Viral Dalgona Toast: Quick 5-Min Korean Brown Sugar Toast

Look no further than this Dalgona Toast recipe if you’re searching for a quick, 5-minute Korean snack. This sweet and buttery toast is a must-try for fans of easy Korean treats. While it is named ‘Dalgona Toast’ because its flavor profile is deliciously reminiscent of the caramelized Korean honeycomb candy, this recipe actually uses a rich, creamy brown sugar butter filling.

Instead of making brittle honeycomb, we are creating a luscious, creamy brown sugar butter filling that caramelizes perfectly on the bread. Paired with a layer of gooey, melting cheese, this recipe delivers a perfect balance of crispy sweetness on the outside and savory richness inside. Forget complicated cooking! Your incredible Dalgona Toast will be ready in just 5 minutes.

What is Dalgona Toast? 달고나 토스트

Squid Game Dalgona

Do you remember the Dalgona challenge game from the hit series Squid Game? The candy that the protagonist, Seong Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), chose with the umbrella shape is the traditional Korean candy known as Dalgona. It is made by melting sugar and adding baking soda to make it puff up, resulting in a sweet, caramelized flavor.

No Dalgona Candy in Dalgona Toast?

Dalgona Toast actually does not contain Dalgona candy. Instead, the bread is spread with a mixture of brown sugar and butter, which is then caramelized when cooked. Because this cooking method and the resulting sweet flavor are similar to those of Dalgona candy, Koreans began calling this recipe Dalgona Toast.

Ingredients for Brown Sugar Toast

• 2 White Bread Slices: Milk bread or Shokupan is highly recommended.
• 2 Slices of Cheese: Cheddar or your favorite melting cheese.
• Dalgona Filling
  • 3 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar (or 1 Tbsp Dark Brown Sugar + 2 Tbsp White Sugar)
  • 3 Tbsp Room Temperature Butter

Ingredient Substitutions

• Sliced Sandwich Bread: In Korea, thick-sliced milk bread or Shokupan is typically used, but if this is difficult to find, you can use standard sliced white sandwich bread, as I have done here today.
• White Sugar: We use brown sugar for the appealing color and deep flavor it provides, but white sugar can be substituted if you don’t have brown sugar on hand.

Kitchen Tools

Steel Pan (Stainless Steel Skillet)

• The Secret to Perfect Caramelization: We highly recommend using a quality Stainless Steel Pan. Unlike non-stick pans, which can heat unevenly, a steel pan offers superior heat retention and distribution. This consistency is absolutely essential for slowly melting the brown sugar filling, ensuring a beautiful, golden caramel crust.
  • I use this steel pan [Link to Steel Pan on Amazon]

Spatula

Fork (for mixing)

How to Make the Best Korean Brown Sugar Toast: Step by Step

Pan-Frying Method

• Prepare the Dalgona Filling: In a small bowl, thoroughly mix the room temperature butter and brown sugar with a fork.
  • Tip: If your butter is too cold, microwave it in 5-second increments, mixing between each, until it is just soft. Do NOT let the butter melt completely! It should only be softened.
• Spread the Filling: Spread the Dalgona filling evenly onto one side of each bread slice.

• Grill the First Side: Heat your steel pan over low heat. Place one bread slice, filling-side down, onto the pan.
  • Crucial: Maintain a very low heat to prevent the sugar from burning.

• Assemble the Sandwich: Place the 2 slices of cheese on top of the bread slice that is cooking. Then, cover it with the second bread slice (filling-side facing up).

• Finish Cooking: Once the bottom side is golden brown, use the spatula to gently flip the toast. Cook the second side until it is also golden brown and the cheese is fully melted.

Pro Tips for The Best Toast

• Low Heat: Because the sugar filling is prone to burning, you must use low heat to allow the sugar to caramelize properly while ensuring the bread doesn’t burn and the cheese melts perfectly.
• Room Temperature Butter: You must use soft, room temperature butter. If your butter is cold, microwave it in 5-second increments, stirring with a fork until it is softened. The butter must absolutely not be melted! Be sure to only make it pliable.

Air Fryer Method (Alternative)

If you find pan-frying bothersome, you can also cook the toast in an air fryer. After spreading the brown sugar filling on the bread, adding the cheese, and closing the sandwich, place it in the air fryer. Cook at 170°C (340°F) for 10 minutes, then flip it and cook for another 5 minutes at 170°C (340°F). The result is a crispy and sweet Korean brown sugar toast!

The Easy Korean Home Snacks

No Oven Recipe

You may have seen the popular Honey Butter Toast recipe that went viral in Japan. That toast is typically baked in an oven to achieve a crispy exterior and a moist interior. However, most Korean households don’t own an oven. Therefore, we either use an air fryer to achieve a similar texture or pan-fry the toast, as we’re doing today. This preference reflects the practical nature of Korean home cooking.

Easily Accessible Bread

The style of this easy Korean snack is also defined by the bread. We don’t use thick brioche bread; instead, we use the thinly sliced milk bread, commonly sold in Korean bakeries and supermarkets. Using readily available, thin bread is characteristic of the simple, everyday Korean treat style.

Quick & Easy

Koreans, from students to office workers, live busy lives. For this reason, we love recipes that finish quickly. This includes our 5-Minute Korean Brown Sugar Toast!

Other Popular Korean Toast Recipes

Korean Street Toast: Gilgeori Toast

This is the OG Korean toast recipe! Don’t be sad if you can’t travel to Korea right now, as this is an incredibly easy Korean toast often made at home. Its savory flavor makes it a perfect meal replacement.

Mayak Toast

You will absolutely love this Korean Egg Mayo Toast for those days when you truly dislike cooking. You don’t need to cook the egg separately or even toast the bread! Simply place the mayo and egg mixture on the bread and finish it in the air fryer. This recipe can even be made in the microwave, so be sure to check out the full recipe!

FAQ about Dalgona Toast