Yakgwa Korean Honey Cookies

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cookies bars Medium

Chewy, layered cookies made with sesame oil and honey, fried at a low temperature and soaked in a ginger-honey syrup for a glossy, tender bite. Makes 24 cookies in about 3 hr 15 min.

Prep 40 min

Cook 35 min

Cooling 2 hr

Total 3 hr 15 min

Yield 24 cookies

Ingredients

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2 ⅓ cups (300 g)all-purpose flour
¼ cup (60 ml)toasted sesame oil
¼ cup (60 ml)honey, for the dough
¼ cup (60 ml)warm water
2 tbsp (25 g)granulated sugar
¾ tsp (2 g)ground cinnamon
¼ tsp (2 g)fine salt
1 pinchblack pepper
4 ¼ cups (1000 ml)neutral oil, for deep frying
⅔ cup (160 ml)honey, for the syrup
⅔ cup (150 ml)water
⅓ cup (30 g)fresh ginger, thinly sliced

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Instructions

Mix the flour, cinnamon, salt and pepper, add the sesame oil and rub until it feels sandy.
Stir the honey, sugar and warm water together, add to the flour mixture and gently fold until a dough just forms; do not knead. Wrap and rest 30 minutes.
For the syrup, simmer the honey, water, ginger and cinnamon stick for 8 minutes until slightly thickened. Cool.
Pat the dough into a 1/2-inch (12 mm) slab, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) squares, and poke a few holes in each with a fork.
Heat the oil to 265 F (130 C). Fry in batches 6 to 8 minutes, turning, until golden, keeping the temperature low so the insides cook through.
Drain briefly, then soak the warm cookies in the cooled syrup for 2 to 4 hours, turning occasionally.
Lift out and drain on a rack for 30 minutes before serving.

Tips

Handle the dough gently to keep the layers.
Keep the oil temperature steady; too hot browns the outside before the center cooks.
Soak longer for a chewier, sweeter cookie.
Hot oil at 265 F (130 C) can burn; do not leave unattended.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make yakgwa korean honey cookies?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking, plus 2 hours to chill. The recipe makes 24 cookies.

How should I store yakgwa korean honey cookies?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

Can I make yakgwa korean honey cookies ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Yakgwa is the best-known hangwa, the Korean family of traditional confections made from grain flour, honey and sesame oil. Serve it with green or barley tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 24 servings this recipe makes.

184 Calories / serving

10.5g Fat

22.1g Carbs

1.4g Protein

11.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (24 servings): ~4416 cal · 252g fat · 530g carbs · 34g protein · 283g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.