Dessert · Korean · Snack ·

Sweet Korean Yakgwa with Ginger Syrup

Name: Sweet Korean Yakgwa with Ginger Syrup
Prep time: 70 min
Cook time: 210 min
Total time: 280 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup sesame oil; 1/2 cup honey; 1/4 cup soju (or vodka); A pinch of salt; 1 cup honey; 1 cup water; 1/4 cup sliced ginger; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; Vegetable oil (for frying); 1/2 cup honey (for additional coating)

Yakgwa is a beloved Korean dessert made from wheat flour, sesame oil, and honey. This recipe adds a ginger syrup for a spicy-sweet complement.

4.9(846 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 23, 2025

Sweet Korean Yakgwa with Ginger Syrup — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 10 min

Cook

3 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Yakgwa Dough

For the Ginger Syrup

For Frying

For Optional Dipping

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 466 kcal
Protein: 3 g
Carbs: 97.13 g
Fat: 14.5 g
Fiber: 1.06 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3725 kcal
Protein: 24 g
Carbs: 777 g
Fat: 116 g
Fiber: 8.5 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 cups all-purpose flour	910	24	190	2	8
1/4 cup sesame oil	500	0	0	57	0
1/2 cup honey	515	0	139	0	0
1/4 cup soju (or vodka)	130	0	0	0	0
A pinch of salt	0	0	0	0	0
1 cup honey	1030	0	278	0	0
1 cup water	0	0	0	0	0
1/4 cup sliced ginger	20	0	4	0	0.5
2 tablespoons brown sugar	105	0	27	0	0
Vegetable oil (for frying)	500	0	0	57	0
1/2 cup honey (for additional coating)	515	0	139	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Yakgwa Dough

1
Combine flour and sesame oil
In a large bowl, combine the flour and sesame oil. Mix until crumbly.
2
Add honey, soju, and salt
Add honey, soju, and salt to the flour mixture.
3
Knead and rest dough
Knead the dough until smooth, then wrap in plastic and let it rest for 30 minutes.

Preparing the Ginger Syrup

1
Combine ingredients
Combine honey, water, sliced ginger, and brown sugar in a saucepan.
2
Simmer the syrup
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Tip: Ensure syrup does not burn during simmering.
3
Strain and cool
Strain and set aside to cool.
Tip: Use a fine mesh strainer for crystal-clear syrup.

How to Make Sweet Korean Yakgwa with Ginger Syrup

Total time: 4 h 40 min · Yields 8 servings

1
Roll and cut dough
Roll dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch and cut into 2-inch squares.
2
Deep fry yakgwa
Heat vegetable oil to medium-high heat and fry the squares until golden brown.
3
Soak in ginger syrup
Coat fried yakgwa with ginger syrup by dipping them into a shallow dish.