Sesame Vanilla Passover Cookies Recipes

ITALIAN SESAME COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well., Turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead 10-12 times or until smooth. Divide dough into 8 portions. Shape each portion into a 24-in. log. Cut logs into 2-in. pieces., Place sesame seeds and milk in separate shallow bowls. Brush pieces with milk, then roll in sesame seeds. Place 2-in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° until set and bottoms are lightly browned, 7-9 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

GUATEMALAN SESAME COOKIES (CHAMPURRADAS)

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter, piloncillo sugar, and 3/4 cup granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add whole eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition, and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture until fully incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze 20 minutes. Roll dough into balls (if dough becomes too soft, refrigerate until firm).
• Place egg whites, sesame seeds, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in three separate shallow bowls. Working with one ball at a time, roll first in sugar, then egg whites, and finally sesame seeds until thoroughly coated. Divide evenly among four parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until golden around the edges but still tender on top, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.

AUNT ANNE'S SESAME COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and anise extract until well blended. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well incorporated. If you are using a stand mixer, let the dough mix for another minute to add lightness to the dough. The dough will be soft, but will hand roll easily.
• Pinch off pieces of dough slightly smaller than a walnut, and roll them into small logs. Dip in milk, then roll in sesame seeds. Place cookies one inch apart on a cookie sheet. Cookies will not spread very much.
• Bake for 17 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bottom and sides of cookies are lightly toasted. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.