Bánh Phu Thê (Vietnamese Wedding Cakes)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cakes cupcakes Medium

Chewy glutinous rice dough wraps a sweet mung bean and coconut filling, then is steamed in leaf wrappers. This is our home adaptation using rice flour. Makes 12 cakes in about 2 hr 40 min.

Prep 60 min

Cook 40 min

Cooling 1 hr

Total 2 hr 40 min

Servings 12

Diet Vegan

Ingredients

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servings

5 ½ oz (150 g)peeled split mung beans, soaked 2 hours
6 tbsp (80 g)sugar, for the filling
½ cup (40 g)shredded coconut, for the filling
1 tbspneutral oil, for the filling
1 ⅔ cups (200 g)glutinous rice flour
6 tbsp (50 g)tapioca starch
⅓ cup (70 g)sugar, for the dough
1 ¼ cups (280 ml)warm water
4 tbsp (20 g)shredded coconut, for the dough
1 tbspneutral oil, for the dough
12banana or pandan leaves, or squares of oiled parchment

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Instructions

Steam the soaked mung beans 25 minutes until very soft. Mash with the sugar, coconut and oil, cook in a pan 5 minutes to a thick paste, and cool. Roll into 12 balls.
Mix the rice flour, starch, sugar and warm water into a smooth batter in a heatproof bowl. Steam 25 minutes until translucent and sticky.
Knead the hot dough with the oil and coconut using oiled hands until smooth. Cover to keep soft.
Divide the dough into 12 pieces, flatten each, and wrap around a filling ball into a smooth oval.
Wrap each cake in a leaf or oiled parchment and fold the ends underneath.
Steam for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Tips

Oil your hands; the dough is very sticky.
Serve in pairs for weddings.
Lightly toast coconut for more flavor.
Good with jasmine tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make bánh phu thê (vietnamese wedding cakes)?

Plan on 60 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to chill. The recipe makes 12 cakes (12 servings).

How should I store bánh phu thê (vietnamese wedding cakes)?

Eat the day they are made; refrigerate up to 2 days and steam 5 minutes to soften.

Can I make bánh phu thê (vietnamese wedding cakes) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

A Vietnamese wedding cake associated with Bắc Ninh, traditionally presented in pairs. Serve it with jasmine tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

204 Calories / serving

3.5g Fat

40.0g Carbs

4.2g Protein

15.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2448 cal · 42g fat · 480g carbs · 50g protein · 184g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.