Homemade Sweet & Crispy Bread Hotteok & Croutons
Easy Snack Recipe: Bread Hotteok & Crispy Croutons from Leftover Bread
Transform leftover bread into warm, sweet hotteok (Korean pancake) and delightfully crispy croutons. This recipe is perfect for a quick snack or a simple dessert, loved by both kids and adults.
Hotteok Ingredients- 4 slices of bread
- Walnuts, a moderate amount (chopped)
- Sugar, 2-3 Tbsp (or store-bought hotteok jam mix)
- 1 knob of butter
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare 4 slices of bread for the hotteok. Use a cookie cutter or a cup (about 7-8cm in diameter) to cut out round shapes from the bread. Alternatively, you can carefully cut them into circles with a knife. The remaining bread crusts and edges will be used for the croutons.
Step 2
Finely chop the walnuts for the hotteok filling. It’s best to chop them into small pieces rather than grinding them into a powder, so you get a nice texture when you bite into them.
Step 3
Heat 1-2 Tbsp of cooking oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Place the round bread slices in the pan. Generously sprinkle the chopped walnuts and sugar (or your prepared hotteok jam mix) over each bread slice. Cook slowly over low heat.
Step 4
Take another round slice of bread and place it on top of the bread with walnuts and sugar, creating a sandwich. Gently press down to shape the hotteok.
Step 5
Continue cooking over low heat. Once the bottom side of the bread is golden brown and the sugar inside starts to melt, flip the hotteok and brown the other side. Be careful not to burn the sugar on the pan. Cook thoroughly over low heat to ensure the inside is warm and melted.
Step 6
Now, let’s make crispy croutons with the leftover bread scraps. Add about 1 Tbsp of cooking oil to the pan. Add the bread scraps, cut into bite-sized pieces, and stir continuously with two spatulas over low heat. Keep stirring them so they toast evenly and become crispy without burning.
Step 7
Once the croutons are lightly golden brown, add a knob of butter to the pan. Continue stirring and tossing the croutons as the butter melts, coating them. The butter will add a delicious, savory flavor.
Step 8
Finally, sprinkle a little sugar over the croutons and mix well. Toss them for another moment as the butter and sugar melt and coat the bread pieces. Turn off the heat. Serve your warm bread hotteok alongside these wonderfully crispy butter-sugar croutons!
