Description
Yakgwa are traditional Korean deep-fried honey cookies with a crispy exterior and chewy center, soaked in a ginger-honey syrup. They’re rich in flavor and cultural heritage, perfect with tea or for special occasions.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp rice wine (such as soju or a mild substitute)
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
- 1/2 cup honey (for syrup)
- 1/4 cup water
- 3–4 slices fresh ginger (for syrup infusion)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine sifted all-purpose flour, sesame oil, honey, rice wine, and grated ginger; mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the syrup by combining honey, water, and fresh ginger slices in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer until slightly thickened. Let cool.
- Divide rested dough into small portions and shape into diamonds or rectangles. Place on a parchment-lined tray.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan to 175°C (350°F). Fry dough pieces in batches for 3–4 minutes until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Soak the fried cookies in the ginger-honey syrup, ensuring they are fully coated. Let soak for at least 2–3 hours or overnight for best flavor.
- Remove from syrup and serve at room temperature, ideally with tea.
Notes
- You can bake the cookies at 175°C (350°F) for a lighter version.
- Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pine nuts to the dough for extra texture.
- A touch of citrus zest (lemon or orange) adds brightness.
- A pinch of cinnamon or pepper adds warm spice.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature, or refrigerate/freeze for longer shelf life.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Deep-Frying
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
