Step 1

Add 3 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon powder to a brown paper bag. Shake to mix well. Set aside.

Step 2

Fully melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat and add milk, the rest of 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt. Mix well until everything is well dissolved. Crack an egg into the saucepan and mix well. Add the yeast and stir. Let it sit for 5 minutes.Transfer to a large bowl. Add 3 cups flour and mix well with a wooden spoon. When everything is well mixed, use your hand to knead the dough for a few minutes, and shape it into a big lump. Cover with plastic wrap.Let the dough rise until it doubles in size, usually about 1 hour to 1½ hours.Deflate the gas with your hand and knead the dough for a few minutes until it’s soft and smooth. Cover with plastic wrap again and let it sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour until it doubles in size again.

Step 3

Uncover the dough and knead it for a few minutes. Put 2 tablespoons of flour on the corner of your cutting board to use for dusting. Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces.Take a piece of dough and roll it out on your cutting board so it forms a rope 10 inches long and ½ inch in diameter. If it’s sticky, sprinkle some flour on the area you’re working in. When you roll out the dough, move one hand upward and the other downward so that the rope is twisted in between your hands as you roll it.Take the dough off the board, hold it aloft, and bring the ends together. The tension in the dough will twist it as it hangs. You can add as much tension as you like, but I think the best looking kkwabaegi has 3- 4 twists in it.Place the twisted dough on a floured cutting board or tray. Repeat with the rest of the pieces of dough.Let the doughnuts expand for about 30 minutes. 15 minutes in, gently flip each doughnut over with your hands so the bottoms don’t get flat and all sides expand nice and round.

Step 4

Heat up 4 inches of oil in a deep skillet over medium high heat, until the temperature reaches 350° F. Lower the heat to medium heat, then gently set each doughnut into the hot oil by hand. Be careful not to get your hands too close to the oil. Add as many pieces to the oil as your skillet will allow, enough so the doughnuts can sit in the oil without pushing against each other.Cook for about 5 minutes, occasionally gently flipping them over with tongs, until they get crunchy outside and are evenly golden brown.Strain the cooked doughnuts. Put them in the brown paper bag with the sugar cinnamon mixture. Shake a few times until they are evenly coated. This is best done when the doughnuts are still warm. Repeat this with all the doughnuts until they are all cooked and coated.

Step 5

Serve hot.You can freeze any leftovers for up to a month. To rejuvenate them, take them out of the freezer and thaw at room temperature for 5 or 10 minutes before serving.

Step 6

smalaniz claremont, CA joined 5/10 & has 3 commentsPosted January 18th, 2021 at 11:38 pm | Log in to reply. Maangchi,I made this recipe again for the first time in almost a decade. I used to bake a lot but my depression took away that passion and I couldn’t find it for a long time. Yesterday I was able to feel the joy of making a simple.dish by hand, and even added my own twist ^^ to it. Thank you for sharing your recipes, your memories, and your wonderful smile with us no matter what. Each time I make this recipe I think of what it means to you, and how lucky we are for you to share it. This dish reminds me of my year in Korea and all the wonderful foods I got to try there. I’ve already made it again, but as a savory curry bun, and I’m starting to feel the joy of cooking once more. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.See full size image a_westervelt Portland OR USA joined 10/20 & has 7 commentsPosted November 15th, 2020 at 3:09 pm | Log in to reply. Wow. These were easy to make and turned out so delicious!!!!See full size image XXanimeseekerXX North Carolina joined 6/18 & has 5 commentsPosted September 29th, 2020 at 3:41 pm | Log in to reply. These were so yummy and so much fun to make! Thank you for the recipe, I will definitely be making these again. Going to try out the custard bread next.~See full size image