The Nigerian Chin-chin is one Christmas family tradition that we always made while growing up. We (my siblings and I) always had fun helping mum with the cutting of the rolled dough into various shapes before they were fried.
I replicated that fun with my daughter and some other children in the family. It was fun ‘playing with the dough’ and cutting the shapes. The cookie and gingerbread man chin-chin was a spur of the moment idea. It was less dangerous for the kids and more fun rather than cutting with knives.
I am not an expert on Nigerian chin-chin but I got measurement ideas from the seller and other buyers in the market, where I bought my ingredients. The chin-chin, I must say, came out perfectly crunchy, soft and sweet…I’m scared it won’t see Christmas and I’m getting ready to fry more.
May I take this time to appreciate you all for loving what I do. The comments, feedbacks, private messages, encouragement and all makes me determined to think up more food ideas for our children. The coming year will bring greater things for me and you and here is wishing you all my fans and followers a very merry Christmas.
How to make Chin-Chin
Ingredients:
- 5 cups flour/900g flour plus an extra cup for sprinkling and kneading.
- 250g butter/margarine
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 150 ml milk (I dissolved 3tbsp of powdered milk in 150ml of water)
- 2tbsp of powdered milk flavour (you can substitute and use evaporated milk but you will have to reduce the quantity of the milk above and add this to make it up.
- 1 big nutmeg (grated)
- Vanilla flavour (optional)
- Oil for deep frying
(You will need a clean smooth working surface and a rolling pin. if you don’t have a rolling pin, get an old beer or gin bottle, wash clean roll away. The bottle of cashew nut I bought earlier was my saving grace)
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Method:
- Sift flour into a bowl and mix in the sugar, milk flavour and nutmeg.
- Add the butter, using your hands, work, mix and rub in till you get a smooth crumbly mixture.
- Break the eggs into a bowl, whisk well, add 3/4 of the milk to the egg, together with the vanilla flavour if using it. Create a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour in the milk-egg liquid.
- Gently combine the mixture together, using both hands. Start first by covering the liquid with the flour and then continue mixing till you get a firm dough that cleans off from the bowl. Cover for half an hour.
- Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface, take a good chunk of the dough, knead and then flatten on the surface. Use your rolling pin or bottle and roll the dough flat and smooth. Cut into your desired shapes and styles. Sprinkle a little flour on them to keep from clumping together.
- Deep fry in hot oil till golden brown. Chin-chin normally gets burnt very fast, especially the last batch that is scooped out when it’s done. Try to regulate the temperature of your oil by lowering the heat when scooping out the cooked dough, as well as when adding fresh ones to fry.
Have you made your Chin-Chin? Are you still going to make yours? Share your Chin-Chin shapes with Mummy’s Yum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #chinchinfunwithmummysyum. Let’s enjoy the Christmas and Holidays fun!
Thanks ma, u really help me now your receipe is so good
Thanks so much Mispa
Lovely, I’m so making it
I love the steps you took in making your chi chin.
Mine didn’t come out soft.it was strong though tasty.
What can I use to make it softer when next I want to make another one.
Lovelyn, if you used exactly my measurements, it will come out good.
Excellent recipe chioma kip it up my chin chin is tasty, crunchy nd delicious. My children(twins) luv it, I feel like doing it ova again. Thanks nd God bless u.
Thank you so much for this feedback Mrs Onyedikachi. I do appreciate it and much love to twinnies 🙂
Wow! Mine came out great… This is d best recipe ever! Pls can i use honey?
Great Jessica. You can try it but being a liquid, you may have to adjust some ingredients like flour I would think.
Wow, this is great. I have been making chi chin, but your recipe is so on point.made these now. Thank you so much.
Great Debby. Glad you liked it
is liquid milk optional? what if I want to use powder alone
Of course it is optional. I personally prefer the taste
How about i add barking powder
Hello Ifeoma, it is okay to add baking powder if you like.
Good morning pls I want to know if it’s possible to use groundnut oil to make the dough instead of butter
Cynthia, I have never used groundnut oil and I can’t say how it will turn out. I think the result will be different even in taste too.
Wow I so much love you chin chin so crunchy and delicious
But is good to add cake softener to make it softer