Bingsu Recipe: How to Make Korean-Style Shaved Ice

Bingsu (also spelled bingsoo) is a Korean shaved-ice dessert served with a variety of toppings. Popular flavors include strawberry bingsu, mixed berry bingsu, and green tea bingsu, served with a coating of green tea powder.

In Korea, bingsu is a summertime staple. To make bingsu at home, head to your local Asian grocery store for toppings like Korean rice cakes (tteok) and sweet red bean paste (danpat).

1. 1. Fruit: Bingsu stars various fruits diced into small bite-sized pieces and arranged as a colorful top layer. Try strawberry, kiwi, pineapple, banana, mango, or raspberries—the possibilities are endless. Mix and match to create your perfect combination.
   
2. 2. Ice cream: Some recipes add a scoop of ice cream to the shaved ice for creamy contrast.
3. 3. Rice cakes: Top bingsu with small, chewy bites of mochi-like sweet rice cake (tteok) or injeolmi (tteok coated with roasted soybean powder).
4. 4. Sweetened condensed milk: A drizzle of creamy sweetened condensed milk adds rich texture and a hint of butterscotch flavor.
5. 5. Sweetened red bean paste: Red beans, known as pat, are an integral part of bingsu—so much so that the dessert’s full name is patbingsu. Buy chunky or smooth danpat (sweetened red bean paste) at Asian grocery stores or make your own at home.

With a little extra preparation, bingsu is an easy warm-weather treat. Here’s what to know if it’s your first time making the Korean dessert:

1. 1. Prepare all the toppings and garnishes first. Bingsu comes together quickly. To capitalize on the texture of the freshly shaved ice, have any toppings already at hand for easy serving. If you like, chill the serving bowls in the freezer ahead of time.
2. 2. Use an electric ice shaver. Like an ice cream machine, using an electric ice shaver is the best way to get the signature fluffy texture of bingsu at home. Alternatively, you can use a powerful food processor or high-speed blender to achieve a similar effect. To prevent the blades from dulling, add the ice in batches.
3. 3. Use sweetened condensed milk to make the base. If you’d like something a little more decadent than the classic plain shaved ice, try this popular variation from South Korea’s dessert cafés. Instead of water, fill ice cube trays with whole milk and sweetened condensed milk, then blend as directed. The result is a cross between a milky sorbet and shaved ice.