Sweet Korean Desserts to Make at Home with Ease

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these delightful Korean desserts that you can easily whip up in your own kitchen. Known for their unique flavors and textures, these treats are sure to impress family and friends. Let's explore some traditional and modern Korean desserts that are simple to make.

1. Patbingsu (Korean Shaved Ice)

Patbingsu is a refreshing summer dessert that combines shaved ice with sweetened red beans, fruits, and condensed milk. To make it at home, all you need is a block of ice, a blender, and your favorite toppings.

Ingredients: Block of ice, sweetened red beans, fresh fruits (like strawberries, mangoes, and bananas), condensed milk, and optional toppings such as mochi or nuts.

Instructions:

Shave the ice in a blender until it resembles fluffy snow.
Layer the shaved ice in a bowl.
Add sweetened red beans and fresh fruits on top.
Drizzle condensed milk over the dessert and add any optional toppings you like.

2. Hotteok (Sweet Korean Pancakes)

These warm, filled pancakes are perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack. The crispy outside and gooey brown sugar filling create a delicious treat.

Ingredients: All-purpose flour, sugar, active dry yeast, warm water, ground cinnamon, chopped nuts, and brown sugar.

Instructions:

Mix the yeast with warm water and sugar; let it sit for 10 minutes.
In a bowl, combine flour, the yeast mixture, and knead until smooth. Allow it to rise for about an hour.
Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts for the filling.
Once the dough has risen, divide it into small balls. Flatten each ball, add the filling, and seal it closed.
Fry each pancake in a pan over medium heat until golden brown and crispy.

3. Kkul Tarae (Korean Honey Candy)

Kkul Tarae is a fun dessert that resembles delicate threads of honey. Great for impressing guests, this dessert is both beautiful and delicious.

Ingredients: Honey and cornstarch.

Instructions:

Heat honey in a pan until it becomes liquid and reaches a thick consistency.
Pour cold cornstarch onto a clean surface and drizzle the hot honey over it.
Using your hands, twist and stretch the honey into thin threads until it resembles a spider web.
Wrap the threads around a stick or shape into small balls for serving.

4. Tteok (Korean Rice Cake)

Tteok is a traditional Korean dessert made from glutinous rice flour. There are many varieties, but the simplest and most popular is Baekseolgi (steamed rice cake).

Ingredients: Glutinous rice flour, sugar, baking powder, and water.

Instructions:

Mix the glutinous rice flour, sugar, and baking powder in a bowl.
Add water gradually until you achieve a smooth batter.
Pour the mixture into a greased steaming mold and steam for about 20-30 minutes.
Allow the cake to cool before slicing and serving.

5. Bungeoppang (Fish-shaped Pastry)

Bungeoppang is a popular street food dessert, shaped like fish and typically filled with sweet red bean paste. Making them at home is easier than you think with a special fish-shaped mold.

Ingredients: All-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, water, and sweet red bean paste.

Instructions:

Prepare the batter by mixing flour, sugar, baking powder, and water until smooth.
Preheat the fish-shaped mold and lightly grease it.
Pour a small amount of batter into the mold, add a spoonful of red bean paste, and cover it with more batter.