These cookies, which were in the New York Times Food section, are from the cookbook “Gullah Geeche Home Cooking: Recipes From the Matriach of Edisto Island” by Emily Meggett. These cookies were a big hit at The Villager’s meeting, as well as my Book Club meeting.
I made a second batch this week, because I forgot to take photos of the actual cookie! These cookies were called “sweet and savory” by my Book Club. They are buttery, crispy, crunchy and quite delicate, with a unique taste. They taste slightly peanut-buttery, but this taste is actually from the toasted sesame seeds. I used half white and half black sesame seeds in the recipe, as I found the black seeds added a little more crunch, but I’m sure all white would be just as delicious.
These cookies are quite easy to make, especially if you use a stand mixer. Just make sure the butter and egg are at room temperature before you start baking. Tip: Save butter wrappers in your freezer to make greasing your cookie sheets a breeze! Make these for your meetings/parties/families and watch them disappear! Makes about 40 cookies.
Benne Cookies
Course: DessertCuisine: CookieDifficulty: Easy13
minutes10
minutesIngredients
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup benne seeds or sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets with butter.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and add the sesame seeds (also called benne), stirring them until coated. Toast the seeds, stirring frequently, until fragrant and darkened a shade, 2 to 3 minutes. Take care not to burn the seeds and turn down the heat if needed. Scrape onto a plate and cool completely.
- Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl.
- In a large bowl, cream together the remaining 8 tablespoons butter and both sugars until well combined and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Add the cooled toasted sesame seeds and the vanilla then stir in the flour mixture.
- Drop rounded tablespoonsful of the cookie dough at least 2 1/2 inches apart on 1 prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, and until golden brown around the edges. Remove the wafers from the cookie sheet immediately and place on waxed or parchment paper to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough on the second cookie sheet, reusing the first sheet when it’s cool, if needed.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Make sure you remove the cookies from the sheet quickly, as they will stick.
- It took a lot longer to brown the sesame seeds than 2 to 3 minutes.
Up next: Bittersweet
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