Korean Desserts

Tteok are traditional Korean rice cakes that are prepared with glutinous or non-glutinous rice. The cakes are incredibly versatile, and although they are mostly sweet and enjoyed as a dessert, some plain varieties can be incorporated into savory d... READ MORE

Patbingsu is a popular South Korean dessert, its name meaning red bean ice flakes. It consists of shaved ice, condensed milk, and sweet azuki bean paste. It is often topped with pieces of Korean rice cakes known as tteok, fresh f... READ MORE

Hotteok is a popular Korean pancake that is usually filled with cinnamon, brown sugar, and nuts such as peanuts and walnuts. It is commonly sold as street food at numerous Korean street stands, especially when the weather is cold. The pancakes can... READ MORE

Nurungji is the South Korean version of scorched rice—a crispy and nutty layer of golden-brown rice that forms at the bottom of the pan. This simple snack is prepared with pre-cooked rice, or it can be a by-product of cooking rice. Nurungji ... READ MORE

Yakgwa is a deep-fried Korean dessert that is prepared with wheat flour and sesame oil. Traditionally shaped into round or floral forms, the cookies are occasionally spiced, and after frying, they are doused in a sweet, honey-infused syrup. The na... READ MORE

Chapssaltteok is a South Korean dessert made with glutinous rice and red bean paste. Because it is very similar to the Japanese mochi (meaning rice cake in Japanese), some people also refer to chapssaltteok by that name. The dess... READ MORE

Ggul tteok are colorful Korean steamed rice cakes that are usually shaped into bite-sized balls. Translated as honey cakes, they are traditionally served drizzled with honey-infused syrup. Even though ggul tteok are often prepared plain, ... READ MORE

A common staple at every special occasion in Korea is a rich and sweet rice cake known as yaksik. It is made with a combination of steamed glutinous rice, honey, pine nuts, dried jujube fruit, and chestnuts. The dessert is infused with a dark brow... READ MORE

Dalgona is a traditional and nostalgic candy originating from South Korea. It has recently been popularized by the Netflix hit show called Squid Game. The dalgona is made by melting sugar and mixing it with baking soda. The mixture should start to... READ MORE

Round and chewy gyeongdan are traditional Korean cakes consisting of soft rice dough that is wrapped around sweet red bean filling. When boiled, they are usually coated with colorful powders - from ground black sesame and toasted soybean to mugwor... READ MORE

Yeot is a group of South Korean confectionery made with steamed glutinous rice, sweet potatoes, and corn. There is a big variety of yeot candies such as hobakyeot (made with pumpkin), kkaeyeot (rolled in sesame seeds), and bo... READ MORE

Hwajeon is a unique South Korean rice pancake topped with edible flowers. It is traditionally prepared in spring with either Korean azaleas, pear blossoms, rose petals, or wild chrysanthemums. It is believed that hwajeon has origins in the Koryo D... READ MORE

These walnut cookies are a winter staple in South Korea. They consist of a walnut shell that is prepared with a thin walnut-based batter and a filling which combines pieces of walnuts and sweet red bean paste. The cookies were first invented in 19... READ MORE

Dasik is a decorative Korean treat that is usually served as an accompaniment to tea. It was introduced to Korea together with the culture of drinking tea – which was initially only reserved for royalty and wealthy, upper classes. Regardless... READ MORE

Yugwa is a traditional dessert consisting of glutinous rice that is pounded and then mixed with honey, water, and cheongju (rice wine). The mixture is shaped into desired pieces that are fried and then coated in honey, sesame seeds, pine ... READ MORE

Jeolpyeon are Korean flat rice cakes which are steamed and embellished with decorative patterns. They are prepared with glutinous rice, and apart from the plain version, they can be infused and colored with different ingredients. Before they are s... READ MORE

This traditional Korean rice cake is usually enjoyed on various special occasions. It is made with rice flour, sugar, water, and salt which are carefully combined and then steamed until the cake is light and chewy. Baekseolgi is always white, symb... READ MORE

Sirutteok is one of the oldest Korean tteok (rice cakes). In its basic form, the cake is prepared by steaming rice or glutinous rice along with a layer of partially crushed red beans in a traditional steamer known as siru. Apart from its ... READ MORE

Jeonggwa is a vast group of Korean-style confectionery that is usually prepared with seeds, sliced fruits, vegetable stems, or roots. The slices are typically doused in sugar or honey-based syrup and are then left to dry until they achieve their c... READ MORE

This traditional Korean rice cake is made from a combination of glutinous rice, sugar, yeast, and makgeolli—fermented rice drink. The dough is formed into a larger round or rectangular cakes or in many bite-sized pieces before it is... READ MORE

Kkwabaegi are traditional South Korean twisted donuts. They're usually made with a combination of flour, butter, sugar, milk, eggs, yeast, salt, corn oil, and cinnamon. Melted butter is mixed with milk, sugar, salt, eggs, yeast, and flour. The dou... READ MORE

Bukkumi is a traditional pan-fried type of tteok rice cake originating from South Korea. This rice cake is usually made with a combination of glutinous rice flour or sorghum flour, white mung bean paste or toasted and ground sesame seeds, sugar or... READ MORE

Maejakgwa are traditional cookies originating from South Korea. The cookies are usually made with a combination of wheat flour, ginger juice, salt, sugar, and water. The dough is rolled out and cut into small rectangles. Three slits are made in th... READ MORE

Ttongppang is a traditional South Korean sweet bread originating from the Insa-dong neighborhood of Seoul. The sweet bread is shaped into a stylized human feces. Although it might look unappetizing to some people, this sweet treat is actually deli... READ MORE