A sudden craze for so-called “Dubai sticky cookies” (두쫀쿠) has driven key ingredient prices and demand sharply higher in South Korea, prompting some buyers to make them at home. Retail data show huge jumps in sales of marshmallows (up to 289.2% in one retailer’s analysis), pistachios and cocoa powder; online marketplaces report many-fold increases compared with last year. The cookie is made with kataifi (shredded pastry) and pistachio cream inside, wrapped in marshmallow mixed with cocoa powder and dusted like a rice cake. Popularized by social media and celebrity posts, the dessert’s recipe is simple but time-consuming to prepare, and ingredient shortages have pushed bakeries to raise prices. In response, e‑commerce sites and supermarkets are offering DIY kits (including pistachio spread, kataifi, marshmallows, cocoa powder and butter) and easy hacks using store-bought snacks to recreate the treat at home.
