Because who doesn’t need a gigantic cookie on a Friday morning?!
The whole thing started when, the other day, I had a hankerin’ for some benne seed wafers.
Benne seed wafers!
A Charleston specialty, benne seed wafers are tiny thin sesame seed cookies. Benne seeds = sesame seeds.
When I was in college, I used to buy them by the bag in the downtown Market and they are pretty much the answer to anything. You have a headache? Eat a benne seed wafer. Your boyfriend broke up with you? Eat three benne seed wafers. You have an exam in two hours and don’t have time for lunch? Eat the whole darn bag. They’re thin and almost caramel-like, and wonderful crushed over ice cream sundaes or spread with a thin smear of peanut butter.
And if you’re sitting there right now staring at the computer screen wondering why I’m going off about tiny little cookies while showing you these huge jumbo cookies, stay tuned. There is a method to my madness.
So, yes. After baking one batch in the traditional tiny size, I discovered that these really weren’t like the benne seed wafers of my youth…at all. The benne seed wafers of my youth are very, very thin and almost brittle-like. These were more cakey and soft.
So… I decided to just go big. I mean, why not?
For these cookies, you need to first need to toast your sesame seeds. A half cup of them, to be exact.
Careful…these boogers burn!
Then, just do a standard creaming procedure…you know the drill! Brown sugar and butter….add the eggs…mix in the flour, baking powder and seeds. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes and voila!
Big Soft Sesame Cookies
makes 2 dozen large cookies
1.5 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), soft
2 eggs
Preheat the oven to 350. Toast the sesame seeds for about five minutes, shaking occasionally, so that they’re nice and golden. Be careful–they burn quick!
Cream together the soft butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one by one, and then the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder). Fold in the toasted sesame seeds.
Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, scoop out large balls of dough onto lined baking sheets. Bake for fifteen minutes, or until the bottoms are golden.
These would make dynamite ice cream sandwiches!
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
I have never heard of benne seed wafers, but they do sound tasty. However, I like the thought of these big giant cookies (even if it’s not on a Friday) and especially stuffed with ice cream!
aww, since i live in charleston, i am happy to mail you some benne wafers! they are my favorite too!
I haven’t heard of those cookies, either, but I personally think that no cookie is a bad cookie. They sound good. And, um, if your boyfriend breaks up with you you deserve two bags, not two cookies.
hah! I think that’s what I meant.
Ohhh these look awesome. I love soft, chewy cookies, plus sesame seeds, so these sound right up my alley!
These look great! I made flat, chewy sesame cookies a few weeks ago that are delicious too =)
Lol, you sound just like my jewish step mom. Had a bad day? Eat a cookie! Had a good day? I’ll make you a cake! Something exciting happens? Lets celebrate with pie! Having a boring day? We should make fudge.
Speaking of which, I’m REALLY, really, really, really bad at all things involving a candy thermometer but I would love to make fudge. Any chance you could do a fudge tutorial in the future?
I’ve never tried one of these…..they look good and would be perfect for breakfast, I think:)
What a small world! My boyfriend’s family owns Olde Colony Bakery who make the Benne Wafers!
http://www.oldecolonybakery.com
I love your blog and it’s so great to see you mention Benne wafers. I admit I hadn’t really known about them until I started dating him (I grew up in Michigan), but they are great little tasty cookies
Let me know if you’d like us to ship you a free bag! Email me with your address!
Sesame cookies? How different! I have a feeling that Cookie Monster would particularly enjoy these very much!
These look so intriguing! I’ve never had them either!
Benne seed wafers were totally a clue on Jeopardy last night.
What a cool combination! May have to try this one.
Never heard of these either… but I’ll take two
!!! It’s like you read my mind. Honestly. Freakin’ benne seed wafers.
Ooohhh, those look amazing, I love the taste of seasame seeds, but I would have never thought to put them in a cookie. This is another one of your recipes I will have to put in my “to make” list. I made your creamy white chicken chili and it was amazing, so thanks!
Lauren
sesame seeds? on cookies? how cool! love seeing something unique!
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
Ah I love benne seed wafers! They make me want to go back to Charleston asap. These sesame seed cookies are a great idea, I’ve loved all the recipe/story posts this week
Hello! I wanted to leave you a comment and let you know that I love your blog! I also have started blogging, and my site is called “Life in the Middle: Staying Fit in Nebraska.” It is along the same healthy living/fitness/eating lines as yours and many other blogs that I love! If you would be able to check it out, I would really appreciate it! It is brand new, and I am a brand new blogger, so any comments would be fantastic!
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Thanks! Keep up the great posts!
Jess
Those look so magnificently puffy.
I’ve never had sesame seeds in a cookie before, but these look so good! I love giant cookies!
I have never had sesame cookies before – I think it may be time to start!!
Looks good to me! I like my cookies to be cakey anyway! The only cookies that I like to be crunchy are gingersnaps!
love sesame seeds, but i’ve never had ‘em in a cookie!
yum!
Benne seed waters are sooo good! I have to try them in ice cream now…maybe with a bit of peanut butter on top!
Jenna–First of all I love this recipe. There is a restaurant in my hometown that serves sesame candies at the end of a meal, and I constantly crave nutty, sweet sesame goodness! I wanted to reiterate how much I love the changes in your blog. I loved reading your day-to-day but your recipes and cooking journeys remind me of home and the celebration of real, wholesome food. Every food has a story and I love how you are sharing yours. Happy Friday!
Never heard of those benne seed wafers, but these giant cookies sound awesome! yum..I think I’d sandwich them with some buttercream icing!
mmmh i love seasme seeds in desserts
Jenna – your photos are getting more and more amazing lately!
I sooooo agree with this. They are really beautiful!
ps – I want those in my belly NOW
sesamme seed cookies….eeeew !! Sorry , I love MOST of your sweets but these look boring.
These are adorable!
I’m not the biggest of sesame seed fans, but I’ll bet they’re amazing in cookie form.
oh, I bet these are wonderful… I love sesames!!
they look beautiful !
Even though it’s crappy and cold outside right now, I could definitely do with an ice cream sandwich!! These look great – and sound so much better than brittle cookies. I like the soft ones!
These sound delicious! I’ve never tried a sesame cookie before but they look great!
I’ve never heard of these! If I ever go to Charleston (which I hope I do, I hear the area is gorgeous) I will have to try them.
I have the same method of solving things with cookies. In fact, my roommate was rushing around like crazy last night, and I handed her 3 chocolate chip cookies for dinner as she sprinted out the door. And a couple of bites of squash – that would just be irresponsible of me not to balance out the meal with veggies.
“these boogers burn”
Maybe my fav quote of the day
What I would do to have one now. They look So cakey and would go perfect with some almond milk.
I love this combo and the uniqueness. Well done as always.
Love the cookies! Your answer to things in college may have been cookies…mine was more of the alcoholic variety
Have a super weekend!
Mine was both
mine too
guilty.
Since is a bit rainy here in Carmel decided to make a delicious Herbes Provence Lamb dish that reminds me of a certain bistro in Provence. (posted recipe on my blog) Think I’ll make these cookies too. Kind of country & simple…I like that. Thx!
Oh yum, oh yum. The weekend can now officially start!
I have never heard of these but boy do they look good! My baking never seems to end up as gorgeous as yours!
I’ve never even heard of these cookies! They look good though, I’ve never thought about using sesame seeds in a cookie. Very cool!
Never would have thought of this combination, I’ll have to give it a try sometime!
Oh my gosh I need these now!!!
My family is Sicilian and we have a sesame seed cookie recipe that’s very similar to this. We just add almond extract and form them into finger-like rolls. They’re yummmyyyyy.
yum…these sound amazing! i never would have thought of sesame seed cookies!
Hi, Jenna. Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy the new format for your blog. The pictures are great and the commentary very upbeat and fun to read. Great change!
I made a cookie a lot like this using quinoa once. They turned out great so no doubt these are fabulous!
oooohh deary! These look FANTASTIC…. they WOULD go great with a little ice cream in the middle…. *hmmm, perhaps some pumpkin ice cream*…
I am about to start drooling on my keyboard. These are just calling me, asking me to bake them and eat them – eat them all!!
I think two batches would be needed. One with ice cream and one with some cold milk.
What is the mat you bake? The one that you put on your cookie sheet?
that’s a silpat—a nonstick cooking mat! I LOVE mine..it’s like parchment paper but you can use it again and again.
Thanks! I NEED one ASAP!! Just found it on Amazon!
yummy! I’ve never ever seen any cookie with sesame seeds…..but these look incredible!
I was so excited to see the title if this post in my blog reader. And I was even more excited to see it was a recipe. I love, love, love sesame seeds. These cookies look delish. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
i’ve never heard of these cookies but they sound fabulous! i’ll have to give ‘em a shot
I made these last night and LOVE them. Tho, I didn’t have any dark brown sugar, so I used light and 1 tbsn molasses. Yum.
i just made these! i am dying they are so great! thanks jenna