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Make the best Korean Squid Game Dalgona candy recipe in just 5 minutes with tips, and tricks, and step-by-step instructions with pictures for making the best homemade Dalgona honeycomb candy.

This popular Korean Squid Game Dalgona sugar candy is also known as “Honeycomb Candy, “Sponge Toffee”, “Ppopji” or “Dalgona” is unbelievably easy to make and only requires 2 ingredients, sugar, and baking soda. It’s similar to American sponge toffee, hokey pokey candy, and seafoam candy but flat in appearance.

Dalgona Candy (Korean Honeycomb Candy) is a light and airy round crisp sugar-based toffee candy shaped like a cookie with an embedded pattern (shape) in the center.

This nostalgic Korean street candy has become a hit online since its debut on Squid Game episode 3 “The Man with the Umbrella”, where the contestants are challenged to play the Korean honeycomb game where they have to desperately pick and carve out the Dalgona cookie shape from the center of the honeycomb candy without breaking it or they risk being eliminated, and if you’ve watched this series, you know what I mean by being eliminated.

So, are you up to the Squid Game honeycomb cookie challenge? Then Gather your friends and family to make this easy DIY traditional Dalgona (Ppopji) Korean sugar candy in just 5 minutes and with only sugar and baking soda.

What Is Honeycomb Dalgona Candy?

Honeycomb Dalgona candy is a sugar-based toffee-style brittle candy with a light aerated texture resembling a sponge or honeycomb. This nostalgic old-fashioned candy resonates with many South Korean people where they recall their parents buying honeycomb candy from street vendors. If they were able to pick out the indented shape from the center of these sugar cookies they were rewarded with a gift from the vendor. The most popular shapes for this old-fashioned honeycomb candy are an umbrella, triangle, circle, and star.

How To Play Korean Honeycomb Game?

This South Korean honeycomb game is played in the “Squid Game Series” it’s traditionally called Ppopj which means “to pick”. Ppopji was a popular game of the past times during the 1960s in Korea. To play the game is straightforward, you have to try to pick out the center shape without breaking it. You can break off the surrounding pieces as long as they break the center one.

Do You Need Special Tools To Make Honecomb Dalgona Candy?

No special tools or equipment are needed to make this honeycomb dalgona candy. Although you can buy a complete kit online to make this sponge candy, it’s not required. I used what a had available in my kitchen, a small saucepot, cookie cutters, lid from my cuttie cutter to press the dalgona candy and kebab sticks and spatula because I didn’t chopsticks. Below is a breakdown of what you need to make the best Squid Game Dalgona Candy.

• Stainless Ladle – If you don’t have a ladle you can use a small pot or small non-stick skillet.
• Parchement Paper – Cut the parchmment paper into 6 inch squares.
• Hoteok Press – You can use anything round and flat to press the Dalgona candy if you don’t have a hoteok press.
• Honeycomb Candy Cutters/Stamp – Use in place any shaped cookie cutters that is small than the diameter of the dalgona sugar cookie.
• Chopstixs – If you have chopsticks that’s great otherwice use a heat proof spatula or small wooden spoon.
• Lollipop sticks – If you want to make Dalgona lollipops then have some sticks on hand.
• Gas Stove/Electric Stove – If your using a ladle then use a gas stove. To make this dalgona candy recipe using an electric stove you’ll need to use a pot or skillet, follow the same step-by-step instructions.

Good To Know Tips And Tricks To Make Dalgona Candy

I learned the hard way to make this Dalgona candy and failed miserably about 3 times before I got it right. Here are my tips and tricks to make your Squid Game Dalgona candy-making a success.

• Meson Plus – Preparation is key to make Dalgona Candy, even though you might be thinking that it just melting sugar. Make sure to have all your tools and equipment in close by to you.
• Patience – This is a key ingredient, be patient, the sugar might seem to take a bit longer at the begining to melt but keep a close eye on it and don’t plink because once it begins to melt, it quickly caramlizes and can burn within a few seconds.
• Cooking/Melting – The stovetop heat setting is very important during sugar cooking process, keep your burner set to miedium low temperature at all times.
• Parchment Paper – Spray the parchment paper with cooking oil spray, this will prevent any stickness from the sugar candy as your pressing it and intenting it with the cookie cookie cutter.
• Perfect Round Shape – After a few attempts of pressing this honeycomb candy which turned out misshaped, I decided to use a 3 inch silicone round mold that I had laying around. It worked wonders and make my Dalgona candy perfect round. The trick is to spray this mold with some cooking spray for a stress free release.
• More Than One Batch – If your planing to make a bunch of these Dalgona candies, I recommend you work with small single batches until you’ve mastered sugar candy making. Make sure to run the ladle/pot and chopsticks/spatula with hot water after each batch and wipe dry. If there is any caramelized sugar on the cookie cutters or press ensure to clean them aswell.

Ingredients To Make 3 1/2 Inch Dalgona Candy

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1/8 teaspoon teaspoon baking soda (1-2 pinches)

How To Make Dalgona Candy?

To make the Dalgona Candy, follow these step-by-step instructions with tips and pictures for the best candy making experience resulting in the best dalgona candy.

Instructions:

Step 1 – Have all your ingredients and tools ready.

Step 2 – Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the ladle, small pot, or skillet.

Step 3 – On medium-low heat, place the ladle, small pot, or skillet onto the heat. When the sugar begins to melt, stir continuously with chopsticks or spatula in a circular motion.

Step 4 – If you notice the sugar melting too fast or browning, lift the ladle or pot up a few inches away from the burner for two or three seconds, then place back on the heat. You might have to repeat this process a few times until the sugar is completely melted. Doing this will help to control the sugar temperature and prevent it from burning.

Step 5 – Once the sugar has completely melted, about 4 minutes, and is amber in color, remove from the heat and add a pinch of baking soda. The baking soda will react immediately with the melted sugar and foam upward, stir vigorously until the color is lighter (light caramel color) and the mixture is well combined for about 5 seconds.

Step 6 – Carefully pour the honeycomb mixture onto a greased parchment paper using a spatula, if you want to make Dalgona lollipops then insert the stick about 1/2 inch from the bottom edge. Place another piece of greased parchment on top and gently press towards and release.

Step 7 – Wait about 15 seconds, then remove the top parchment and using a cookie cutter, press with little force making the indentation in the center of the candy about halfway into it and remove.

Allow the Dalgona candy to set (a few seconds)

Enjoy!

Dalgona Candy Microwave Recipe

To make dalgona candy using a microwave is slightly different than using a gas stove or electric stovetop but don’t worry it’s also super easy and quick to do and takes only 2 minutes. One of the main differences in making Dalgona candy using a microwave is that you will need to add some water to the sugar during the microwaving/cooking process. Below are the ingredients and steps for microwave dalgona candy.

Ingredients For Microwave Dalgona Candy

• 1 1/2 Tablespoons water
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon teaspoon baking soda (1-2 pinches)

How To Make Dalgona Candy With Microwave?

1. Add water first then the sugar and water into a microwave-safe bowl or cup. Don not stir.
2. Microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds, you might need to adjust this timing by a few seconds.
3. Carefully remove the bowl and add the baking soda and mix.
4. Follow steps through 7-9 using the traditional method.

Easy Squid Game Dalgona Candy (5min To Make)

This popular Korean Squid Game Dalgona sugar candy is known as “Honeycomb Candy, “Sponge Toffee”, “Ppopji” or “Dalgona” and is unbelievably easy to make and only requires 2 ingredients, sugar, and baking soda. It’s similar to American sponge toffee, hokey pokey candy, and seafoam candy but flat in appearance.

5 from 16 votes

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Prep Time 1 minute min

Cook Time 4 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Candy, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Korea, South Korean

Servings 1 candy

Calories 70 kcal

Equipment

• Stainless Ladle – If you don’t have a ladle you can use a small pot or small non-stick skillet.
• Parchement Paper – Cut the parchmment paper into 6 inch squares.
• Hoteok Press – You can use anything round and flat to press the Dalgona candy if you don’t have a hoteok press.
• Honeycomb Candy Cutters/Stamp – Use in place any shaped cookie cutters that is small than the diameter of the dalgona sugar cookie.
• Chopstixs – If you have chopsticks that’s great otherwice use a heat proof spatula or small wooden spoon.
• Lollipop sticks – If you want to make Dalgona lollipops then have some sticks on hand.

Ingredients

  

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar or brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon teaspoon baking soda 1-2 pinches

Instructions

 

• Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the ladle, small pot or skillet.
• On medium low heat, place the ladle, small pot or skillet onto the heat.
• When the sugar behins to melt, stir continuously with chopsticks or spatula in a circular motion.
• If you the notice the sugar melting to fast or browning, lift the ladle or pot up a few inches away from the burner for a two or three seconds, then place back on the heat. You might have to repeat this process a few times until the sugar is completely melted. Doing this will help to control the sugar temperature and prevent it from burning.
• Once the sugar has completely melted, about 4 minutes, and is amber in color, remove from the heat and add a pinch of baking soda.
• The baking soda will react immediately with the melted sugar and foam upward, stir vigorously until the color is lighter (light caramel color) and mixture is well combined, about 5 seconds.
• Carefully pour the honeycomb mixture onto a greased parchment paper using a spatula, if you want to make Dalgona lollipops then insert the stick about 1/2 from the bottom edge. Place another piece of greased parchment on top and gently press towards and release.
• Wait about 15 seconds, then remove the top parchment and using a cookie cutter, press with little force making the indentation in the center of the candy about half way into it and remove.
• Allow the Dalgona candy to set (a few seconds)
• Enjoy!

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