dough sticks bring warmth and comfort to New Year mornings. Crispy outside yet tender within, you tiao emerge from hot oil perfectly puffed and golden, ready to accompany congee or soy milk.

Their twisted shape symbolizes unity and harmony. Fresh from the fryer, these crullers release steam when torn apart, revealing a honeycomb-like interior structure that soaks up accompanying drinks perfectly.

Street vendors start preparing these treats before dawn, creating the characteristic morning aroma that draws eager customers.

While available year-round, you tiao take on special significance during New Year celebrations, where they often appear at breakfast gatherings alongside other traditional dishes.

Their versatility shines through various serving methods - whether dunked in sweet soy milk, wrapped in rice noodle rolls, or simply enjoyed on their own, these crispy delights never fail to satisfy.

These golden, dome-shaped treats shine as symbols of family unity during New Year celebrations. Each buttery cookie contains crushed walnuts, prized not just for their rich taste but also for representing happiness between couples.

The texture captures perfection - crisp enough to provide a satisfying crunch, yet delicate enough to melt away with each bite.

Making these cookies brings families together in the kitchen, where multiple generations might gather to mix, shape, and decorate these traditional favorites.

Their lovely golden surface comes from a careful egg wash applied before baking, while the melatonin-rich food walnut piece pressed into the center adds both visual appeal and extra crunch.

During New Year visits, these cookies often appear alongside tea, where their not-too-sweet nature makes them perfect for extended snacking and conversation.

Light as clouds and delicate as snowflakes, Kuih Bangkit cookies grace New Year celebrations with their ethereal presence.

These traditional treats showcase the artistry of Southeast Asian baking, where tapioca flour, coconut cream, and pandan leaves come together to create something extraordinary.

Meaning "rising cake," these cookies symbolize prosperity and growth in the coming year. The process demands precision - even slightly too much kneading can make them tough rather than melt-away tender.

Each cookie gets pressed into wooden molds carved with intricate designs, creating patterns that tell stories of heritage and tradition.

The finished cookies possess a unique texture that starts firm but dissolves instantly on the tongue, leaving behind subtle notes of coconut and pandan.

During festivities, these treasured treats often arrive in decorative containers, passed between families as gestures of goodwill.

These pearly white glutinous rice balls embody the concept of family reunion during New Year celebrations. Served in sweet ginger soup, tang yuan's round shape represents wholeness and family unity.

Dating back over a millennium to Ningbo, these treats range from simple unfilled spheres to elaborate versions containing sweet black sesame, peanut, or red bean paste.

The contrast between the smooth, chewy exterior and rich filling creates an experience that delights all generations. Families typically gather to make these together, rolling the dough into perfect spheres while sharing stories and laughter.

The warm, fragrant soup these dumplings swim in adds another layer of comfort, particularly welcome during cold winter celebrations.

Round and golden like ancient coins, almond cookies carry wishes of prosperity into the New Year. These beloved treats blend ground almonds into buttery dough, creating cookies that crumble perfectly with each bite.

Their rich, nutty aroma fills homes during baking, drawing everyone to the kitchen in anticipation.

Some bakers incorporate mung bean powder into their recipes, adding depth to the almond flavor while creating that sought-after melt-in-mouth texture.

The cookies' surface gets decorated with a single almond, pressed gently into the center before baking until perfectly golden.

During visits, hosts often serve these alongside Chinese tea, where their subtle sweetness and aromatic nature make them perfect companions for endless cups and conversation.

Glistening like jewels on wooden skewers, these candied hawthorn treats bring color and excitement to New Year celebrations.

Fresh hawthorn berries, threaded carefully onto sticks, get dipped in molten sugar that hardens into a crackling shell. The contrast between the tart berries and sweet coating creates an addictive combination that's especially popular with children.

Some versions feature other fruits - strawberries, mandarin segments, or pineapple chunks - though traditionalists prefer the classic hawthorn version.

Street vendors selling these treats become neighborhood landmarks during festivals, their displays of shining red candies drawing crowds.

The traditional preparation requires skill to achieve the perfect sugar coating - thin enough to crack easily but thick enough to protect the fruit within.

These golden towers of sweetness represent the height of traditional Chinese confectionery. Made from strands of fried dough woven together with maltose syrup, Sachima demands both patience and expertise to prepare.

The texture combines crispy and chewy elements, with each bite revealing layers of flavor and complexity.

Regional variations showcase local preferences - Cantonese versions often include raisins and sesame seeds, while northern recipes might feature different syrup mixtures.

The time-intensive preparation process makes these treats especially precious during New Year celebrations. Small, family-owned shops still produce Sachima by hand, preserving traditional methods that result in superior texture and taste.

When served, these treats often get cut into neat rectangles, their honeyed color and intricate texture making them instantly recognizable on festive tables.