South Korean Dalgona Honeycomb Toffee Candy (2-Ingredients + Vegan)

Name: South Korean Dalgona Honeycomb Toffee Candy (2-Ingredients + Vegan)
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Dalgona Candy
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar; Pinch (1/16 teaspoon) baking soda

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Sweet Simple Toffee Treats

This vegan dalgona candy recipe is another instalment in my Instagram series 'vegan treats from around the world' and although they only contain 2 ingredients, they taste absolutely amazing.

Popularised by the Netflix series 'Squid Game' these dalgonas, or Ppopgi in Korean, taste like vegan honeycomb toffee and make a great comfort treat.

You might also love my vegan chocolate orange macadamia nut clusters which only contain a few ingredients.

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Important Ingredients Overview & Notes

A photo showing the two ingredients that you will need to make vegan dalgona candy.

Granulated sugar - you can also use brown sugar if you prefer for this recipe. Totally your choice.

Baking soda - This creates a chemical reaction when mixed into the sugar. When it sets it becomes 'toffee' like.

A single Dalgona being held up to the camera on a green popsicle stick. It is golden brown.

How To Make Dalgona Candy

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

For the full method and ingredient amounts, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

An extra large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

1: Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.

Sugar inside a large ladle being heated on the stove.

2: Add some sugar to a ladle. Place over the heat.

3: Melt the sugar.

Baking powder has been added to the melted sugar. It has become a lighter brown and frothy.

4: Add some baking soda to create a frothy mixture.

The frothy mixture being poured onto the baking sheet.

5: Pour the mixture onto the lined baking tray.

A lollipop stick has been pressed into the mixture before it sets.

6: Press a lollipop stick into the toffee before it sets.

The mixture has been pressed with a Hotteok press to flatten the dalgona.

7: As soon as you press the lollipop stick into the toffee, flatten it with a hotteok press.

A star has been pressed into the vegan dalgona candy as it sets.

8: Immediately after flattening, press a shape into the centre, creating an indentation (before it gets too soft).

Expert Tips & Tricks

Work Quickly & Get Your Timings Right

This recipe requires you to work quickly. As soon as you have combined the baking soda and the sugar, the mixture will become foamy. When you see this reaction taking place, immediately pour the mixture onto the baking sheet and press in your lollipop (popsicle) stick. It will set VERY fast.

After that, also press the dalgona down before it sets and press the shape into the centre. Make sure that you have all your tools and equipment at hand so that you can be successul with your timings.

What Is Dalgona Candy (Ppopgi)?

Dalgona candy is a treat that is popular in South Korea and especially with children, made by mixing sugar with baking soda which creates a frothy mixture that sets into toffee.

The texture of it has many similarities to honeycomb toffee which isn't vegan.

Important Equipment & Tools For This Recipe

The most important pieces of equipment that you will need to make this vegan dalgona candy are as follows:

Metal/wooden chopsticks or skewers (for stirring the sugar).

Stainless steel ladle.

Cookie cutter.

Hotteok press (for flattening the dalgona).

Lollipop (popsicle) sticks.

Variations & Substitutions

Use brown sugar. For this recipe, you can use granulated sugar and brown sugar interchangeably. There may be slight differences in outcome but they are hardly noticeable. I always opt for granulated sugar.

A dalgona laying on a piece of parchment paper.

Cleaning Hardened Toffee

The Dalgona candy mixture is very sticky and will set very quickly, seemingly making things difficult to clean afterwards.

Don't worry, it's really easy. Just run it under warm water and will eventually peel off things.

Take On The Dalgona Challenge

In South Korea, children compete in a game to save the shape in the centre of their dalgona candy. They have to patiently eat around the shape carefully, which is quite challenging.

Some people prefer to use tools such as pins to complete the challenge in a more intricate fashion. Children may be rewarded with a prize or even another dalgona if they are successful in breaking away the outer pieces of the candy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I double or triple this recipe?

You can. However I highly recommend that you make these one at a time. This is because this recipe requires you to work fast. For example, you may not have enough time to flatten multiple dalgonas before they harden.

Can I use a different kind of sugar?

Brown sugar can also be used for these treats.

What does Dalgona Ppopgi taste like?

It resembles crispy toffee. Is it basically hardened, caramelised sugar.

Storage Tips

Store this vegan dalgona candy inside an airtight container for up to 2 months inside the freezer or for 3 days inside the fridge.

Another golden vegan dalgona candy being shown close up to the camera. It has a star imprint in the centre.

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