Mooncake Press

A 3D-Printable Mooncake Press with removable backplate.

Print it in food-safe filament with a reduced layer height to improve the precision of the part, and make it easier to remove the cake. To assemble, insert the rod through the alignment plate, add optional spring if using, and secure the pommel (glue it in place if you like). The plate attaches with a shallow thread and can be easily swapped.

Lightly oiling the press before and during use is recommended. The spring is fully optional and I've come to prefer not using one. Print the spring out of a compliant material that can handle deformation cycles, PLA permanently deforms after a few sessions.

For a square mooncake, check out @WallK 's press here - https://www.printables.com/model/273438-moon-cake-mold-press

Special thank you to @WallK for bouncing ideas with as I designed my own press.

If you like the model please consider leaving a make, or remix the stamping plate with your own pattern and post it for people to try. Enjoy!

(Note: All but the spring can be printed without supports, some of the parts just need to be flipped 180° in your slicer)

Prep/Baking Tips:

Adding a generous amount of dried ‘Coconut Milk Powder’ to the red bean paste along with a bit of vanilla produced very enjoyable results. Here is a link to the Coconut Milk Powder I used (From a Canadian supplier).

Through experimentation I found I had a bit better luck ‘lubricating’ the press with flour rather than oil. Once your mooncake-ball is ready for pressing, roll it around in some flour and shake off the excess. When starting and every 6 cakes or so, check that the plate details aren't clogged (use a toothpick if dough is stuck), then apply flour to the press and remove excess with several firm taps. 

I found that freezing the cakes for 15-20 minutes prior to brushing them with egg wash helped them retain their definition when baking.