Maejakgwa is a Korean traditional cookie that’s really popular. The ingredients are very simple! The combination of  3 kinds of flavors make this cookie very special: ginger, cinnamon, and the pine nuts.

The best part of this cookie is that it’s very crunchy! If all family members sit around together after dinner and taste these cookies, the sound of crunching from each member will give so much fun! You can make this large amount of cookies in 1 hour if you use your food processor, longer if you have to knead by hand.

Ingredients

Flour, kosher salt, sugar, ginger, pine nuts, water, cinnamon powder, and vegetable oil.

ginger1

Directions

  1. In a large stainless bowl, place 2 cups of all purpose flour, ½ ts kosher salt, 1 TBS sugar, 1 TBS ginger juice, and ½ cup water. Knead by hand for about 20 minutes.
    *tip: If you use a food processor, kneading takes about 2 minutes. Be sure to change the blades on your food processor to dough-making blades!.kneading
  2. Put the cookie dough in a plastic bag and set it aside at least for 30 minutes.
  3. Chop 2 TBS of pine nuts to garnish the cookies. Set aside.
  4. Take the dough out from the plastic bag and roll it out with a rolling pin, into a roughly rectangular shape (about 50 cm x 40 cm, and 2 mm – or 1/16 inch – thick).

    knead
  5. Cut the sheet of cookie dough into little 2 cm x 6 cm rectangles.

    cuttingrectangle
  6. Put the leftover dough edges into a plastic bag to protect them from drying out.
  7. Make 3 slits in the middle of each piece of dough.3-slits
  8. Push one  end of the dough through the center slit to a make ribbon shape.

    ribbon
  9. Take the leftover dough out and spread it on the cutting board with the rolling pin. Cut it into any of your favorite shapes: triangles, squares, whatever – or use a cookie cutter.cutter
  10. Heat up vegetable oil in a wok or frying pan.
  11. *tip: Put a sample of the cookie dough into the heated oil to check if it’s the right temperature. The dough should float slowly on the surface of the heated oil.



    Let’s Make syrup!

    Place ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water into a pot and bring to a boil over low heat for about 20 minutes. About half of the water should evaporate, so the syrup is nice and thick.syrup

  12. Turn the heat off and add 1 ts cinnamon powder and stir it well.
  13. Gently toss the cookies with the syrup to lightly coat them.
  14. Sprinkle the chopped pine nuts on top of the cookies.
  15. Serve it with tea.

Posted on Thursday, December 17th, 2009. Last updated on August 10, 2021.
Recipe type: , , , ,
Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave your rating:

So far this is rated 5/5 from 296 votes

Be the first to rate this.

Maangchi's Amazon picks for this recipe

It's always best to buy Korean items at your local Korean grocery store, but I know that's not always possible so I chose these products on Amazon for that are good quality. See more about how these items were chosen.

108 Comments:

  1. Voodoomems Hobart, Australia joined 5/18 & has 3 comments
    Posted August 28th, 2018 at 6:38 am | or create a profile.

    Thanks for sharing your recipes. I made these tonight with my mother and cousin, we had a lot of fun. They’re so cute and yummy.


    See full size image

  2. japvergonia The Philippines joined 3/18 & has 1 comment
    Posted March 17th, 2018 at 9:06 pm | or create a profile.

    Thank you so much for sharing all your recipes and inspiring us to cook more great Korean food in our kitchen. I wanna try this ginger cookies soon but how long will it last in normal room temperature when put in a glass jar? I think it’s a good idea to share these lovelies and give them as gift in a jar. Many thanks to you Maangchi!

  3. EllieVahid Iran joined 8/17 & has 1 comment
    Posted August 29th, 2017 at 6:02 am | or create a profile.

    Hi.had a lot of fun making them,just love Korean cooking!
    thanks for the recipe.


    See full size image

  4. Vey Indonesia joined 6/17 & has 12 comments
    Posted July 2nd, 2017 at 9:43 am | or create a profile.

    I love ginger n that’s why i love this recipe. thanx a lot Maangchi..


    See full size image

  5. RosyIvory Egypt joined 12/13 & has 1 comment
    Posted December 18th, 2013 at 2:33 pm | or create a profile.

    Hi,
    I decided to make a Korean day here at home for my family and going to include these cookies to the menu :)
    I was wondering, can I make the dough, cut and shape it a day or two ahead and fry it on time?

  6. jaylivg Houston joined 7/10 & has 107 comments
    Posted June 23rd, 2013 at 6:46 pm | or create a profile.

    I tried making this cookies today , they turned out yummy . Very crunchy too .. i had fun making them . They’re a little time consuming , but i really don’t mind making it . It’s a fun project anyway .
    Jay and Nick love the cookies , esp. my husband .. he said these cookies are too dangerous .. since he can’t stop snacking on them !!

    Thanks Maangchi !

  7. helenzella joined 8/10 & has 12 comments
    Posted March 27th, 2013 at 6:51 am | or create a profile.

    I just made this with my 7 yr old son…as a cooking activity. My son had a blast! And he loved the taste of these cookies. Thanks for the recipe, Maangchi!

  8. AnnLee Indonesia joined 9/12 & has 1 comment
    Posted September 10th, 2012 at 2:45 am | or create a profile.

    Maangchi, I’ve just read an article about “Ddong ppang”. The article said that it’s a Korean Fortune cookies and it’s very popular there. If you have the recipe, could you please share me?? I think that the cookies is very cute. Thank you so much…

  9. pini2k Chile joined 11/11 & has 2 comments
    Posted July 7th, 2012 at 12:55 pm | or create a profile.

    This is so cool. Just the other day my mom made some Chilean treats called “calzones rotos” (torn underwear in Spanish). Why do I mention this? Well, the shape is almost identical to maejakgwa!
    Calzones rotos have baking powder in them so they are puffier than maejakgwa. And instead of a syrup, they are sprinkled with powdered sugar. But, I will definitely try making maejakgwa! :)
    You can see a pic of calzones rotos here: http://www.midiariodecocina.com/2010/09/calzones-rotos.html

  10. o0kagome0o Ireland joined 4/12 & has 1 comment
    Posted April 13th, 2012 at 2:50 pm | or create a profile.

    it was very nice of you to share this recipe :) i tired it and i was very nice XD, thank you very much for sharing this :)

  11. lmhjgsfever Hungary joined 1/12 & has 18 comments
    Posted February 23rd, 2012 at 1:47 pm | or create a profile.

    I made this and I have to say that it was a hit with everyone who tried the the cookies, really nice and crunchy, thanks again

  12. Noha Egypt,Cairo joined 12/11 & has 2 comments
    Posted December 18th, 2011 at 3:06 pm | or create a profile.

    Hi,i made the syrup and after i have added the cinnamon powder it became like small balls of sugar stuck together instead of becoming a liquid . why did this happen ? :)

    • Maangchi New York City joined 8/08 & has 12,045 comments
      Posted December 19th, 2011 at 10:56 am | or create a profile.

      It sound like you stirred the sugar solution when it boils. Mix sugar and water well in the pot and let it simmer and do not stir until done.
      “Place ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water into a pot and bring to a boil over low heat for about 20 minutes. About half of the water should evaporate, so the syrup is nice and thick. “

  13. chef Benedict Manila, Philippines joined 11/11 & has 45 comments
    Posted November 21st, 2011 at 1:55 am | or create a profile.

    perfect for christmas gift and love the crunchy cookies which are ginger and cinnamon flavored…

  14. Teagen Munich Germany joined 8/11 & has 1 comment
    Posted August 14th, 2011 at 4:37 am | or create a profile.

    dear maangchi how long will they last in the pantry?

  15. xErr0rx Sweden joined 6/11 & has 1 comment
    Posted June 24th, 2011 at 2:20 am | or create a profile.

    Wow, they look delicious! Do I have to use the pine nuts, can I use like cashew or can I just leave the nuts out? :)

  16. mumms El Salvador joined 6/11 & has 1 comment
    Posted June 24th, 2011 at 12:45 am | or create a profile.

    Hi maangchi!! I just joined your blog and I have to say I’m in love with all your recipes!! they’re soo awesome and easy to follow!! sadly, in my country its really difficult to find all the ingredients, even in asian markets around here, but that doesn’t stop me from trying and making some of your delicious recipes!! I’m gonna try and do this cute ginger cookies tomorrow!! really excited!! :D please keep making such delicious food!! maangchi hwaiting!!!

  17. chung_hayoon Los Angeles joined 6/11 & has 1 comment
    Posted June 5th, 2011 at 5:57 pm | or create a profile.

    Hi Maangchi!
    Because of the restrictions my parents set in our kitchen, i had to make a few adjustments to ur way, but it still came out wonderfully!
    – instead of deep-frying, i coated a pan with vegetable oil and baked the cookies at 325 degrees. it came out wonderfully.
    – my parents dont let me use sugar too much, so i drizzles the cookies with honey instead!
    so for other people to know, baking works too! (sorry.. my parents are complete health nuts and hates it when i deep fry things XD)

  18. mokpochica Michigan joined 1/09 & has 89 comments
    Posted May 3rd, 2011 at 9:27 pm | or create a profile.

    Made these with my kids today and they were a hit. They had fun making shapes of their own. I was worried that the ginger flavor would be too strong, but next time I think I will add extra ginger. Ginger and cinnamon go so well together. Maybe sujunggwa would taste good with these cookies.

  19. Cheonyong Indonesia joined 4/11 & has 28 comments
    Posted April 18th, 2011 at 3:12 am | or create a profile.

    Hellooo, Mangchii…
    nice to meet you~
    I have been visiting this site for many times and finnaly I decide to be a member…
    and I am making this cookie now…
    I hope I do it right…
    because this one looks very delicious~!

  20. LLW1213 Arizona joined 3/11 & has 1 comment
    Posted March 16th, 2011 at 2:12 am | or create a profile.

    Um this is kinda weird to ask but do you think these cookies would be good with green tea ice cream?

More comments to read! Jump to page: 1 2

Leave a Reply

You must create a profile and be logged in to post a comment.