- K-Pop idols are boosting the popularity of Korean desserts like bingsu, dalgona, and mochi-inspired sweets.
- Cafés and bakeries worldwide are adapting their menus to match K-Pop’s influence on food culture.
How K-Pop Is Shaping Global Dessert Trends
When BTS posts a selfie with a bubble tea or BLACKPINK films a variety show eating bingsu, fans take notes—and often, they order the same. K-Pop’s reach is no longer just about music; it’s shaping how desserts trend across the globe. From Seoul to São Paulo, the sweet influence of K-Pop idols is transforming café menus and Instagram feeds alike.
The Idol Effect on Sweet Treats
Desserts like bingsu (shaved ice topped with fruit or condensed milk) and dalgona (the caramelized sugar candy that inspired the viral Squid Game challenge) were once niche outside Korea. Now, thanks to K-Pop fan culture, they’re mainstream in major cities around the world.
Idols often feature food in livestreams, reality shows, or casual social posts. A quick appearance of a trendy drink or dessert can create overnight demand. When TWICE’s Nayeon mentioned her love for tanghulu (candied fruit skewers), TikTok searches for the treat spiked, and dessert shops from Los Angeles to London started adding it to their menus.
Desserts as Lifestyle and Fandom Culture
For fans, enjoying the same snacks and desserts as their favorite idols is a way of connecting more deeply with the music and culture. It’s also highly social. Entire YouTube channels are dedicated to recreating the sweets idols eat on camera, and TikTok is filled with fan-driven recipes inspired by K-Pop aesthetics.
This influence goes beyond individual desserts. Cafés and bakeries around the world are designing K-Pop-themed spaces, complete with drinks named after idols and photocard giveaways with every macaron. Dessert isn’t just food—it’s fandom merch you can eat.
The Bottom Line
K-Pop’s impact on desserts shows how music culture now drives food culture. Fans aren’t just listening to albums; they’re tasting the lifestyle. From boba-inspired cakes to global tanghulu shops, K-Pop has proven it can turn local sweets into international trends. For the next big dessert wave, you may only need to watch the latest idol livestream.
Jacklyn is a San Diego–based food journalist with a background in the confectionery world. Before diving into food reporting, she worked at a startup crafting plant-based, low-sugar sweets designed to make candy a little healthier
