Butter rice cakes / Courtesy of Jaja Bakes
Although some sources identify it with a dessert from Shanghai, the chewy treat is more similar to Hawaiian butter mochi and Filipino bibingka. It recently gained widespread attention on social media and is now becoming popular among younger consumers in Korea.
As the trend spreads across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, many local bakeries are introducing their own unique twists on the dessert.
Butter rice cakes are made using basic baking ingredients such as eggs, sugar and butter. Recipes vary slightly, with some adding tapioca starch to enhance the chewiness. However, glutinous rice flour — the key ingredient — is what gives the dessert its signature chewy texture.
Butter rice cakes trending on TikTok / Captured from TikTok
Although the shapes and sizes differ from shop to shop, the defining characteristic remains the same: a crispy exterior paired with a chewy interior. What makes this dessert especially distinctive is the butter, which balances the mild flavor of the rice cake with a rich but subtle savory note.
Small cafes in trendy neighborhoods like Seongsu and Hongdae are now selling the viral butter rice cakes. If you are curious about the trend, it may be worth trying one before the lines grow longer.
Kim Sur-hyun is a Korea Times intern.
Source: Korea Times News
