When you think of Korean cuisine, your mind might instantly go to savory dishes like kimchi, bulgogi, or spicy ramyeon. But Korean desserts are just as unforgettable, offering a perfect balance of tradition and innovation that will delight anyone with a sweet tooth. Whether you’re visiting Korea in 2025 or exploring K-desserts in your local Korean café, this is the year to dive into these flavorful treats.
From icy, fruity delights to chewy rice cakes and modern twists on age-old confections, Korean desserts are becoming more popular around the world—and for good reason. Let’s explore the 10 best Korean desserts you absolutely need to try in 2025.
1. Bingsu (Korea's ultimate summer dessert)
There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than with a giant bowl of bingsu. This shaved ice dessert has become a national obsession in Korea, and you’ll understand why with your first spoonful. While traditional bingsu was simple—just shaved ice topped with sweetened red beans (called “pat”)—today’s versions are gourmet masterpieces.
In 2025, you’ll find a whole range of creative bingsu flavors like mango cheesecake, matcha tiramisu, and even injeolmi (roasted soybean flour with mochi). Modern bingsu shops pile their creations high with fruits, syrups, jellies, ice cream, and cake pieces. The shaved milk ice is ultra-fine and creamy, making every bite melt in your mouth. It’s a social dessert too, perfect for sharing with friends while enjoying the K-café experience.
2. Hotteok (sweet, crispy, and comforting)
If you’re wandering through a Korean street market in the winter, the warm scent of hotteok will surely stop you in your tracks. This pancake-like snack is filled with a gooey mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and crushed nuts, which caramelizes beautifully as it cooks.
In recent years, hotteok has seen a trendy revival with creative fillings like green tea cream, cheese, and even japchae for a savory twist. But it’s the classic sweet version that continues to win hearts. Crispy on the outside and sticky on the inside, hotteok is Korea’s answer to comfort food in dessert form.
3. Tteok (traditional rice cakes with a modern touch)
Tteok is a broad category of Korean rice cakes made from glutinous rice flour, and it holds a special place in Korean celebrations, rituals, and everyday life. While tteok is often thought of as ceremonial food, it’s gaining popularity as a stylish dessert, thanks to its chewy texture and natural sweetness.
In 2025, you’ll see beautifully presented tteok in Korean dessert shops, sometimes filled with sweetened red bean paste, mung bean, or even chocolate ganache. There’s injeolmi, a chewy rice cake dusted in roasted soybean powder; baekseolgi, a soft, steamed rice cake that resembles fluffy clouds; and songpyeon, half-moon-shaped tteok traditionally eaten during Chuseok.
These days, some dessert cafes are reimagining tteok as bite-sized desserts served with tea, giving these traditional confections a chic, Instagram-worthy makeover.
4. Korean Macarons (the bigger, better macaron)
Korea has taken the French macaron and made it entirely its own. Known locally as “fat-carons” (short for “fat macarons”), these plump, over-the-top versions are stuffed with generous fillings that go far beyond your typical buttercream.
In 2025, fat-carons are going stronger than ever. Expect to see flavors like Oreo cream, yuzu lemon curd, caramel apple pie, and strawberry shortcake. These macarons are about twice the size of the originals and loaded with texture—think chewy cookies, crunchy cereal bits, and velvety fillings in one bite.
Korean bakeries put a premium on the aesthetics of their desserts, so fat-carons also double as edible art. If you’re visiting a café, don’t be surprised if these colorful creations are displayed like designer jewelry behind glass cases.
5. Yakgwa (honey cookies from the past)
Yakgwa is one of Korea’s most traditional sweets, dating back to the Goryeo Dynasty. These flower-shaped cookies are made from wheat flour, sesame oil, and honey, then deep-fried and soaked in a honey-ginger syrup. They have a chewy texture and a deeply aromatic flavor that lingers long after the last bite.
Although yakgwa has been around for centuries, it’s currently experiencing a modern-day revival. Artisanal versions are emerging with updated shapes, lighter flavors, and subtle additions like citrus zest or matcha powder. You’ll often find yakgwa beautifully packaged in traditional boxes, making them popular gifts or souvenirs from Korea.
With an emphasis on health-conscious ingredients and natural sweetness, yakgwa is perfect for those who want a dessert that tastes luxurious but doesn’t go overboard on sugar.
6. Dalgona Candy (sweet nostalgia with a crunch)
You may remember dalgona candy from the viral “Squid Game” challenge, but long before Netflix brought it to the global stage, dalgona was already a nostalgic Korean street snack.
This honeycomb toffee candy is made simply from sugar and baking soda, melted and shaped with a metal mold. It has a brittle, airy crunch and a slightly burnt caramel flavor that kids and adults alike enjoy. In Korean street stalls, vendors press fun shapes into the candy—stars, umbrellas, hearts—and challenge customers to extract the shape without breaking it.
In 2025, dalgona has moved beyond its humble street food origins. Cafés now use crushed dalgona candy as a topping for lattes, milk teas, cakes, and even ice cream. Some even serve dalgona brûlée tarts and dalgona-flavored parfaits. It’s a simple candy with endless possibilities.
7. Hwachae (Korean fruit punch)
Hwachae is Korea’s version of fruit punch, traditionally served during the summer to cool off. The most iconic version is “subak hwachae,” made with watermelon, melon balls, and other fruits floating in a lightly sweetened, chilled punch. What makes hwachae special is its light, floral base, often made with honey water, milk, or even rice punch.
In 2025, you’ll find hwachae getting a fashionable upgrade in Seoul’s dessert cafés. Some shops offer rose petal hwachae with edible flowers, while others incorporate sparkling water, flavored ice cubes, or boba pearls for added texture. It’s a refreshing, low-calorie option that blends well with Korea’s health-forward dessert trends.
Hwachae’s appeal lies in its natural sweetness and visual presentation. Served in glass bowls or jars, it’s as photogenic as it is delicious.
8. Korean-Style Cheesecake (Light, fluffy, and addictive)
If you’ve tried New York-style cheesecake, expect something quite different from the Korean version. Korean-style cheesecake is a soft, jiggly, and airy dessert that practically melts on your tongue. Often referred to as “soufflé cheesecake,” it’s less sweet, lower in fat, and has a texture closer to sponge cake than dense cream cheese pie.
In recent years, Korean bakeries have been experimenting with flavors like matcha, black sesame, and yuzu. Some even serve individual mini cheesecakes in cute packaging, perfect for takeout or gifting. If you’re looking for something sweet but not too heavy, this cake is your best bet.
You’ll likely find it in upscale bakeries, department store food courts, and specialty coffee shops across Korea. It pairs perfectly with a warm cup of green tea or a latte.
9. Melona and Korean Ice Cream Bars (the coolest treats in the freezer)
Walk into any convenience store in Korea, and you’ll be greeted by a colorful freezer full of uniquely flavored ice cream bars. Among them, the green Melona bar remains a national favorite. This creamy melon-flavored popsicle has become an icon of Korean summer snacks.
But Melona is just the beginning. In 2025, you’ll discover a new generation of Korean ice cream bars with flavors like taro, sweet corn, red bean, and milk soda. Some are inspired by popular drinks, like banana milk or honey butter chips. Others take cues from international desserts and package them in bar form.
These ice creams are affordable, nostalgic, and ridiculously satisfying. It’s the kind of snack you’ll want to keep stocked in your freezer back home.
10. Korean Donuts (Kkwabaegi) (twisted, sugary, and soft)
Last but certainly not least, Korean-style donuts—or kkwabaegi—deserve a spotlight in 2025. These twisted, yeasted donuts are coated in cinnamon sugar and fried to golden perfection. Soft and slightly chewy, they’re often compared to a cross between a churro and a brioche donut.
What sets kkwabaegi apart is the care put into their texture and flavor. They’re never overly greasy or too sweet. You can find them in traditional street markets or modern bakeries that elevate the recipe with fillings like custard, sweet cream, or chocolate.
In Seoul, bakeries like Old Ferry Donut have turned kkwabaegi into a cultural sensation, serving them with unique glazes, toppings, and playful fillings. It’s proof that this old-school treat is getting a very trendy glow-up.
Bottom Line
Korean desserts are much more than just a sweet ending to a meal—they’re a reflection of Korea’s rich culture, creativity, and evolving food scene. In 2025, expect to see even more exciting innovations, fusion trends, and beautifully crafted sweets across the country.
Whether you’re strolling through a night market in Seoul, sitting in a modern dessert café, or browsing the snack aisle of a Korean convenience store, these ten desserts will give you a taste of the past, present, and future of Korean cuisine. So go ahead, indulge your sweet tooth and make dessert the highlight of your Korean food journey this year.
