Benne Sesame Seed Wafers Recipes

BENNE WAFERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the benne (sesame) seeds on an ungreased baking sheet and toast for 10 to 12 minutes, until light brown. Watch closes so that they don 't burn.
• In a large bowl mix the brown sugar, melted butter or margarine, egg, vanilla extract, flour, salt, baking powder and toasted sesame seeds together until combined.
• Drop dough by 1/2 teaspoonfuls 1 1/2 inches apart onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 4 to 6 minutes, until light brown. Let cookies cool for about 2 minutes before removing from baking sheets to a wire rack to cool completely. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.

BENNE-SEED WAFERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a shallow baking pan spread seeds evenly and toast in middle of oven, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 8 minutes. Cool seeds.
• Into a bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and table salt. With your fingertips or a pastry blender blend in lard or shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add seeds and milk, stirring until a soft dough is formed. Divide dough in half. Keeping remaining piece of dough wrapped in plastic wrap, roll out 1 piece between sheets of plastic wrap to 1/8 inch thick (about an 8 1/2-inch square) and remove top sheet of plastic wrap. With a sharp knife cut dough into 1 1/2-inch squares, reserving scraps. Peel squares off plastic wrap and arrange about 1/2 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Roll out and cut remaining piece of dough in same manner. Reroll reserved scraps and cut in same manner.
• Bake wafers in batches in middle of oven until pale golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle wafers with coarse salt and transfer to a rack to cool. Wafers may be made 1 week ahead and kept in an airtight container at cool room temperature.

THE BEST BENNE WAFERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• If your sesame seeds are not toasted, place them on an ungreased baking sheet and toast for 10-12 minutes or until they turn light brown.
• They may burn easily, so watch closely to prevent this from happening.
• Mix the brown sugar, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, flour, salt, baking powder, and toasted sesame seeds together until well combined in a large mixing bowl.
• Drop cookie dough by half-teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Make sure that at least 2 inches separate them; they spread A LOT.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for about 5-6 minutes or until edges become light brown. They will appear a little puffy when you take them out.
• Let them sit for 2-3 minutes.
• They should be pretty flat.
• Remove them to a wire rack and allow to cool (be careful--they're pretty crispy and crunchy!).
• Store cooled cookies in an air-tight container.

BENNE SEED WAFERS

Steps:

• 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 teaspoons 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 1-1/2 minutes. Add shortening and stir until melted. Drizzle over cookies; let stand until set.