Tillie Doyle
Dalgona candy, also known as ppogi, is a popular Korean treat that rose to fame in the 1970s and 80s. It is made with just two simple ingredients: sugar and baking soda. The candy is known for its crunchy, honeycomb-like texture and sweet taste. While it can be made in a ladle, as was traditionally done by street vendors, it can also be made in a pan. However, it is important to note that once the sugar has melted, you must work quickly as the mixture hardens fast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ingredients | 2 |
| Ingredients | Sugar (white, brown, coconut, or granulated), baking soda |
| Pan type | Metal-bottomed, heavy-bottomed, stainless steel, or nonstick |
| Pan preparation | Grease with cooking oil |
| Heat level | Low-medium |
| Stirring | Constant |
| Baking soda addition | When sugar is almost dissolved or amber-coloured |
| Baking soda amount | Small pinch or 2 pinches |
| Baking soda mixing | Vigorous |
| Frothing | Yes |
| Cooling | Yes, slightly |
| Work speed | Fast |
| Storage | Airtight container at room temperature |
| Storage duration | Up to a week |
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What You'll Learn
Dalgona candy only requires two ingredients
Dalgona candy, also known as Ppopgi, is a Korean sweet treat that gained international popularity due to its appearance in the Netflix series Squid Game. This crunchy, honeycomb-like candy is simple to make with just two ingredients: sugar and baking soda.
To make dalgona candy, you will need a heavy-bottomed pan, preferably metal, or a large metal ladle. You can use white granulated sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar, depending on your preference. Over a low to medium heat, add your chosen sugar and wait for a few seconds until the edges begin to melt. It is important to keep the heat low to medium and stir constantly to prevent the sugar from burning. Once the edges start melting, lower the heat and continue to stir until the sugar caramelizes and becomes a liquid. At this point, you can add a very small pinch of baking soda and stir vigorously. The mixture will become frothy and change to a lighter colour as the baking soda dissolves.
Work quickly as the mixture will start to harden. Pour the mixture onto a prepared surface, such as a sheet of parchment paper, and use a cookie cutter to create your desired shape. You can also use any flat metal surface to flatten the candy, such as a metal bench scraper or a small baking pan. If you want to create lollipops, you can pour the mixture into greased lollipop moulds and insert the sticks before it hardens.
Once you have formed your desired shape, set it aside and let it cool undisturbed for a few minutes. Your dalgona candy is now ready to be enjoyed! You can eat it plain or crumble it over ice cream. Store any leftover candy in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
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Use a metal-bottomed pan or large metal ladle
To make dalgona candy, you will need a pan or ladle made of metal. A heavy-bottomed pan, such as an iron tadka pan, is ideal. You can also use a stainless steel pan. Avoid using a non-stick pan, as the hardened candy may ruin the coating when you try to clean it.
Over a low to medium heat, add your sugar to the pan or ladle. You can use white granulated sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar. Wait a few seconds until the edges of the sugar begin to melt. It is important to keep the heat low to medium to prevent the sugar from burning. Stir the sugar continuously as it melts.
Once the sugar has melted and become a liquid, you can add a pinch of baking soda and stir vigorously. The mixture will become frothy and change to a lighter colour. You can also add a few chopped peanuts to complement the flavour of the baking soda.
Now you can start to shape your dalgona candy. You can use a cookie cutter or a metal bench scraper to form your desired shape. You can also use a potato ricer or the back of a fork. Be creative! The candy will harden quickly, so you must work fast.
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Keep the heat low-medium and stir constantly
To make Dalgona candy, you need to combine hot sugar and baking soda over heat and then let it cool to form a crispy candy. The key to melting the sugar without burning it is to keep the heat low-medium, be patient, and stir constantly.
Firstly, add sugar to a metal-bottomed pan or large metal ladle over low-medium heat. Wait for a few seconds until the edges of the sugar begin to melt. Once the edges start melting, lower the heat and stir. It is important to keep the heat low-medium and stir constantly so that the sugar does not burn. Allow the sugars to caramelize and become liquid. Stir continuously until the sugar has become an amber-coloured liquid.
Once the sugar has melted and caramelized, remove the heat source and allow it to cool slightly. Make sure to keep stirring constantly so that the sugar does not harden. Next, add a very small pinch of baking soda and continue stirring immediately and vigorously. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes frothy, a lighter colour, and the baking soda has fully dissolved.
The candy cools and hardens very quickly, so it is important to work fast and keep stirring constantly. You can use a metal spoon to continuously stir the mixture. Once the mixture is ready, you can spoon it out onto a prepared piece of parchment paper.
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Work quickly once the sugar has melted
Once the sugar has melted, you need to work quickly as the mixture will start hardening up fast. Before you begin melting the sugar, prep your equipment and workspace. Place parchment paper on a flat, sturdy surface or a sheet pan. Generously grease the bottom of a measuring cup or bowl with coconut oil and set it aside. Have your cookie cutters at hand so they are easily reachable.
Once the sugar has melted, work quickly for the next three steps. First, turn off the heat. Then, add a very small pinch of baking soda and stir vigorously and continuously until the mixture becomes frothy, a lighter colour, and the baking soda has fully dissolved. You can bring the ladle closer to the heat for a second or two to keep it warm, but don't let it puff up for too long as it will burn at the bottom.
Finally, immediately spoon out 1/3 of the mixture onto the prepared piece of parchment paper, using two spoons to scrape the sticky melted sugar from one another. Flatten it into a circle with the bottom of the greased bowl, then quickly use a cookie cutter to stamp an outline in the centre without going all the way through. If you don't let the dalgona candy rest for a couple of seconds before pressing the cookie cutter in, it will get stuck.
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Clean the pan by pouring cool water into it
Dalgona candy, as seen in the Netflix series *Squid Game,* is a Korean sweet treat made with just two ingredients: sugar and baking soda. It is simple to make, but can be tricky to master. The sugar is heated and melted in a pan, then cooled and hardened into a crunchy, honeycomb-like candy.
To clean the pan after making Dalgona candy, first scrape out any excess with a spatula or wipe it out with a paper towel. Then, deglaze the pan by adding some hot water. It is easier to clean a pan while it is still hot, but always let it cool down before fully submerging it in cool water. The sudden change in temperature can cause the pan to warp.
To remove tough, burnt-on stains, cover the affected area with two to three tablespoons of baking soda, add some water, and scrub with a scrunched-up ball of aluminium foil or a scouring pad. For very stubborn stains, add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the water before boiling, or use lemon juice to rub the inside of the pan after boiling.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need sugar (white granulated, brown, or coconut sugar), a pan (preferably metal-bottomed or heavy-bottomed), and baking soda. You will also need parchment paper, a cookie cutter, and a small amount of cooking oil.
Heat the sugar in the pan over medium heat. Continuously stir with a metal spoon until the sugar starts to melt and become liquified. Turn off the heat and quickly stir in the baking soda. The mixture will become frothy and change to a light caramel colour. Spoon the mixture onto the parchment paper and use a cookie cutter to form your desired shape.
To clean the pan, simply pour cool water into it and let the sugar melt for a few minutes. Then, scrub the pan well and wash it. Alternatively, you can run the pan under hot water until the candy melts off.
