The next Dubai chewy cookie? Butter rice cakes go viral
Butter rice cakes / Courtesy of Jaja Bakes
By Kim Sur-hyun
Butter rice cakes, also known as butter mochi and butter tteok, are emerging as the next trending dessert following the Dubai chewy cookie, with long lines already forming at bakeries across Korea.
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.
Like the Dubai chewy cookie, butter rice cakes are known for delivering a unique texture in a single bite. However, viral food trends in Korea — from butter rice cakes to frozen gummies — also reflect the country’s fast-paced trend culture, where viral snacks quickly rise in popularity and fade just as quickly.
Unlike Dubai chewy cookies, these little sweets are usually more affordable. An individual butter rice cake ranges from 2,000 won ($1.30) to 3,000 won.
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.