Best 8 Benne Wafers Recipes

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Benne wafers are a scrumptious and delicate cookie with a unique flavor that combines the nuttiness of sesame seeds with a hint of sweetness. Originating from the Southern United States, these delightful treats have become a beloved staple in many households. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, crafting benny wafers is a rewarding experience that will leave you with a delightful batch of crispy, flavorful cookies.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

BENNE WAFERS



Benne Wafers image

Since I live in the South people refer to these cookies as Benne Wafers, they are actually Sesame Seed Cookies. Toasting benne (sesame) seeds develops their flavor and also gives these cookies a slightly crunchy texture.

Provided by Holly

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Drop Cookie Recipes

Yield 36

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup sesame seeds
¾ cup butter, melted
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 106.7 calories, Carbohydrate 12.6 g, Cholesterol 15.3 mg, Fat 6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 1.3 g, SaturatedFat 2.8 g, Sodium 51.8 mg, Sugar 8.9 g

BENNE WAFERS



Benne Wafers image

Provided by Kardea Brown

Categories     dessert

Time 45m

Yield 24 wafers

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
Nonstick cooking spray, for your hands

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter for about 30 second, so that it is even softer. Add the sugar, vanilla, salt, baking soda and egg and beat until just combined. Add the flour and mix until smooth. Stir in the sesame seeds.
  • Drop the dough by tablespoonful onto the baking sheets, making sure to leave at least an inch between the wafers for spreading. Spray your hands or a spatula with nonstick spray and press the cookies down to keep them from doming.
  • Bake until golden brown and starting to crisp on the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Allow the wafers to cool for 1 minute on the baking sheets, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

BENNE SEED WAFERS



Benne Seed Wafers image

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

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 50m

Yield 8 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 10

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

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 32 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 9mg sodium, Carbohydrate 4g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.

BENNE SEED WAFERS



Benne Seed Wafers image

Sesame seeds, called benne seeds in the South, were brought to this country from Africa.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Appetizers

Yield Makes 32

Number Of Ingredients 7

3 large eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 large pinch sugar
3/4 cup unhulled sesame seeds, toasted

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, beat together 2 eggs and oil until frothy. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, and sesame seeds. Mix into egg mixture. Add extra flour if needed to make a stiff dough; it shouldn't be sticky.
  • Roll out dough on a lightly floured board as thinly as possible. Using a 3-inch-round biscuit cutter, cut into circles. Arrange on a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water to make egg wash. Brush wafers lightly with egg wash. Poke holes all over crackers with a fork, making sure the holes go all the way through.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, or until brown around edges. Turn over, and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. Let cool; store in an airtight container.

BENNE-SEED WAFERS



Benne-Seed Wafers image

Categories     Dairy     Bake     Vegetarian     Winter     Gourmet

Yield Makes about 60 wafers

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/3 cup very fresh sesame (benne) seeds
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 cup cold lard or vegetable shortening
1/4 cup whole milk
coarse salt for sprinkling 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.

BENNE SEED WAFERS



Benne Seed Wafers image

According to legend among the descendants of Negro slaves of Charleston, the benne is a good luck plant for those who eat it seeds. Benne is the southern word for sesame seeds, and they make the most wonderful, delicious cookies you ever wrapped your lips around! This recipe come from the Junior League of Charleston's Cook Book, Charleston Receipts.

Provided by Recipe Baroness

Categories     Drop Cookies

Time 30m

Yield 100 wafer cookies

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup plain flour (all purpose)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

  • Toast your sesame seeds and let cool.
  • Cream the butter and sugar, adding beaten egg, then the flour that has bee sifted with salt and baking powder. Add the vanilla and Sesame seeds.
  • Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake in preheated 325°F oven.
  • Allow to cool one minute before removing them from the cookie sheet and place on cooling rack.
  • This makes a transparent cookie wafer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 40.1, Fat 1.8, SaturatedFat 0.7, Cholesterol 4.3, Sodium 17.9, Carbohydrate 5.7, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 4.3, Protein 0.5

BENNE CHEESE WAFERS



Benne Cheese Wafers image

Provided by Regina Schrambling

Categories     appetizer

Time 30m

Yield 5 - 7 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spread the sesame seeds on a baking sheet. Bake them for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are toasted golden but not brown. Transfer to a bowl and cool.
  • Using a wooden spoon, beat the butter and cheese together in a bowl until they are well blended. Blend in the Worcestershire sauce. In another bowl, stir together the flour, cayenne, mustard, salt and sesame seeds. Gradually stir into the butter mixture to make a stiff dough, then knead to blend all the ingredients evenly.
  • Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them into marble-sized balls. Place them about an inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with the tines of a fork in a crisscross pattern.
  • Bake them for 12 minutes, or until they are crisp but not brown. Cool on racks. Store in airtight container.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 36, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 2 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 21 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams

BENNE WAFERS



BENNE WAFERS image

Yield 120 quarter sized wafers

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/3 cup benne (sesame) seeds
1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. (1oz) sifted bleached all-purpose flour, plus more for flouring cookie sheet
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter, plus more for greasing cookie sheets
1 large egg white
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 375F. Thoroughly grease and flour 2 cookie sheets or spray them with a vegetable-oil based cooking spray. 2. In a 9inch cast-iron skillet, toast the seeds over medium-low heat, agitating them frequently in the pan, until they are the color of unpopped popcorn, about 5 minutes. 3. Sift the flour with the sugar, brown sugar, and baking soda twice. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with punching strokes of a pastry blender or with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. 4. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg white on medium speed to medium-stiff peaks. Add the dry ingredients in quarters, beating until the batter is consistently smooth and lustrous, about 2 minutes. Add the toasted seeds and vanilla and beat on low speed just until the seeds are evenly incorporated. Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a round tip or to a plastic bag with a zipper seal with a tiny piece of it's tip cut off. 5. Working in batches of 30, pipe the batter in 1/4 tsp-sized drops about 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet and bake until the cookies just begin to turn from blond to auburn, about 4-6 minutes. Transfer the cookie sheets to a rack and cool until the cookies have stiffened, about 5 minutes. Transfer with a spatula to a container with a tight-fitting lid. Repeat until all the cookies are baked, and let them cool completely before sealing the container. 6. The cookies will keep in the container for 3-4 days.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best results.
  • Make sure your butter is cold before you begin. This will help to create a flaky crust.
  • Be careful not to overmix the dough. Overmixing will make the wafers tough.
  • Roll the dough out evenly. This will help to ensure that the wafers bake evenly.
  • Bake the wafers until they are golden brown. This will give them the best flavor and texture.
  • Let the wafers cool completely before storing them. This will help them to stay crisp.

Conclusion:

Benne wafers are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. With their crispy texture and nutty flavor, they are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you are looking for a sweet snack, give benne wafers a try!

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