Best 5 Benne Wafers Charlestons Classic Sesame Seed Cookies Recipes

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Benne wafers, also known as Charleston Classic Sesame Seed Cookies, are a beloved Southern delicacy with a rich history and unique flavor. Originating in the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina, these crispy and delicate cookies have become a cherished tradition passed down through generations. Made with a simple combination of everyday ingredients, from nutty benne seeds to sweet butter and aromatic vanilla extract, benes embody the essence of Southern hospitality and warmth. Whether enjoyed as a delightful teatime treat, served at family gatherings, or gifted to loved ones, benns hold a special place in the culinary heritage of the South.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

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 (CHARLESTON'S CLASSIC SESAME SEED COOKIES)



Benne wafers (Charleston's Classic Sesame Seed Cookies) image

Benne wafers are traditional cookies from Charleston, SC made with benne (sesame) seeds. Bite-sized and crunchy, they make excellent tea cookies and are ideal for wedding or shower favors or Christmas gifts! This easy, old fashioned Southern recipe will give you that unique, traditional South Carolina Lowcountry flavor you're looking for!

Provided by Caroline Lindsey

Categories     Dessert

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar (firmly packed)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup benne or sesame seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • If using sesame seeds, rather than authentic benne seeds, toast seeds in dry skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until well mixed, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Make it extra fluffy to add volume to the dough so you get the full number of cookies out of it! Add the eggs one at a time, beating well to combine after each egg.
  • Sift together flour and baking powder. Stir dry ingredients into butter-sugar mixture. Stir in benne or sesame seeds and vanilla extract.
  • Drop dough by scant 1/2-teaspoons-full (I did a little less than 1/2 teaspoon to make them more bite-sized, since the dough spreads quite a bit) onto parchment paper about 1 inch apart. If desired, spoon dough into a ziplock bag and trim off the corner, or into a pastry bag, and pipe tiny amounts onto the parchment paper instead of using spoons.
  • Bake for 7-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove cookies onto a rack to cool.
  • Store in an airtight container or separate into baggies as gifts or favors.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 258 kcal, Carbohydrate 33 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 13 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Sodium 25 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 23 g, ServingSize 1 serving

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

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

SESAME COOKIES (BENNE WAFERS)



Sesame Cookies (Benne Wafers) image

I think this recipe was attached to a box of Benne Wafers that my parents brought me back from Charleston, SC back in 1991. I have never made them myself, but I remember the wafer to be very tasty.

Provided by AcadiaTwo

Categories     Drop Cookies

Time 30m

Yield 72 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sesame seeds (toasted)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

Steps:

  • Cream butter and sugar together.
  • Then mix with other ingredients.
  • Drop teaspoon sized balls on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet about 2" apart.
  • Bake in a 325° oven for 7-10 minutes.
  • Makes 6-dozen.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 50.3, Fat 2.6, SaturatedFat 1.3, Cholesterol 10.2, Sodium 21.6, Carbohydrate 6.4, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 4.5, Protein 0.6

Tips:

  • Make sure the butter and eggs are at room temperature before starting. Room-temperature ingredients mix together more smoothly and evenly.
  • Use a light hand when measuring the flour. Too much flour can make the cookies dry and tough.
  • Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out. This will help prevent the dough from sticking to the counter or rolling pin.
  • Roll the dough out thinly, about 1/8 inch thick. The thinner the dough is, the crispier the cookies will be.
  • Use a sharp knife or pastry wheel to cut the dough into strips. This will help prevent the dough from tearing.
  • Bake the cookies at a high temperature, 400°F, for a short amount of time, 10-12 minutes. This will help the cookies to become crispy and golden brown.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before storing them. This will help them to retain their crispness.

Conclusion:

Benne wafers are a delicious and easy-to-make cookie that is perfect for any occasion. With their delicate sesame flavor and crispy texture, these cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give benne wafers a try. You won't be disappointed!

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