Sapa is not only famous for its misty scenery and rolling terraced fields, but also makes visitors nostalgic for its rustic dishes, including chestnut cake. A type of cake that hides the ingenuity of highland people. The cake has a small round shape and a golden crust made from thinly rolled wheat flour.

The filling is a blend of pureed chestnuts, green beans, butter and sugar. The ingredients seem familiar but create a very unique flavor. When fried, the crust is light and crispy. The top of the cake is sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds, creating a rich aroma.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 2

Taking a bite, the crispy taste of the shell, the sweetness of the filling and the nutty flavor of chestnuts spread out. Illustration photo: Phuong Anh

At first glance, Sapa chestnut cake seems simple, consisting of a flat round crust like pia cake, but larger and flatter, only about 10–15cm in diameter, about 3–4cm high. The outside of the cake is a thin, multi-layered wheat flour crust, as light and golden as the afternoon sun. Each layer of dough is hand-rolled, creating a crispy texture when bitten into.

At the first bite, diners will feel the light crust melting, the fragrant chestnut filling mixed with fatty green beans and a little sweet butter. It all blends into a sweet, not harsh taste, leaving a characteristic rich aftertaste that is hard to match with any other dish.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 3

Sapa chestnut cake also symbolizes prosperity and togetherness. Illustration photo: VinWonders

What makes Sapa chestnut cake special is the purity of the ingredients. Chestnuts are picked from the Sapa mountain forests, roasted, then pureed, mixed with green beans and avocado. The process contains absolutely no preservatives or additives.

Thanks to that, the cake still retains its natural flavor, is rich in energy but still light. In particular, chestnuts also provide B vitamins, minerals and fiber to help improve health, very suitable in the cold climate of highlands.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 4

Chestnut cakes are sold right at the small stall, hot and fragrant. Illustration photo: VinWonders

Each chestnut cake is not made by a machine line but by the hands of Sapa workers, meticulous in each step. From roasting the chestnuts to rolling the dough and shaping the filling, everything is done by hand. The baker must feel the softness of the dough, the elasticity of the filling and the golden moment when the cake is fully baked. That’s why each cake has a handmade, rustic yet sophisticated atmosphere. It is a taste that cannot be replicated by modern industry.

Not only delicious in taste, Sapa chestnut cake is also attractive with its aroma. Roasted sesame is sprinkled on the top of the cake. When grilled, it gives off a strong, aromatic and fatty smell. The combination of sesame, chestnuts and flour creates a symphony of flavors: rich, creamy, crunchy and fragrant, making it unforgettable for anyone who has tasted it once.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 5

The layer of roasted sesame on top creates an irresistible appeal. Illustration photo: Sapa Chestnut Cake

If you have ever been to the Northwest, you will forever remember the sweet aroma spreading in the morning mist in Sapa from the Sapa chestnut cake that has just come out of the oven. Now you can completely recreate that flavor right in your kitchen with just an oil-free fryer. There is no need to be elaborate, but each step contains meticulousness and sophistication like the way highland people put their love for the land and people into each batch of cakes.

To make a delicious Sapa chestnut cake, ingredients are the most important factor.

Cake filling:

Peeled chestnuts: 520g

Unsweetened fresh milk: 500ml

Salt: 1 teaspoon

Sugar: 100g

Crust part:

Wheat flour: 250g

Sugar: 50g

Cooking oil: 45g

Filtered water: 100ml

Cake flour part:

Wheat flour: 150g

Cooking oil: 62g

Scan the cake:

1 egg yolk

10g roasted sesame

These simple ingredients, when combined in the right proportions, will create a light crispy crust, smooth and fatty filling and the gentle aroma typical of Sapa chestnut cake.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 6

Chestnuts are boiled, peeled, ground finely and then mixed with green beans and avocado to create a smooth, chewy filling. Illustration photo: 2dep

Boil chestnuts: First, put 500g of peeled chestnuts in the pot, add 500ml of unsweetened fresh milk and salt, boil for about 40 minutes. When the seeds are soft, we puree them to make the filling. Keep a few whole boiled chestnuts to wrap in the middle of the filling to make the cake more interesting.

Slug kernel: Then put the pan in, add the crushed chestnuts and 100g of sugar and stir over medium heat for 10 minutes until the mixture is smooth. It’s done when it’s flexible, has a light shine, and doesn’t stick to the pan.

Make the crust:

– Shell: Mix flour, sugar, cooking oil and filtered water. Then knead until the dough is smooth, flexible, not sticky, then let rest for 30 minutes.

– Intestines: Mix flour and cooking oil separately, knead thoroughly to create fat for the intestines. We continue to incubate for 30 minutes.

It is these two layers of flour when combined that will help Sapa chestnut cake have a crispy thousand-layer crust, a factor that makes it different from conventional cakes.

Rolling and wrapping the cake: You divide the crust and filling into 10 equal balls, spread the crust dough thinly, place the filling in the middle and roll it up. Next we will roll it flat and roll it again to create layers. Then we need to roll the squished chestnut filling into a ball, add a whole chestnut in the middle, wrap it tightly, place the filling in the middle of the thinly rolled dough, wrap it up and press lightly to make the cake flat and round. Finally, brush a layer of cooking oil around the cake and sprinkle roasted sesame on top. This layer of sesame not only creates a fragrance but also helps the cake become shiny and eye-catching when baked.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 7

Cakes are wrapped directly by hand. Illustration photo: @normaltus

Baking: Preheat the air fryer at 170°C for 10 minutes.

Step 1: Bake the cake at 160°C for 10 minutes.

Second time: Brush egg yolk on the cake surface, continue baking for another 10 minutes until the cake is golden.

The aroma of chestnuts and roasted sesame spreads when the pot is opened, along with a lightly crispy thousand-layer crust and a soft, fatty filling. All blend together into a unique flavor that only Sapa chestnut cake can bring.

A small grilled Sapa chestnut cake (about 30g) contains an average of 110–130 calories. Chestnuts are rich in B vitamins, fiber and minerals, helping to provide energy without causing fatigue. However, to keep balance you should enjoy it in moderation and combine it with a healthy diet. Enjoying cakes with hot tea or coffee will help neutralize the fatty taste, creating a warm feeling like sitting in the middle of the mountain town of Sapa in the cold weather.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 8

The chestnut cake is cooked right on the spot and still warm. Illustration photo: Phuong Anh

Chestnut cake has no preservatives, so if you want to bring it home as a gift, proper preservation is very important:

Vacuum: This is the most effective way to keep the cake crispy and fresh for about 2–3 weeks.

Cold storage: If you don’t have a vacuum bag, you can keep the cake in the refrigerator (5–7 days).

Closed wooden bales: When carrying away, wooden bales will help the cake avoid moisture and impact, keeping its shape and flavor intact.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 9

Sapa chestnut cake is vacuum sealed for preservation. Illustration photo: FB Hip Hong

Sapa people say that chestnut cake is best when it comes out of the oven. Because when eaten hot, you can taste the nutty taste of the seeds and the crispy taste of the shell. In winter, when we hold a warm cake in our hands, take a bite and the sweet taste spreads in the cold breath, just like we are warmed by the hearts of highlanders.

The cake is also great when served with hot tea, bitter coffee or warm milk, creating a great balance between rich and slightly bitter taste. This is also an ideal small gift to share with friends and relatives, bringing a little taste of Sapa’s mountains and forests to the city.

Sapa chestnut cake stands out thanks to its thin multi-layer wheat flour crust, the filling includes pureed chestnuts combined with butter and green beans, and fragrant roasted sesame on top. When enjoyed hot, the crust is crispy and the filling is soft and fatty, creating an unforgettable typical highland flavor.

The cake is absolutely delicious when enjoyed hot right after frying or baking. Enjoying in the morning at the Sapa highland market will bring a complete culinary experience: the pervasive aroma, the crispy crust and the soft and fatty filling blend perfectly.

Visitors can find chestnut cakes at the night market, new market, fair market or reputable stores such as Ha Nam (No. 21, Cau May Street, Ta Van) or Sapa night market. Average price is about 80,000 VND/box of 10 pieces, handmade, moderately sweet, can eat many pieces without getting bored.

Absolutely possible. Sapa chestnut cake is both delicious and easy to preserve, especially when vacuum-sealed, suitable as a gift for friends and relatives after a trip.

Chestnut cake is a gift with the most unforgettable aftertaste in Sapa 10

Cakes are very suitable to buy as gifts. Illustration photo: Sapa Chestnut

Sapa chestnut cake is also the story of the mountain people, about the diligence, ingenuity and affection put into each cake. Each cake is a part of Northwest culinary culture, a sweet invitation for tourists who want to understand more about the land and people of Sapa. Tourists often buy chestnut cakes as gifts because of their convenience, easy preservation, and flavor. When buying chestnut cakes to bring home, especially when traveling long distances, choosing a quality travel suitcase is something you should keep in mind. If you are looking for a suitable suitcase for your Sapa travel journey, please visit Vietnamtravelio, the leading genuine suitcase distribution system in Vietnam.