Cannellini bean cookies, called SangTu GwaJa in Korean, can easily be found in Korean bakeries. The Korean name is interesting because “sangtu” means a married man’s haircut – a topknot. “Gwaja” is a type of snack food like cookies or chips. Since these cookies look like topknot haircuts, Koreans called them “sangtu gwaja.” Another unique thing about this recipe is that there is no flour in it, which makes it great for those who have an allergy to wheat. My husband said he was surprised that there are no grains used to make them when he tried them for the first time. The main ingredients are: cannellini bean paste (a.k.a. white kidney beans) and almond powder. They are very tasty and sweet cookies. The texture is slightly chewy, but mostly, it is cake-like: as if they have flour in it.
Yield: 50 Bean Cookies
Short Korean Lesson: *^^*
- BeGae (베개) = Pillow
- IBul (이불) = Blanket
Video Instructions
Main Ingredients
- 1½ Cups White Kidney Bean Paste
- ½ Cup Almond Powder
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 2 Tbsp Milk
Directions
Obtain ½ cup of almond powder. I make my own powder by grinding ½ cup of sliced almonds.
Obtain 1½ cups of cannellini bean paste. I used pre-made paste for this recipe, but someday I want to show you how to make the white bean paste from scratch. The paste is sweet and it is also used in various other Korean snacks and desserts.
Combine the bean paste, almond powder, 2 Tbsp of milk, and 1 egg yolk into a mixing bowl.
Mix everything together until you get a smooth paste with a texture like peanut butter.
Put the bean paste mixture into a cake decorating pouch and put a ½ inch cake decorating tip on the end.
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Place a piece of wax paper on top of the baking sheet. Hold the bag at a 90° angle, about ¼ inch above the wax paper, and start to squeeze. Once the cookie is about 1 inch in diameter, slowly stop squeezing while lifting up.
Bake the cookies for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the outside is slightly golden brown, and the inside is cooked.
The shape is beautiful. If you know anybody who has an allergy to wheat, this will be a great cookie to make for them; it will be a pleasant surprise. Of course, it is great for anybody else that likes sweet desserts. Enjoy! 
Hi,
Is there any substitution for the white kidney bean paste?
Thanks
Hi Aeri I when to Korean store Can’t white kidney bean paste. As you say White kidney bean paste are very sweet is anyway to cut down the sweet…Thank
hi Lee An,
Store bought one is yes..very sweet. If you make it at home, you can adjust the sweetness with your taste. However, then the cookie taste will be a little changed too. I’m working on the white kidney bean paste recipe. Thanks
So went to the local Korean grocery store, looking for some White Kidney Bean paste. I walked the whole store looking for it, before I asked one of the guys who was working there. He looked at me like I was crazy and asked me if I meant black bean, I told him No it is white kidney bean paste. Then he turned around and walked away from me laughing… Made me feel so good as a customer.. NOT!
So if you could please post how to make the paste, it would be very helpful!!! Thank you!!
hi Starbear Jones,
Oh.. Sorry.. I didn’t post it yet. Actually I made the recipe.. just I’m testing with different kinds of beans.. I tried.. large lima bean..and want to try with red kidney bean also .. to give you the best result.. please wait a little.. thanks
I know how you feel I have the same problem
Hi Aeri,
Did you use waxed paper or was it parchment paper?
Thanks for the recipe, can’t wait to try it!
-GG
hi GuammieGirl,
It was wax paper ^ ^ thanks
Hi, I want to try to make these cookies. I can’t find white kidney beans paste at any Korean supermarkets. I was wondering if the white kidney beans sold at Korean supermarkets are different from white kideny beans sold at a non-Korean supermarket?
hi Pengelon,
if you are just talking about beans.. they will be same..but the white kidney bean paste I used for this recipe is made for making dessert.. so they are very sweet and have soft texture.. I will post how to make the bean paste someday .. thanks
Can I bake them without the cake decorator? Maybe just as a lump?
hi sophia,
Sure you can do that
oh, I hope I can get white kidney bean paste here…these cookies look so yummy!!
Oh, thank you for this recipe! I cannot eat wheat and I never dared to try these from the Korean market. I will now feel safe buying them. Or maybe I will just make them myself!
hi Tolana,
It’s just my recipe, they might add flour to make it cheaper… maybe you need to check ingredients first if they have flour in it or not.. ^^ yes.. you can make it at home.. thanks
Love this receipeee! I will definitely try it! Very Simple and pretty!
thank you… this is not that hard to make! i love this cookie~~~
OMG, I never knew Cannellini Bean Gwaja are so easy to make! Do you happen to know how to make the bean paste? I can’t find it at my local grocery store. Thanks!!
hi Janna,
I will post it someday soon. hehe thanks