Qingpu flower-shaped cakes 青浦海棠糕
Qingpu flower-shaped cakes is featured among the local specialties of Shanghai.
Flower-shaped cakes combine a tender body with a sweet filled centre. Try one warm from a traditional cake stall.
How it is made
Batter is cooked in a flower-shaped mold with a sweet filling, often bean paste, before the cake is finished with its decorative topping. The metal mold creates the characteristic petal outline.
Flavour & texture
The exterior is firmer and lightly caramelized, while the inside is soft and filled. Warm cakes offer the clearest contrast between the two.
Local roots & traditions
Haitanggao belongs to the Jiangnan molded-cake family, with Qingpu offering a local Shanghai setting for trying it.
How to order Qingpu flower-shaped cakes
Ask about the filling and choose one directly from the hot mold.
More dishes to compare
Explore related local specialties and compare their names, preparation notes and ordering guidance.
Bar-shaped rice cakes 条头糕 →
Glutinous-rice dough is shaped into slender bars, commonly around sweet bean paste, and cooked until soft. Some versions carry a light osmanthus fragrance or finishing syrup. The wrapper is chewy and supple, contrasting with the smoother, denser filling. Its sweetness and sticky texture make a small piece quite satisfying.
City God Temple spiced beans 城隍庙五香豆 →
Broad beans are cooked with a sweet-salty spice mixture, then cooled for snacking. The process leaves them firm rather than turning them into a soft bean stew. The skin can be resilient, with a dense interior and a lingering aromatic sweetness. They are best eaten slowly in small quantities.
Questions before you order
What name should I show when ordering?
Show 青浦海棠糕 for Qingpu flower-shaped cakes. Ask about the filling and choose one directly from the hot mold.
Sources & reading
Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.