Hotteok Recipe (Sweet Korean Pancakes)

Name: Hotteok Recipe (Sweet Korean Pancakes)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups flour; 1/2 cup rice flour; 1 packet yeast; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup milk (warmed); 1 tablespoon butter (melted); 4 tablespoons cooking oil ((for frying)); 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; 3 tablespoons walnuts (chopped (substitute pecans))

By Danielle on April 10, 2021, Updated February 3, 2023 71 Comments

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These Hotteok (Sweet Korean Pancakes) are a popular Korean street food made with a super simple yeast dough and filled with an amazing melt-in-your mouth mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts.

sweet korean pancakes on parchment paper with spoon and walnuts

These sweet Korean pancakes, or Hotteok, are not pancakes in the "want to drizzle syrup and butter all over them and eat them for breakfast" sense.

No, they are a very popular street food in Korea, commonly served during the cold winter months. Lightly browned on the outside with a gooey, melt in you mouth filling, these are the perfect treat to warm you up on a cold winter day (kinda like these Apple Puff Pastries or this warm Apple Crisp...yummmmm)

Me, I'll eat them any time. I don't care if its 120 degrees outside. I want these Hotteok.

Gooey, melted brown sugar and crushed nuts, delicious, chewy dough....that's what life is all about.

What are Hotteok?

Hotteok (or sweet Korean pancakes) are a very popular Korean street food (like this tteokbokki). Pockets of dough typically stuffed with a mixture of brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon, they are delicious and ultra popular during winter.

Pan fried or deep fried to be slightly crisp on the outside and wonderfully gooey and melty on the inside, they really are the ultimate snack!

While typically sweet, they can also be made with vegetables, meats, or other savory items. I've included some options further down in the post.

Ingredients

Rice Flour is used to give the hotteok a slightly chewy texture. Buy rice flour (affiliate link).

Walnuts are used as part of the filling in this recipe, but you can also substitute with chopped pecans which are equally (and some may say better) good. Buy walnuts (affiliate link).

The recipe also calls for brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

The full list of ingredients in found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step By Step Instructions

Start by combining the dry ingredients in a large bowl and mixing together.

The add the warm milk and butter and stir until a dough forms.

Cover and let sit in a warm place to rise for 1-2 hours.

how to make dough for sweet korean pancakes step by step instructions

In the meantime, mix the walnuts (or whatever nuts you choose), brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together in a bowl and set aside.

Once your dough has risen (it should be about double the size), flatten it and separate into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 3-4 inch circle.

Place 1 tablespoon of the filling in each dough circle and fold the dough up around the filling (see photos below).

Flatten the filled dough ball into a 3 inch pancake, being careful that none of the filling comes through.

step by step photos on how to stuff hotteok (sweet korean pancakes)

Heat 4 tablespoons of cooking oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the pancakes and brown on both sides (about 30 seconds to 1 minute per side).

stuffed dough rounds (hotteok) being browned in a skillet

Add 1 tablespoon of water to the pan and cover with a lid. The steam and heat will help the filling melt fully.

Serve these suckers warm while the insides are still nice and gooey.

brown sugar and walnut filling in fried dough

Variations for Hotteok

Fill them with sweet red bean paste;
Fill them with Nutella or chocolate chips;
Replace the filling with peanut butter, peanut butter chips, or a mixture of chocolate and peanut butter;
Fill them with fruit, jam or caramel;
Make them savory by filling them with cheese, pepperoni, ham, roasted meats, curry, etc. etc. etc. The possibilities are endless!

Expert Tips

- Instant yeast should be used to allow the dough to rise quickly;

- The dough should almost double in size after rising;

- The dough should be just slightly sticky. Add additional flour if needed to form it into balls.

- Lightly oil your hands when stuffing the dough - it will help prevent it from sticking;

- Make sure all the edges are fully sealed before frying. Otherwise, the filling will ooze out.

- Hotteok are best served fresh and warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hotteok taste like?

Hotteok tastes like a pocket of slightly chewy, bready dough filled with gooey melted brown sugar and nuts. It's almost kind of like a cinnamon roll with crispy outsides.

Can you eat Hotteok cold?

I don't recommend it. They are best served hot so the sugar is warm and gooey and the dough is warm and chewy. However, technically it can be eaten cold, I just don't find it to be very appetizing that way.

Can you make Hotteok in advance?

You can make them in advance and store them in the fridge until ready for serving (up to 3 days). Reheat in a 350 degree oven until hot, about 10 minutes.

Can Hotteok be frozen?

Yes! Wrap the Hotteok in plastic wrap then store in a freezer safe bag for up to 3 months. Reheat it in a 350 degree oven until warmed through, about 10 -15 minutes.

How do you heat up Hotteok?

You can either reheat it in a little bit of oil on the stovetop, or just heat it in the microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through.

More Favorite Korean Recipes

Browse ALL the Korean Recipes!

Did you make this Hotteok recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how they turned out!

This recipe was originally posted in May 2018. It has been updated for content and photos.