When people think of Korean food, they often picture K-BBQ, spicy kimchi, or bibimbap. But Korea has a sweet side and it’s just as fascinating and delicious as the savory dishes. Korean desserts are a mix of tradition, artistry, and modern creativity. From rice-based treats enjoyed for centuries to Instagram-worthy café creations, there’s a dessert for every craving.

1. Bingsu (빙수) Korea’s Shaved Ice Sensation

This isn’t your average snow cone. Bingsu is a towering bowl of pillowy shaved ice, often made from frozen milk for extra creaminess, topped with sweet red beans (the traditional patbingsu), fresh fruit, condensed milk, or even cheesecake.

Best time to eat: Hot summer days 🌞

2. Hotteok (호떡) Winter Street Food Favorite (and my favourite)

Think of hotteok as Korea’s answer to a pancake, only filled with molten brown sugar, cinnamon, and crushed nuts. Crispy on the outside, gooey inside, and best enjoyed from a street cart with steam curling into the winter air.

Best time to eat: Winter ❄️

3. Yakgwa (약과) The Honey Cookie with History

A traditional Korean cookie made from wheat flour, sesame oil, and ginger, deep-fried and soaked in honey syrup. Yakgwa was once a royal court dessert, and it still carries a luxurious sweetness.

Occasions: Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and weddings.

4. Chapssaltteok (찹쌀떡) Korean Mochi

Soft, chewy rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. Chapssaltteok is popular during celebrations and as a comforting snack.

Best time to eat: Year-round, especially for special events 🎉
Fun twist: Modern cafés fill them with ice cream or matcha cream.

5. Hodu-gwaja (호두과자) – Walnut Pastries

Mini sponge cakes filled with red bean paste and walnut pieces, hodu-gwaja originated in Cheonan and has become a popular road trip snack.

Best time to eat: On the go 🚗
Pro tip: Freshly made ones are much better than pre-packaged.

6. Dasik (다식) Elegant Tea Cookies

Beautifully molded cookies made from sesame, chestnut, or green tea powder mixed with honey. Traditionally served during formal gatherings, dasik are as much about visual beauty as taste.

Best time to eat: Paired with traditional tea 🍵
Fun fact: The molds used for dasik often have symbolic designs for luck and health.

7. Modern Korean Desserts – Cafés Gone Creative

Korea’s café culture has taken dessert-making to a whole new level. You’ll find croffles (croissant waffles), matcha tiramisu, soufflé pancakes, and even bingsu served in a melon. These creations often blend Korean ingredients with global dessert trends, perfect for both your taste buds and your Instagram feed.

Best time to eat: Whenever you feel like treating yourself 📸

Sweet Traditions Meet Modern Trends

Korean desserts reflect the country’s history, climate, and love of seasonal flavors. In the past, sweets were often made with rice flour, beans, nuts, and honey because sugar was rare and expensive. Today, those traditional flavors live on, but they’ve also evolved into playful, creative forms that make dessert-hopping in Korea an adventure in itself.

Sweet Side of Korea: A Guide to Korean Desserts & Sweets 🍡🍯