Quick Answer: Best Korean Desserts
Of all authentic Korean desserts, the best include Hotteok, Patbingsu, Yakgwa, Dasik, Dalgona, Bungeo-ppang, Songpyeon, Yaksik, Hodu-gwaja, Chapssaltteok, Tteok, Hwajeon, Yeot, Sujeonggwa, Sikhye, Kkae-ttangkong Gangjeong, Hwangnambbang and others. Read to know more!
Check out the list of the best Korean desserts along with easy-to-follow recipes.
Koreans are known for having a sweet tooth. But what’s amazing about Korean desserts is that they’re not just incredibly delicious, but absolutely gorgeous to look at too.
I simply love how inviting each of these desserts looks.
Keep reading to learn more about these Korean desserts.
Best Korean Desserts: Quick Table
| Recipe | Preparation Time |
|---|---|
| Hotteok | 1 hr 20 min |
| Patbingsu | 10 min |
| Yakgwa | 1 hr 10 min |
| Dasik | 30 min |
| Dalgona | 7 min |
| Bungeo-ppang | 15 min |
| Songpyeon | 50 min |
| Yaksik | 1 hr 10 min |
| Hodu-gwaja | 30 min |
| Chapssaltteok | 25 min |
| Tteok | 1 hr 5 min |
| Hwajeon | 20 min |
| Yeot | 40 min |
| Sujeonggwa | 30 min |
| Sikhye | 7 hrs 15 min |
| Kkae-ttangkong Gangjeong | 1 hr |
| Hwangnambbang | NA |
| Injeolmi Toast | 15 min |
| Kkwabaegi | 3 hrs 40 min |
| Bukkumi | 35 min |
| Makgeoli Ice Cream | 30 min |
| Ggul Tteok | 35 min |
| Baesuk | 25 min |
| Gyeongdan | 40 min |
| Gotgamssam | 2 hrs |
| Hwachae | 30 min |
| Omija Cha | 12 hrs |
| Maesilcha | 1 min |
| Gyeran-ppang | 50 min |
1. Hotteok
Preparation Time: 1 hr 20 min
Hotteok is Korea’s version of pancakes, typically considered as sweet street food.
Nevertheless, you can always make these at home with a few simple ingredients.
They have a golden-fried dough packed with dense brown sugar syrup. For the best results, garnish them with healthy nuts and seeds.
DIY recipe for Hotteok – >
2. Patbingsu
Preparation Time: 10 min
Patbingsu is a Korean shaved ice dessert that only takes a few minutes to make.
Perfect for hot summers, Patbingsu can be served with fruits and vanilla cream for an extra touch.
Traditionally, Koreans like to pair Patbingsu with red beans but you can mix it up with contemporary toppings.
DIY recipe for Patbingsu – >
3. Yakgwa
Preparation Time: 1hr 10 min
Yakgwa is a Korean honey pastry seasoned with crushed nuts.
Each bote of this sweet pastry boasts of ginger and honey.
The texture of Yakgwa is chewy like gummy bears but variations in recipes can make it taste crumbly and flaky.
DIY recipe for Yakgwa – >
4. Dasik
Preparation Time: 30 min
One of the most authentic Korean desserts, Dasik is a small tea cookie generally made for the Lunar new year.
These come in varying colors of brown, green, black, and peach based on what ingredients you choose.
Traditionally, Dasik was meant to be only enjoyed by the nobility and royalty.
DIY recipe for Dasik – >
5. Dalgona
Preparation Time: 7 min
Dalgona is a Korean caramel candy that takes barely any time to make.
Unlike Dasik, this is more of a poor man’s dessert.
Nevertheless, it tastes simply amazing because of the flavors of caramelised sugar. Dalgona is also known as honeycomb sugar candy.
DIY recipe for Dalgona – >
6. Bungeo-ppang
Preparation Time: 15 min
Bungeo-ppang is a fish-shaped dessert that is quick and simple to make. Another name for it is Tayiyaki.
This is a winter street food dessert and comes with a sweet red bean paste filling.
You can also fill it with custard, peanut butter, Nutella, or ice cream.
DIY recipe for Bungeo-ppang – >
7. Songpyeon
Preparation Time: 50 min
Songpyeon is a rice cake shaped like a half moon. Made during the Korean festival of Chuseok, these rice cakes can be colored with natural edible dyes and have a sweet filling.
The most common choice for the filling is sweetened sesame seeds.
Songpyeon is steamed and often served on a bed of pine needles.
DIY recipe for Songpyeon – >
8. Yaksik
Preparation Time: 1 hr 10 min
Yaksik is a bar of Korean sweet rice studded with dried fruits and nuts.
It looks like a granola bar and is considered a medicinal food because its made with honey.
This dessert is enjoyed on Korean festivals like Seollal and Chuseok but can also be made for weddings and special occasions.
DIY recipe for Yaksik – >
9. Hodu-gwaja
Preparation Time: 30 min
What’s most interesting about Hodu-gwaja is that it’s made with walnuts and it also looks like a walnut.
This Korean pastry is a popular street snack all over the country.
The outer shell is a crisp pastry that’s stuffed with a walnut and red bean paste. You’ll need a Hodu-gwaja mould to make the spherical shape.
DIY recipe for Hodu-gwaja – >
10. Chapssaltteok
Preparation Time: 25 min
Chapssaltteok is a Korean version of the Japanese rice cake Mochi made with red beans.
Koreans usually give Chapssaltteok as a gift for someone about to take an exam for good luck.
The dough is a chewy layer made with glutinous rice. Inside you’ll find an irresistibly sweet red bean paste.
DIY recipe for Chapssaltteok – >
11. Tteok
Preparation Time: 1 hr 5 min
Tteok is a name for Korean rice cakes.
There are various recipes and forms for Tteok; you can sweeten yours with your favorite condiments.
Pounding rice flour dough gives Tteok its characteristic chewy texture.
DIY recipe for Tteok – >
12. Hwajeon
Preparation Time: 20 min
Hwajeon is Korea’s famous rice flour pancakes decorated with delicate edible flowers.
Try to look for azaleas or pear blossoms for authentic results.
But rose or chrysanthemum petals work do.
DIY recipe for Hwajeon – >
13. Yeot
Preparation Time: 40 min
Yeot can be made with many different ingredients but are essentially Korean crunchy and nutty candies made with pistachios, cashews, and almonds.
You can think of it as a Korean relative of Peanut Brittle.
DIY recipe for Yeot – >
14. Sujeonggwa
Preparation Time: 30 min
This is a sweet and spicy punch made with cinnamon and ginger.
Sujeonggwa is often enjoyed in the winter with dried persimmons. Its unique flavors are also known to keep colds away.
DIY recipe for Sujeonggwa – >
15. Sikhye
Preparation Time: 7 hrs 15 min
Sikhye is a moderately sweet rice drink popular in most Korean households.
It has a unique scent and is made with water, malted barley flour, sugar and cooked rice.
DIY recipe for Sikhye – >
16. Kkae-ttangkong Gangjeong
Preparation Time: 1 hr
Kkae-ttangkong Gangjeong is a Korean candy made with toasted sesame seeds, peanuts, and tangy fruits.
Like Yeot, Kkae-ttangkong Gangjeong is also brittle and crunchy.
DIY recipe for Gangjeong – >
17. Hwangnambbang
Preparation Time: NA
Hwangnambbang is a historic Korean dessert; its recipe has been passed down countless generations.
It has the appearance of a small wheel made of dough and filled with sweet bean paste.
18. Injeolmi Toast
Preparation Time: 15 min
Injeolmi Toast is a sweet, crunchy toast that can be made very fast.
It comprises rice cakes, roasted soybean powder, and milk bread.
Best when slightly warm, each bite of Injeolmi Toast brings pure joy.
DIY recipe for Injeolmi Toast – >
19. Kkwabaegi
Preparation Time: 3 hrs 40 min
Kkwabaegi are Korean twisted doughnuts.
They take a while to make bt the steps are fairly simple.
Besides, the taste and texture of the final outcome is so good, you won’t mind the wait.
DIY recipe for Kkwabaegi – >
20. Bukkumi
Preparation Time: 35 min
Bukkumi are pan-fried rice cake dumplings stuffed with sweet red bean paste.
They are shaped like semi-circles and often decorated with edible flowers. You can even use a mung bean or chestnut filling.
DIY recipe for Bukkumi – >
21. Makgeolli Ice Cream
Preparation Time: 30 min
Makgeolli is a Korean wine made with rice.
This is an ice cream made with that special concoction.
You don’t really need an ice cream maker for this; a fork will give you its sorbet version.
DIY recipe for Makgeolli Ice Cream – >
22. Ggul Tteok
Preparation Time: 35 min
Ggul Tteok, also called Wonsobyeong, are sticky rice balls with lemon honey.
A Korean favourite, these bright pink balls are perfect for Valentine’s Day.
They are glossy on the outside and tender on the inside.
DIY recipe for Ggul Tteok – >
23. Baesuk
Preparation Time: 25 min
Baesuk is a traditional Korean dessert made of poached or steamed pears.
It has a bittersweet taste and is a popular remedy for coughs and colds.
DIY recipe for Baesuk – >
24. Gyeongdan
Preparation Time: 40 min
Like Ggul Tteok, Gyeongdan too are sweet rice balls.
These traditional Korean cakes are prepared by wrapping soft rice dough around a sweet red bean filling.
DIY recipe for Gyeongdan – >
25. Gotgamssam
Preparation Time: 2 hrs
Gotgamssam is a Korean dessert comprising walnuts wrapped in persimmon.
It is very healthy and a good replacement dessert for diabetics.
Serve a few slices of Gotgamssam with some herbal tea.
DIY recipe for Gotgamssam – >
26. Hwachae
Preparation Time: 30 min
Hwachae is Korea’s traditional fruit punch.
Full of sweet fruits, it’s usually offered chilled in hot summers. You can also use it as a mixer for experimental cocktails.
DIY recipe for Hwachae – >
27. Omija Cha
Preparation Time: 12 hrs
A Korean dessert drink, Omija Cha is a berry tea made with five flavours.
Enjoyed as a refreshment in summers, this tea features Omija, also known as schisandra berries.
DIY recipe for Omija Cha – >
28. Maesilcha
Preparation Time: 1 min
Easily the fastest dessert on our list, Maesilcha is a Korean plum tea.
Interestingly enough, the name is a misnomer as it isn’t made with plums but Japanese apricots.
29. Gyeran-ppang
Preparation Time: 50 min
Gyeran-ppang is a Korean egg bread popularly sold on the streets of Seoul.
Its versatility allows it to be both a dessert and a savory snack based on the accompaniments you pick.
DIY recipe for Gyeran-ppang – >
FAQs
While there are many desserts that are quite popular in Korea, the most sought-after sweets are the ones you can buy on the streets. Some of these include Songpyeon, Yakgwa, and Bungeoppang.
Koreans don’t usually end their meals with a dessert but they have several sweet food items that they enjoy as snacks and beverages.
Here is a quick list of some of the best Korean dishes.
Chimaek
Soft Tofu Stew
Kimchi Stew
Jjajangmyeon
Bulgogi
Tteokbokki
Samgyetang
Jjigae
Kimbap
Cute and bite-sized, Dasik is usually served with tea. It tastes like sesame seeds, chestnuts, pine pollen, and beans with a cookie-like dough.
It is a korean tradition to utter the words, “jal meokkessumnida” (잘 먹겠습니다 ) before eating, which translates to “thank you for this food”.
Bottom Line
I do hope this list satisfied you with plenty of options for Korean desserts.
When you try their recipes at home, remember to reach out with any comments, suggestions, or feedback you may have.
If you enjoyed reading this article, please share it with all your loved ones.