Korean Desserts Trends To Try This Summer 2025
Along with the upsurge of Korean street foods, the fandom of korean desserts is rising, and we are here for it.
The craze for korean food began with the introduction of kimchi, and it then expanded to include other food variations, such as tteokbokki and bulgogi.
Despite such hype, the range of korean desserts did not get as much recognition. However, that changed drastically since 2022, when the Dalgona Coffee trend emerged.
Post that, certain korean desserts trends emerged, such as Bingsu (shaved ice) and Tteok (rice cakes), among others.
As a result, the whole world became interested in the variations of korean desserts and how they play with different flavours in their own way.
Already drooling? Let’s dig deeper into the top korean desserts that you can try in 2025, and give your taste buds a well-deserved Korean tour!
Tradition Vs Modernity: A Journey Of Korean Desserts
Korean desserts have undergone a tremendous evolution throughout the ages, with a notable growth in the use of traditional ingredients.
Korean desserts have also undergone significant changes during the Korean War, as foreign influences altered the recipes and structures of the sweets.
This also promoted the worldwide recognition of Korean desserts.
Most Korean desserts have their origins in China, and some also share similarities with Japanese desserts.
Hotteok (호떡)
This dessert has long been a classic among Korean sweet teeth, and it’s gaining a worldwide following.
The primary reason for the popularity of this dish is that it resonates with the concept of pancakes, a famous breakfast staple.
Nevertheless, Hotteok and American pancakes have one major difference: the cooking process is drastically different, as yeast is also applied to the dough.
🥞 Ingredients At Play 🥞
For the Dough –
- All-purpose flour
- Rice flour
- Yeast
- Sugar
- Milk or water
- Salt
For The Filling –
- Cinnamon
- Brown sugar
- Chopped peanuts or walnuts
Bingsu (빙수)
Translated as “shaved ice,” this popular Korean dessert originated in China as well. They ate ice and fruit together.
Moreover, this desert came to korea in the 14th century, during the reign of the Joseon dynasty. Here, they added the red bean paste for a sweet flavour and gave it a major Korean twist.
As time passed since the Korean War, numerous toppings were introduced, including fruits, rice cakes, jellies, and many more.
🍨 Ingredients At Play 🍨
- Shaved Ice
- Red bean paste
- Rice cakes
- Chopped fruits of your choice
- Condensed milk
Kkwabaegi (꽈배기)
Twisted doughnuts that are fried and savoured as a popular sweet treat are known as Kkwabaegi in Korean.
Typically, these are made with fermented dough or glutinous rice flour dough, which is often incorporated with melted butter.
Furthermore, after they are deep-fried, they are coated with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon powder.
This is where many people tend to be creative, incorporating ingredients like coconut sugar, coconut flakes, and chocolate sauce, among others.
🍩 Ingredients At Play 🍩
- Flour
- Yeast
- Milk
- Sugar
- Oil
- Cinnamon powder
- Other toppings of your choice
Bungeoppang
An immensely popular sweet treat, this pastry is specifically shaped like a fish and filled with sweetened red bean paste.
Although it is enjoyed all year round, it is most commonly associated with winter as a treat.
Moreover, a very interesting factor is that although sweetened red bean paste is a staple filling, you can always customize it with custard, Nutella, peanut butter, and chocolate.
🐡 Ingredients At Play 🐡
- Flour
- Sugar
- Milk
- Eggs
- Salt
- Oil
- Fish mould for the shape
- Red bean paste or any filling of your choice
Yaksik (약식)
Also known as Yakbap, this dish is a staple favourite of Koreans during their holidays, such as Chuseok (Harvest Festival) and Seollal ( New Year’s Day).
Furthermore, the meaning of Yaksik is ‘medicinal food’. Like Yakgwa, Yaksik also contains honey, which is still considered a medicine, due to its healing properties.
🍰 Ingredients At Play 🍰
- Glutinous rice
- Chestnuts
- Dried jujubes
- Pine nuts
- Honey
- Cinnamon (optional)
Yakgwa
No other dish embodies the importance of honey as much as Yakgwa does. It is a Korean cookie, possibly the most famous ‘It’ cookie of Korea, which is deep-fried and then soaked in syrup.
Moreover, the name Yakgwa directly translates as ‘medicinal cookie’, due to the incorporation of ingredients such as ginger and honey, which are well known for their medicinal properties.
🍪 Ingredients At Play 🍪
For the cookie dough
- Flour
- Oil
- Honey
- Soju or rice wine
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Sugar
For the syrup
- Brown rice syrup
- Ginger
- Honey
Goguma Mattang (고구마 마탕)
Goguma Mattang, or candied sweet potato, is one of the most favorite side dishes and snacks among Koreans.
Moreover, these are deep-fried sweet potatoes which are chunky in size, crunchy on the outside, and lovely and soft on the inside.
Like many other Korean desserts, this one too has its origin in China, where it is named after a particular cooking method called Basi, which roughly describes the process of caramalisation.
🍠 Ingredients At Play 🍠
- Korean or Japanese sweet potatoes
- Black sesame seeds
- Peanuts
- Sugar
- Oil
- Mirin
- Corn syrup
Songpyeon
Typically associated with Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), Songpyeon is a traditional Korean rice cake that is shaped like a half moon.
Furthermore, the filling of Songpyeon typically consists of sesame seeds, chestnuts, red bean paste, or honey. The filling is usually either sweet or semi-sweet.
🍯 Ingredients At Play 🍯
- Short-grain rice flour
- Sesame seeds
- Chestnuts
- Mungbeans
- Jujubes
- Honey
- Black soybeans
Dasik
These are traditional Korean tea cookies, pressed into moulds to get beautiful shapes. They are popularly known for the Lunar New Year treat.
Moreover, the texture of dasik is mind-blowing. It’s soft, light, and melts in your mouth.
They have been apart from Korean culture for a long time, particularly since the Goryeo and Shilla dynasties.
🍪 Ingredients At Play 🍪
- Finely ground sesame seeds
- Chestnuts
- Pine pollen
- Honey syrup
Bukkumi
Bukkumi is a traditional South Korean rice cake that is pan-fried. Typically, it is prepared using a mixture of sorghum flour and rice flour.
Additionally, consider using white mung bean paste or toasted and ground sesame seeds. You can also add sweeteners, such as honey and sugar, along with a hint of cinnamon.
🍯 Ingredients At Play 🍯
- Rice flour or sorghum flour
- Sweet red bean paste
- Honey
- Cinnamon
- Sesame seeds
Makgeolli Ice Cream
Makgeolli is a traditional Korean rice wine renowned for its translucent appearance and mild sweetness.
This ice cream features this milky rice wine as its key ingredient. You can use it as a blank canvas and decorate it with any toppings you want.
🍨 Ingredients At Play 🍨
- Makgeolli
- Sugar
- Cream
- Egg yolks (optional)
Melona
If you’re not familiar with them, Melona is a popular Korean melon ice cream bar. These bars are light green, resembling the color of honeydew, and the flavor is absolutely incredible.
A standout feature of Melona bars is their ultra-creamy texture, which pairs perfectly with a delightful sweetness.
They are wonderfully addictive, melting in your mouth and providing a refreshing treat on a hot day.
🍫 Ingredients At Play 🍫
- Skimmed milk
- Corn syrup
- Strawberry syrup
- Water
- Cream
Dalgona (달고나)
A huge shoutout to the Korean drama Squid Game for featuring this absolutely gem of a Korean dessert.
Dalgona, also known as sponge candy, is definitely one of the most addictive Korean desserts I have tried.
The Dalgona coffee trend, which received a whirlwind response, was named after this candy, which originated from the casual Korean word “dalguna” (달구나), meaning “it’s sweet.”
🍭 Ingredients At Play 🍭
- Sugar
- Baking soda
- Yes, that’s it!
Korean Banana Milk
Banana Mat Uyu, commonly referred to as Korean banana milk, is a delightful beverage by Binggrae, a well-known South Korean company recognized for its dairy offerings.
This beloved drink is carefully crafted from a combination of milk, water, sugar, skim milk powder, whey powder, banana juice concentrate, and artificial flavors.
Its standout feature is a high milk content, surpassing 80%, making it one of the most indulgent milk-flavored drinks available.
With its creamy consistency and ideal balance of sweetness, banana-flavoured milk is a true treat, whether enjoyed on its own or paired with your favourite snacks.
🧃 Ingredients At Play 🧃
- Milk
- Water
- Milk powder
- Whey powder
- Banana juice
Can We Make Korean Desserts At Home?
After reading everything, you must be wondering, well, how can I get my hands on these desserts?
While I was writing this article, I was also ordering the ingredients to make Bungeoppang, so I thought, why not share some insights with you all?
Yes, you can make all these korean desserts at home, as most of the ingredients required are already there in your kitchen.
For those few ingredients that you might not have already, you can always find them in your closest grocery store.
Thanks to the immense hype surrounding Korean desserts, all these ingredients are readily available.
So, while I enjoy my Bungeoppang, go ahead and make yours. Do share your experience in the comments!
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Hamilton
Awesome.