Kitchen Little Essentials
For this Dalgona Whipped Coffee recipe, you will need:
A hand-held mixer OR whisk OR stand mixer
A mixing bowl (if not using a stand mixer)
What is Dalgona Coffee?
Dalgona coffee is a whipped, frothy coffee-based treat that is made by whipping together instant coffee, granulated sugar, and cold water. Almost as if by some sort of magical alchemy, the three components mix up into a creamy, glossy dream whip (it looks like chocolate buttercream) that you then dollop on top of a glass of icy milk.
I was so curious about this viral whipped coffee trend that has been sweeping the globe, and I always keep instant coffee on hand for my chocolate cakes and butter creams, so I figured I’d give it a go. I am now a very unapologetic fan of this Dalgona Whipped Coffee and a card-carrying member of its fan club.
Where did Dalgona Whipped Coffee originate?
Dalgona coffee is South Korean in origin and gained ints recent mega popularity in January 2020 when Korean actor Jung Il-woo demonstrated how to make a modified version of the drink during a television appearance. Viral frenzy ensued and the concoction has swept the coffee-loving world by storm.
What is “Dalgona?”
Dalgona (ë‹¬ê³ ë‚˜) or ppopgi (뽑기) is a popular South Korean street treat (especially popular in the 70s and 80s) that is made by melting sugar and baking soda together. When a little bit of baking soda is mixed with melted sugar, thermal decomposition of the baking soda releases carbon dioxide, which then makes the melted sugar puff up, and it becomes a light and crunchy candy once it has fully cooled and hardened. It reminds me a lot of honeycomb candy, to be honest. And upon further reading, I’ve learned that “ppopgi (뽑기)” does actually translate to “honeycomb candy” (more or less).
Honeycomb candy is a favorite of mine and I actually have a recipe for it in my cookbook. The golden blonde hue of this whipped Dalgona coffee exactly resembles the same frothy brown color of honeycomb candy, so you can see where the coffee drink got its name.
How to make this Cinnamon Vanilla Whipped Coffee recipe
To make this creamy fun coffee drink, all you have to do is grab the nearest bowl and a hand-mixer (or you can use a whisk and some elbow grease) and whip together 2 TBSP of instant coffee, 2 TBSP sugar and 2 TBSP cold water. Some recipes seem to call for hot water, but I’ve made this with both cold and hot water and each works just fine. After about 60 seconds of whipping on high speed, the mixture becomes very creamy and glossy and resembles a chocolate buttercream.
You pile this creamy, milky coffee up on top of a glass of icy milk (I usually use vanilla almond or soy milk) and serve with a spoon so it all comes together.
NOTE: the coffee mixture is very strong, and I like to add a splash of vanilla and some cinnamon to help cut that instant coffee vibe a bit. The milk is essential to the whole thing and mixes with the strong Dalgona mixture to make for one of the most fun and delicious coffee drinking experiences you can make in 60 seconds, without leaving your own kitchen.
How to make vegan Dalgona Coffee
I made this Dalgona coffee with vanilla almond milk, because the vanilla notes go well with the splash of vanilla I added to the whipped coffee. To create a great vegan whipped coffee, you can simply sub in whatever nut milk you like in place of the regular milk, as you would with any other coffee drink.
If you like the sounds of this recipe, you might love:
Cinnamon Vanilla Whipped Dalgona Coffee
A sweet and creamy treat, this Dalgona whipped coffee is trendy for a reason – it’s delicious. Plus, it only takes a few ingredients to whip up and you can play around with the flavors till your heart’s content. Here, I add a splash of vanilla to give it a luxe feel and a pinch of cinnamon for warmth. Want a Vegan whipped coffee? Just use your favorite nut milk (I use vanilla almond) and you’re good to go.
Ingredients
2 TBSP instant coffee
2 TBSP granulated sugar
2 TBSP cold water
Scant ½ tsp ground cinnamon (plus extra for garnishing, optional)
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Milk and ice to serve (nut milks can be subbed for a vegan version)
Instructions
In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the instant coffee, sugar, water, cinnamon, and vanilla. With a hand-held mixer or whisk, mix on high speed until the mixture becomes very thick and creamy – like a buttercream. When it stands in a stiff peak, you’re ready to go.
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Fill two glasses with ice and add the milk of your choice. Top each with some of the whipped coffee mixture and a sprinkling of cinnamon (if desired). Serve each drink with a spoon. Enjoy!
