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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Dalgona Candy Recipe (Ppopgi)

    Published: Oct 7, 2021 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This dalgona candy recipe is just like the one from the popular Netflix series, Squid Game! This Korean sweet treat is a crunchy, honeycomb-like candy that's made with just 2 ingredients!

    three dalgona candies on a wire rack with a broken piece in a bowl.

    Korean dalgona candy, also commonly referred to as ppopgi, has become increasingly popular due to the show, Squid Game. In this show, contestants have to play a children's game using the dalgona candy.

    However, this is a real game played in Korean cities. Young children use a needle or toothpick in an attempt to remove the shape from the candy (ppopgi means "to pick"). Successful children often get rewarded with a free second dalgona candy! In the Netflix show, this game is a matter of life or death.

    Dalgona candy is very simple to make, with just 2 ingredients. Combining hot sugar and baking soda over heat and then cooled into a crispy candy. Despite its simplicity, it can be a bit tricky to master.

    Aside from just eating it plain, you can crumble it up and serve it over Vegan Ice Cream!

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Test your Squid Game skills at home - Could you survive in the Squid Game? Make this recipe in your own kitchen and try ppopgi out!
    • Simple Sweet Treat - Once you get the hang of it, this candy is so easy to whip up and you almost always have the ingredients!
    • Great for Children - Its a sugary candy AND a fun game all in one!

    What you need for this recipe

    Ingredients:

    ingredients with labels.
    • White Sugar - I believe this will work with other types of sugars, but I have not tested it. I don't recommend trying sugar alternatives.
    • Baking Soda - Baking powder will not work as a substitute.

    Equipment:

    • Large metal ladle OR small metal-bottomed pot
    • Chopsticks or wooden spoon or rubber spatula
    • Cookie Cutter

    How to make this recipe

    Step 1: Cook Candy

    Over a low-medium heat in a metal-bottomed pan OR large metal ladle, add sugar and wait for a few seconds until the edges begin to melt.

    Once the edges start melting, lower the heat and stir.

    • white sugar in a pan.
    • sugar beginning to clump in pan.
    • melted sugar that is amber in a pan.

    Allow sugars to caramelize and become liquid. Stir continuously.

    Once the sugar has become an amber-colored liquid, remove the heat source and allow to cool slightly.

    Next, add a very small pinch of baking soda and stir immediately and vigorously until the mixture becomes frothy, a lighter color, and the baking soda has fully dissolved.

    • baking soda mixing into melted sugar.
    • baking soda mixing into melted sugar.
    • baking soda mixed into melted sugar.

    Step 2: Press

    Slowly pour the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper, a silicone mat, or a flat surface with cooking spray.

    Quickly use a flat metal surface (spatula, the bottom of a pan, a measuring cup, etc.) to press the dalgona until it is about ¼ inch in thickness. Start by gently tapping to make sure it is not sticking to the flat surface.

    dalgona being pressed down.

    Step 3: Add Shapes

    Before the candy cools completely, use a small cookie cutter to imprint a shape into the center of the candy.

    (In the show, Squid Game, the shapes are stars, umbrellas, triangles, or circles.)

    a heart-shaped cookie cutter imprinting the dalgona.

    Be sure to press just firmly enough to leave an imprint, but not to go all the way through.

    Allow the candy to cool, then remove from its surface and enjoy!

    hand holding dalgona with heart shapes inside.

    Expert Tips & Tricks

    • Any flat metal surface will work for flattening the dalgona candy. I found that the "pushing" part of a handheld potato ricer, with the pieces removed, worked perfectly and formed the exact size circle I was looking for. A metal bench scraper or small baking pan are other great alternatives!
    • Be very careful when melting the sugar as it can burn very easily. The key to melting the sugar without burning is to keep the heat low-medium, be patient, and stir constantly.
    • Don’t have any cookie cutters or shapes small enough for the candies? Get creative or omit them entirely! Do you have a funky shaped, clean, and cheap piece of jewelry? You could even use a clean key or the back of a fork. Also, omitting the fun shape entirely is fine too! It adds nothing to the flavor, so don't worry too much if you can't find anything!
    • The candy cools and hardens very quickly, so don't take too long between pressing and imprinting.
    • I do not recommend using a nonstick pan. Although I think a nonstick pan will work well, when the leftover candy hardens and cools, you may ruin the nonstick coating trying to clean it.

    Recipe FAQs

    What does Dalgona mean in Korean?

    The literal translation of dalgona in Korean means "it's sweet." However, it is most often translated as "honeycomb toffee."

    What is Dalgona from squid game?

    Dalgona, which means honeycomb toffee in Korean, is a crunchy and sweet candy made out of sugar and baking soda. It is popular for children in Korean cities to play ppopgi, which is the game played in the show Squid Game.

    What is the difference between Ppopgi and Dalgona?

    When this sweet treat came into popularity in Korea in the 1960's, there was a difference between ppopgi and dalgona candy. Ppopgi was made from white sugar (which was more expensive), while dalgona was made from glucose solids. Today, the ppopgi and dalgona are used interchangeably and white sugar is most commonly used.

    Related Recipes

    • Chai Cookies (Vegan Option)
    • Bourbon Mint Julep Ice Cream (Vegan)
    • Mini Vegan Apple Crisp
    • No-Churn Vegan Peach Ice Cream

    Love a recipe you've tried? Please leave a 5-star🌟 rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Don't forget to tag me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook when you try one of my recipes!

    Dalgona Candy (Ppopgi)

    This dalgona candy recipe is just like the one from the popular Netflix series, Squid Game! This Korean sweet treat is a crunchy, honeycomb-like candy that's made with just 2 ingredients!
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: Asian, Korean
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 0 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 1 person
    Calories: 73kcal
    Author: Emily

    Equipment

    • Large metal ladle OR small metal-bottomed pot
    • Chopsticks or wooden spoon
    • Cookie Cutter
    • Metal flat surface (to press the cookies) **see notes**
    • Parchment paper or silicone mat

    Ingredients

    • 1½ tablespoon White Sugar
    • 1/16 teaspoon Baking Soda very tiny pinch

    Instructions

    • Over a low-medium heat in a metal-bottomed pan OR large metal ladle, add sugar and wait for a few seconds until the edges begin to melt.
    • Once the edges start melting, lower the heat and stir.
    • Allow sugars to caramelize and become liquid. Stir continuously.
    • Once the sugar has become an amber-colored liquid, remove the heat source and allow to cool slightly.
    • Next, add a very small pinch of baking soda and stir immediately and vigorously until the mixture becomes frothy, a lighter color, and the baking soda has fully dissolved.
    • Slowly pour the mixture onto a piece of parchment paper, a silicone mat, or a flat surface with cooking spray.
    • Quickly use a flat metal surface (spatula, the bottom of a pan, a measuring cup, etc.) to press the dalgona until it is about ¼ inch in thickness. Start by gently tapping to make sure it is not sticking to the flat surface.
    • Before the candy cools completely, use a small cookie cutter to imprint a shape into the center of the candy.
    • (In the show, Squid Game, the shapes are stars, umbrellas, triangles, or circles.)
    • Be sure to press just firmly enough to leave an imprint, but not to go all the way through.
    • Allow the candy to cool, then remove from its surface and enjoy!

    Notes

    • Any flat metal surface will work for flattening the dalgona candy. I found that a handheld potato ricer, with the pieces removed, worked perfectly and formed the exact size circle I was looking for. A metal bench scraper or small baking pan are other great alternatives!
    • Be very careful when melting the sugar as it can burn very easily. The key to melting the sugar without burning is to keep the heat low-medium, be patient, and stir constantly.
    • Don’t have any cookie cutters or shapes small enough for the candies? Get creative or omit them entirely! Do you have a funky shaped, clean, and cheap piece of jewelry? You could even use a clean key or the back of a fork. Also, omitting the fun shape entirely is fine too! It adds nothing to the flavor, so don't worry too much if you can't find anything!
    • The candy cools and hardens very quickly, so don't take too long between pressing and imprinting.
    • I do not recommend using a nonstick pan. Although I think a nonstick pan will work well, when the leftover candy hardens and cools, you may ruin the nonstick coating trying to clean it.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1candy | Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 18.9g | Sodium: 1258.8mg | Potassium: 0.4mg | Sugar: 18.9g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @LegallyHealthyBlonde or tag #LegallyHealthyBlonde!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lindsay M

      October 07, 2021 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      obsessed 🤩🤩🤩

      Reply
    2. Anonymous

      October 08, 2021 at 12:21 am

      5 stars
      Delicious!

      Reply
    3. Anonymous

      October 08, 2021 at 12:22 am

      5 stars
      So good!!

      Reply
    4. Anonymous

      October 09, 2021 at 3:10 pm

      5 stars
      GREAT. THANKS.

      Reply
    5. [email protected]

      November 04, 2021 at 10:37 am

      5 stars
      I ate this candy in 1976 as a young child my dad was stationed in Taegu .I remember the man teaching me how to make it in the market place .I really appreciate you putting this on here I've made it for my children but didn't know there was a game involved I just found a new Christmas tradition that 8m sure my grand children are going to love .I'll make it once a year for Christmas it should be a fun time

      Reply
      • Emily

        November 04, 2021 at 3:32 pm

        I love hearing this, thank you so much for the comment! It's such a fun and easy treat to make!

        Reply
    6. Michael

      January 23, 2022 at 3:22 am

      5 stars
      Thank goodness for “squid games”
      Yummy 😋

      Reply

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