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Tahini cookies
Ugiyot tahini (עוגיות טחינה): crumbly Israeli tahini cookies
Every Israeli bakery and grandmother's biscuit tin has ugiyot tahini, little domed cookies that crumble and melt on the tongue with a deep, toasty sesame flavour. They are baked for Shabbat coffee, for guests dropping by in Haifa or Jerusalem, and as an easy dairy-free sweet to follow a meat meal. This version uses oil rather than butter, so it is vegan. The mistake is baking until they turn golden all over; they firm up as they cool and should leave the oven pale with just-coloured bases. Chef's tip: stir the tahini jar thoroughly first, since the oil separates and a dry spoonful from the bottom makes sandy, dry cookies.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 20
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz tahiniwell stirred
- 3 ½ oz sugar
- ¼ cup sunflower oil
- 7 oz plain flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F and line two trays.
Step 2: Beat 5 ½ oz tahini, 3 ½ oz sugar, ¼ cup sunflower oil and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth. Add 7 oz plain flour, ½ tsp baking powder and 1 pinch salt and knead briefly into a soft, crumbly dough that holds when squeezed.
Step 3: Roll into walnut-sized balls, set on the trays and flatten slightly with a fork. Press the tops into 2 tbsp sesame seeds if you like.
8 minStep 4: Bake for 12–14 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden and the tops are still pale.
14 minStep 5: Cool on the trays for 10 minutes; they are fragile while warm. Store in a tin for up to a week.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 13 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tahini cookies take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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