Yakgwa (Korean honey cookies: 약과)

honey

🥗Healthier: agave syrup

💰Cheaper: corn syrup

Agave syrup is lower in calories, while corn syrup is more affordable.

walnuts

🥗Healthier: almonds

💰Cheaper: peanuts

Almonds provide healthy fats, while peanuts are budget-friendly.

Sift 2 cups of all-purpose wheat flour into a bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of grape seed oil to the flour and mix.

Add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and mix again.

Use a wooden spoon or rice scoop to mix until there are no lumps.

Sift the flour mixture again.

Extract 3 teaspoons of ginger juice using a coffee filter.

Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a little black pepper to the mixture.

Add 1/4 cup of honey and 1/2 cup of soju to the mixture and stir until well combined.

Shape the dough into a rectangular shape without kneading it too much to avoid gluten formation.

Cut the dough into squares or desired shapes, making holes in them for cooking.

Prepare the syrup by boiling 1 teaspoon of ginger juice, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of rice syrup, and 1 tablespoon of sugar with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder.

Heat oil to 250°F and fry the cookies until they expand and turn light brown.

Increase the heat to medium-high and fry the cookies until they are golden brown.

Mix the fried cookies with the syrup and let them soak for at least 3-4 hours or overnight before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens