Gochujang Caramel Cookies Recipe (2024)

By Eric Kim

Gochujang Caramel Cookies Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(5,814)
Notes
Read community notes

Gochujang, the fermented Korean chile paste, offers intrigue in this otherwise classic chewy sugar cookie. A gentle amount of ground cinnamon lends snickerdoodle vibes, and the dough is raked through with ripples of clay-red gochujang “caramel,” in which brown sugar and butter mellow the chile’s heat. Mixing this dough by hand is highly recommended for the most defined crinkles and the chewiest texture.

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Ingredients

Yield:About 8 large cookies

  • ½cup (8 tablespoons)/115 grams unsalted butter, very soft
  • 2packed tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1heaping tablespoon gochujang
  • 1cup/200 grams granulated sugar
  • 1large egg, at room temperature
  • ½teaspoon coarse kosher salt or ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • ¼teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½teaspoon baking soda
  • cups/185 grams all-purpose flour

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

312 calories; 13 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 47 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 29 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 175 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Gochujang Caramel Cookies Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    In a small bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon butter, the brown sugar and gochujang until smooth. Set aside for later, at room temperature.

  2. Step

    2

    In a large bowl, by hand, whisk together the remaining 7 tablespoons butter, the granulated sugar, egg, salt, cinnamon and vanilla until smooth, about 1 minute. Switch to a flexible spatula and stir in the baking soda. Add the flour and gently stir to combine. Place this large bowl in the refrigerator until the dough is less sticky but still soft and pliable, 15 to 20 minutes.

  3. While the dough is chilling, heat the oven to 350 degrees and line 2 large sheet pans with parchment.

  4. Step

    4

    Remove the dough from the refrigerator. In 3 to 4 separately spaced out blobs, spoon the gochujang mixture over the cookie dough. Moving in long circular strokes, swirl the gochujang mixture into the cookie dough so you have streaks of orange-red rippled throughout the beige. Be sure not to overmix at this stage, as you want wide, distinct strips of gochujang.

  5. Step

    5

    Use an ice cream scoop to plop out ¼-cup rounds spaced at least 3 inches apart on the sheet pans. (You should get 4 to 5 cookies per pan.) Bake until lightly golden at the edges and dry and set in the center, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Let cool completely on the sheet pan; the cookies will flatten slightly and continue cooking as they cool. The cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Ratings

5

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5,814

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Kristen

These were incredibly delicious. The gochujang caramel adds a subtle spice reminiscent of gingerbread. However, I would have swirled the gochujang caramel into the dough before it chilled and stiffened to more easily achieve the proper rippling effect.

Dorinf

Yes you can make them smaller. I used a 2 TBS scoop (1/8 cup) and cooked for 13 minutes. The 19 resulting cookies were 3" in diameter and delicious.

Shannon

These are the best cookies I have ever eaten! I used the exact ingredients, but I patted out the cookie dough (which was much firmer than Eric's in his video - I have a cold house and my flour may be drier than his) and spread the gochujang unevenly on top, then rolled it up in a log, chilled in the freezer for 15 minutes and cut in thick slices. I got 24 beautiful, crunchy, sweet, salty & spicy cookies with a beautiful swirl pattern. I'm making them again tonight!

Adam LeClair

Please just make these. They’re are amazing. Just…. Amazing! Make as is. And let your life be greatly improved! My only note is I got a better thatch when left in the oven more on the 13 min side.

Brendan

You will make a lot of mistakes today. Making these will not be one of them. Amazing cookies.

Kat

Re: the swirling. After reading others notes, I came up with my own approach. Before chilling, I warmed up the gochujang sauce to make it a little thinner, pressed the dough down in the bowl a bit, and did about half a tablespoon of drizzle back and forth over the dough. Then I folded the dough in half and repeated three or four times - basically a lamination approach. Chilled for 15 minutes, and proceeded. It worked beautifully, with big thick ribbons of caramel through the cookies.

NA

Watching the YouTube video may help with the chilling/dolloping/streaking parts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B43W_wXJuY

Ellen

Bad day? Gochujang Caramel Cookies. Good day? Gochujang Caramel Cookies. Dehydrated? Gochujang Caramel Cookies. Rent due? Gochujang Caramel Cookies. Promised your first born to a mischievous elf? Gochujang Caramel Cookies.

Holmestead

Eric, this one is a keeper! Thank you for working so hard to create such amazing recipes that are easy to follow, use ingredients I almost always have on hand, and taste fantastic! The balance of sweet to spicy is perfect!

mellowbaker

Love it, the cookie had a great flavor profile - especially if you’re someone who has enjoyed miso cookies in the past - this recipe creates similar umami notes. I struggled to mix the caramel in properly without over-mixing. Ultimately, I did over-mix the two components which caused the cookies to spread too large. Next time I would dollop a bit of the caramel on top of each cookie and swirl it in with a offset knife or something, to avoid this issue.

Emily H

These are mind blowing! I veganized these using 3tbsp Just Egg and vegan butter and it worked flawlessly. I found the dough to be a little crumbly at first, which isn’t unusual for vegan cookies, but after 15 min in the fridge it came together. I also only had a 2 tbsp cookie scoop instead of a 1/4 cup scoop called for and it worked out great - 12.5 min worked for me but I started checking at 11. Make these!

Hannah C

This was truly a perfect cookie. Sweet & chewy with a slight surprise from the gochujang. I was skeptical before making, but Eric Kim never misses. I dolloped the gochujang butter on top after scooping and folded the cookie over itself, baked for 13 mins, and they came out absolutely perfect. Adding to my cookie roto!

RoLo

Egg whites make cookies crunchy. Bakers actually remove egg white from recipes to make their cookies chewier; that's why so many cookie recipes with the word "chewy" in their title will call for 1 egg+ 1-2 yolks. This is also why whites are called for in recipes where you want "stiffening" action, like meringues and coconut macaroons (they help dry out and harden the coconut) and even royal icing.

Peggo

Nice cookie--like a snickerdoodle with a kick. A few people said it tasted like a bbq sauce-infused sugar cookie. I suspect that is about the brand of gochujang you are using, I used some from a nearby grocery store because I was out of my usual (which I buy at an Asian market) and also had this experience. Then I tasted the paste itself and...ick. It really did taste like bbq sauce. So maybe try again with better product?

Midwesterner

Wow! Best cookie I’ve made in a while—and a nice different twist to add to cookie trays/care packages. Did 2 Tbl scoops, made 23, baked 13 mins. My gochugang was stiff so I had to microwave it a little, which I’m sure made the “caramel” easier to swirl (did before chilling dough). Definitely making again. Soon.

Lisa

Profanity is not allowed, so I will just say …..these were soooooooooo good. If I smoked, I’d need a cigarette.

amazing

Great cookie. Some comments in the chat said dough was stiff after chilling which was my experience. I took another great comment’s suggestion and rolled the dough flat, spread gochujang and then rolled the dough into a cylinder and cut it. I took the cuts and rolled them into balls to bake which worked great! I didn’t have gochujang paste so I used miso, Siracha and a dash of sugar as a substitute which tasted just fine as a replacement.

j

this was really helpful in achieving the marble effect!

Taylor S.

Sooooo good!! I made these out of curiosity, as my fiancé idolizes Eric Kim. They are delicious! I will absolutely make them again - they are reminiscent of snickerdoodles, with a hint of spice and extra complexity. However, I would make more than 8 cookies - they get very large and flat when baking, and it’s tough to eat an entire one of these cookies.

Janeanne

Good, but too much butter? I think I’d like them better if they didn’t flatten out this much and not as greasy, and rolled in large-crystal sugar.

Michelle

I mixed the Gochujang accidentally all in the dough but it came out amazing!!!

Amelia

Highly, highly recommend doubling this recipe. As a note, many types of gochujang include garlic - this is my go-to nongarlic pick: CJ Haechandle Gochujang. It's available to order online and at most Korean supermarkets! Mine turned out very unattractive, but that's a me thing. They've got great personalities or something, and their looks didn't stop my boyfriend from saying that they're "unbelievably wild and delicious."

froggs

These were good, like a chewy snickerdoodle with a pinch of heat. I followed the recipe exactly and used a medium-hot, well known brand of gochujang paste. I made 8 large cookies as directed. I actually wanted more salt and more distinct gochujang flavor in the finished cookie. I felt like I had to search for it, or sorta convince myself it was there. Next time I make these I will try using a full teaspoon of salt in the batter, and maybe 1.5 or even 2 tbsp gochujang in the caramel.

Marta M

Make sure to check that your gochujang doesn’t contain garlic or onion powder. Used one with it- didn’t affect flavor badly (I love both ingredients) but does lead to a slight bbq after taste which some other bakers have commented on.

Peggy

I made this using Ssamjang, loved it, reminded mo of gingersnap. But chewy.Easy and delicious

Stephie

Delicious!For baking at elevation of 7200ft: Convect at 375 degreesLower granulated sugar by 1T.Add 1T. egg whitesAdd 3T. flourBake for 11 minutes, rotate the pan and bake 30 more seconds.

sydney1

wondering if using Gochujang with garlic and onion as ingredients is okay?

CW

My kitchen is cold (68°F) so I didn’t chill the dough, just added the dollops of caramel, swirled and baked, using a #40 cookie scoop. I got 19 delicious cookies.

Rose Casa

I am dying to try to make these cookies, but for the life of me, I cannot find gochujiang without garlic and onion. I have gone to every market near me, and looked on Amazon. Can someone recommend a brand that I can try to find online? Thanks so much in advance!

Amelia

CJ Haechandle Gochujang is available on Amazon and doesn't contain garlic or onion!

Katie

Absolutely insane recipe. Best cookies I’ve ever made.

Baking Tray

ONLY USE THE DARK TRAY! light tray doesn't caramelize very well

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Gochujang Caramel Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What goes well with gochujang? ›

A little gochujang goes a long way. Use it as a base ingredient in Korean dishes, soups, stews and stir-fries. Its spicy flavour means it also works well as a marinade or with tacos and burgers.

Can gochujang be eaten raw? ›

Although it is rarely, if ever, used as a finishing sauce, gochujang can be used straight from the tub. In fact, many Koreans will eat it as is as an accompaniment to raw vegetables (like crudité) and dried anchovies.

Is gochujang good for stomach? ›

Fermented soybeans in Gochujang makes it a great source of probiotics that can boost healthy gut microbiomes. Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial for digestion and overall gut health.

What does gochujang taste like? ›

So, what does gochujang taste like? To compare it with two popular sauces that almost always comes up in the same breath, gochujang is like the love child of sriracha and miso—spicy like the former, pungent like the latter—with a hint of sweetness.

How unhealthy is gochujang? ›

Some will avoid it due to relatively high sodium content, and others will pass it up because they're worried about the sugar and glutinous rice. However, since it's possible to eat Korean red pepper paste in small quantities, it is not a bad idea to try it once.

Should I refrigerate my gochujang? ›

How do you store gochujang? Once opened, keep your little red pot of wonder in the fridge. As it contains fermented ingredients (a bit like kimchi, in that sense), it typically has a long shelflife, but do check the packaging for a use-by date and be sure to finish it before then.

How long does gochujang last in fridge after opening? ›

If you aren't using it very often then it may be a good idea to wrap the box tightly in some clingfilm (plastic wrap) to help prevent the paste from drying out. If there is no date on the box then we would suggest using the paste within 3 months of opening, provided it is refrigerated.

Why add sugar to gochujang? ›

You're likely to see gochujang cut with another ingredients, like sesame oil, crushed garlic, sugar, and/or soy sauce, any of which help to balance some of its intensity.

What's the difference between gochujang and Gochujang sauce? ›

Gochujang, the Korean fermented red pepper paste, is thick and glossy with a spicy savoriness that lingers. Thin it out with soy sauce and vinegar to create a gochujang sauce, or swirl it into brown sugar and butter for cookies.

Can you microwave gochujang? ›

These korean gochujang noodles will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can serve them hot or cold, so there's no need to reheat! If you do choose to reheat, the microwave or stovetop works best.

What is Korean Gochujang sauce used for? ›

Gochujang works best in sauces and marinades that get slathered over meats, like these grilled pork belly kebabs. We mix it with soy sauce and sake to round out the flavor and add complexity. You'll want to toss the pork with the marinade and let it sit for about an hour before skewering.

Is Korean gochujang good for you? ›

Because of the fermentation process, gochujang is packed with healthy probiotics and digestive enzymes. Research has shown that our immune system is tied to how good our gut health is. If you'd like to kick your gut health up another notch, help yourself to our kimchi rice bowl recipe here!

Is gochujang sweet or spicy? ›

What does gochujang taste like? Sure, gochujang has heat — depending on the brand, it can be extraordinarily spicy — but it also has a salty, almost meaty depth and a slight sweetness. In other words, it's not a one-note hot sauce that you add to a dish after the fact.

Where can I add gochujang? ›

We use gochujang most often as a base for stews such as Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew), Dakgalbi (Spicy Korean Chicken Stir Fry) and Tteokbokki. It can also be used to amp up dipping sauces, bring savoury intensity to soups, and be slathered on as a marinade for meats such as Korean fried chicken.

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