When my sister and I first moved to Korea as kids, one of our favorite discoveries was the street food hotteok, 호떡, a sweet griddled pancake stuffed with brown sugar and cinnamon. Up until then, we had lived in a suburban town in Southern California and had only experienced “street fare” at the annual county fair. It was a revelation to move to a big city where the majority of people took public transportation, and street food vendors could be found on every other pedestrian sidewalk. But before we were old enough to really get to know the street food scene, we learned about hotteok through a vendor in our neighborhood.
…dessert
Korean Sweet Rice Dessert, Yaksik
It may come as a surprise, but my favorite type of dessert is the Korean rice cake. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like a thick slice of chocolate cake, and I’m a sucker for shortbread cookies, but if rice cakes are on the table, that’s what I’m going for (first).
Like so many other Koreans, ddeok or rice cakes were a big part of my childhood, which is probably why I love them so much. We had them for breakfast, as a snack, in savory dishes, for dessert, and during any major holiday or celebration. There are so many varieties to choose from, but this version, yaksik or Korean sweet rice dessert, is one of my all-time favorites.
…Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Merry Christmas!!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful time with a home baked holiday treat or two! I’ll be baking these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies today. If you’re looking for an easy, sorta guilt-free (ok maybe just the rolled oats part) cookie to make, this is your guy. They are soft, chocolate gooey, with a good nutty bite!
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Matcha Shortbread with Pistachios & Cranberries
If I had to choose just one type of cookie to eat for the rest of my life, it would be the shortbread cookie. I know! It’s so granny of me, but I love the buttery flavor and sandy texture. No matter how many I eat (even the plain ones!), I never get sick of them. Plus, there are so many different ways to dress them up and make them seasonal or holiday friendly. For my holiday tin this year I made a matcha version with pistachios & cranberries. These matcha cookies are nutty and crisp with the slightest hint of green tea.
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Chocolate Biscotti with Almonds
Biscotti has never been a memorable or crave-worthy cookie to me, until I made these chocolate biscotti with almonds. They hands down rocked my holiday treat playlist this year. The cocoa tinged cookies just meld into the milky flavors of the white chocolate chips and finish on a nutty crisp note. They are not too sweet, just the right amount of chocolatey goodness, and can be eaten as a semi-indulgent breakfast (hey! sugary cereal is no different than cookies for breakfast) or as a night cap before bedtime. Perfection.
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