Wheel pie, also known as wheel cake () and commonly known as "red bean cake" () by locals, is a Taiwanese dessert that consists of a round, pancake-like pastry with sweet or savory fillings. Named for its wheel-like shape, it is common in night markets, street stalls, and bakeries throughout Taiwan.
Wheel pies have gained popularity in other countries, including Singapore, United States, Vietnam, France, and United Kingdom.
Wheel pies are thought to be derived from the Japanese dessert imagawayaki (ä»Âå·Âç¼ãÂÂ), which was introduced to Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era (1895âÂÂ1945). While influenced by its Japanese counterpart, wheel pies have since evolved to include distinctly Taiwanese flavours and adaptations.
Distinct local characteristics of Taiwanese wheel pies are a smaller size and a wider variety of fillings, including both sweet and savory choices less common in Japan. Additionally, Taiwanese vendors frequently experiment with modern flavors, such as matcha, salted egg yolk custard, and mochi, making wheel pies a more versatile snack. The cooking methods and batter recipes may also differ slightly, resulting in wheel pies having a softer and fluffier mouthfeel compared to the denser imagawayaki.
Wheel pies are made using a pancake batter poured into a circular mold on a specialized griddle. The batter is cooked until it forms a golden-brown shell. A generous amount of filling is placed in the center, then another layer of batter is poured on top before the two halves are sealed together. The result is a fluffy, round pastry with a rich filling.
Common fillings can be roughly divided into sweet fillings and savory fillings.
Modern interpretations of wheel pies include innovative fillings such as matcha, mochi, salted egg yolk custard, and Earl Grey milk tea. Some vendors also create designs for specific holidays, incorporating unique shapes or decorations into the batter.