Crisp, chewy, nutty and caramelized benne wafers (aka sesame seed cookies) are perfect for your holiday or Kwanzaa celebrations. For a mor...
Benne Seed Wafers
Crisp, chewy, nutty and caramelized benne wafers (aka sesame seed cookies) are perfect for your holiday or Kwanzaa celebrations. For a more traditional type of cookie, leave them plain. If you feel like dressing them up, drizzle them with melted chocolate. Both ways are equally delicious. —April Wright, Whisk It Real Gud
Total Time
Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min./batch + cooling
Makes
8 dozen
Ingredients
1 cup sesame seeds
1-1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/4 to 2-1/2 cups 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking chips
2 teaspoons shortening or coconut oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Place sesame seeds on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until fragrant and lightly browned, 10-15 minutes; cool.
Reduce oven temperature to 300°. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar and butter until crumbly. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Gradually beat into sugar mixture. Add cooled sesame seeds and stir to combine.
Roll level 1 teaspoonfuls into balls. Place 2-in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Reduce oven temperature to 275°; bake until set but still soft, 18-20 minutes. Cool on pan 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
For optional chocolate drizzle, in a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate, uncovered, at 50% power until melted, stirring every 30 seconds, 1 to 1½ minutes. Add shortening and stir until melted. Drizzle over cookies; let stand until set.
