Hodu-gwaja are small Korean walnut-shaped cakes filled with sweet red bean paste and real walnut pieces, made by cooking batter and filling in special molded irons until they turn golden and fragrant. Sold at rest stops, bakeries, and street stalls, they’re warm, soft, and comforting—tiny hand-held cakes that smell like roasted nuts and cozy winter evenings.

Regional Roots

• South Korea