Taiwan Sun Cake Museum — Restaurant in Taichung

Sun Cake 太阳饼  is a Most Traditional Iconic Chinese Pastry of Taiwan Taichung. Its the Type of Thing that Visitors to Taichung will always buy as Souvenirs.  There are Many Pastry Shops Everywhere in Taichung that sells this, and the one I'm showcasing here I feel is Slightly Unique among them because its also a Museum dedicated to it.

The Exterior of the Building looks Old and Historical.  Consisting of 2 Floors, the 1st Floor houses a Gift Shop  and interestingly a Bakery,  while the 2nd Floor is the Actual Museum itself.

Unfortunately when I was there, there was some sort of Local Organized Event,  similar to our Singapore CC RC Event of sorts and the Museum was inaccessible to the Public while the Event was going on.  So I didn't have the chance to visit the Museum Side of the Place.

The Bakery located on the 1st Floor

If I remember correctly from what the Staffs told me, you can book a Guided Tour which costs about TWD300 (S$12.20)  which will include a Guided Tour of the Museum and you will also get the Chance to Learn to Bake an Actual Sun Cake yourself.

While I didn't take up this offer (partly due to the Current Ongoing RC Event they have), The Instructor seemed like a Very Joyous Friendly Chap  although I think its only conducted in Mandarin. So feel free to sign up for it if you're interested.

The Pastry Gift Shop

Operates just like any Regular Gift Shop, this of course sells Sun Cakes in Various Different Flavours.  You can take a look at the Photo Collection to get an Idea of the Types available and their Prices.

The Staffs are Very Friendly and Polite.  What I particularly love about this place is that as a Solo Traveller, I don't have to buy an Entire Box of Sun Cakes if I just want to try.  They sell them in Individual Ala-Carte Pieces too.

In addition, if you would like to dine in, there is a Small Area with a Table and some Benches for you to Comfortably enjoy your Sun Cakes.

Sun Cake 太阳饼 (原味, Original) = TWD40

As you can see in the Photos, outwardly, Sun Cake looks Similar to Wife Cake. They're the same type of Round Round Flaky sort of Traditional Chinese Pastry.  Just like its Namesake, its Bright in Colour.  Sun Cake is Noticeably Softer in Comparison and has a Slight Buttery Aroma.

When you bite into it, you will find that its 松松软软 Ultra Airy and Flakey.  Because of how Soft this was, I feel this would also appeal to Elderly Folks too.  From a Baking Standpoint, I find the Layering to be Superb.  You need a Certain Amount of Skill and Technique to be able to pull this off.

Another thing I really like about Sun Cakes is how Subtle Sweet the Inner Filling is.  It uses a Familiar Sticky Sweet Maltose based filling you'd expect from a Pastry of this type but the Sweetness is Very Delicate and Light.

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At TWD40 (S$1.70 Each) for the Sun Cake is not particularly Cheap, and because there are Many Pastry Shops that sell this Iconic Pastry, there may be Cheaper ones out there.  What I do appreciate is that I can buy just 1 Piece to Try instead of committing to buy a Whole Box of them.

I don't usually eat such Traditional Chinese Pastries often, but I do enjoy this for its Very Delicate, Flakey Skin and Light Sweetness.  If you enjoy such Pastries, I feel you willl most likely enjoy this too.

What is interesting was the Whole Place itself.  Although I did not have the chance to visit the Museum, I feel it is still worth to come visit if you come to Taichung to not only buy the Iconic Sun Cake  but to learn abit of History and even try to make one yourself if you are so inclined.

If you are interested in Taichung's Most Iconic Traditional Chinese Pastry, this is a Place that I feel is Worth a Visit.

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It's a 2 storey historical building where they have a small museum on Level 2 on the history of Sun Cake and a cafe (closes at 4pm), then on Level 1 it's their retail store and DIY Sun Cake workshop experience. Which was what I'm really here for.

They have several sessions a day and you'll need to pre-book online via their website (a Google form) and they'll confirm the session via WhatsApp as they need a minimum group size to proceed. The workshop costs NTD300 per person and you get to bring home 6 mini sun cakes that you make.

The ingredients are all prepared for you, the pastry chef just brings us through the process of rolling out the dough, wrapping in the malt candy then pressing it to shape. Sound like simple steps but this essentially took an hour. After which, the instructor helps put them to bake and 30 mins later, it comes out nicely packed into a box shaped like the building itself.

Here, they don't use lard in the dough, but instead, good quality french butter, so it's vegetarian-friendly and I think butter adds a different layer of fragrance, that still lingers on my fingers.

Unfortunately I didn't get to take photos or videos as the dough is pretty oily and the workshop was done in a group of 18 pax, it was kind of hard to constantly pause and clean my hands to use the phone to take photos. Having said so, I enjoyed the experience very much, the instructor was also very friendly and funny. And tasting your own bakes, fresh out of the oven is simply amazing. Flaky, soft, not too sweet. A must do...

The Taiwan Sun Cake Museum is a small but delightful stop for anyone interested in the history and craftsmanship behind one of Taichung’s most famous pastries. Located in the heart of the city, this museum offers a charming glimpse into the origins of sun cakes (taiyang bing), a beloved Taiwanese treat known for its flaky crust and sweet malt filling.

The exhibits showcase traditional baking tools, historical photos, and detailed explanations about the evolution of sun cakes. Visitors can also watch demonstrations of how these pastries are made, adding an interactive element to the experience. Some workshops even allow guests to try their hand at making their own sun cakes, which is a fun and memorable activity.

While the museum is relatively small, it’s well-organized and informative. The staff are friendly and eager to share their knowledge. At the end of the visit, there’s an opportunity to sample and purchase freshly made sun cakes, making it a perfect place for food lovers and those looking for an authentic...