May family’s favorite tahini cookies! Nutty, slightly sweet, and perfectly satisfying with the perfect crumbly texture. These shortbread cookies are made with a bit less butter than normal but don’t lack any buttery goodness or tenderness, thanks to rich organic tahini paste!
These cookies take just 5 ingredients (not counting pinch of salt), a couple bowls, and a hand mixer. So simple! But be sure to read on for tips and step-by-step guide.
Oh the many ways to use tahini!
Tahini paste is an essential part of the Mediterranean pantry, and is used in both savory and sweet dishes.
Although many think tahini is a nut butter, it’s actually made from ground sesame seeds. The sesame seeds are toasted, giving the paste a distinct nutty, deep flavor.
Tahini’s rich, nutty, and toasty flavor is unique and gives any dish a distinct taste that is delightfully surprising.
Some of the more popular dishes that use tahini and I love are hummus and tahini sauce , which I drizzle on just about anything from kabobs, to shawarma, fish, and even sweet potato fries.
But this special ingredient also appears in sweets like tahini brownies, banana shakes, and delicious cookies!
Using tahini in baking is a great option because it lends an earthy, creamy, and rich flavor in cakes and cookies you cannot get from any other ingredient. And for many who cannot use peanut butter because of allergies or other reasons, tahini may just be your ticket (visit our online shop for my favorite Oraganic Tahini by Soom.)
Once you try it, you’ll know that tahini has the ability to take an average one-note dessert to a special treat bursting with complexity and spunk.
Today’s tahini cookies are adapted from Michael Solomonov’s cookbook Zahav (affiliate link.) I’ll admit, they’re a bit indulgent. I make them on occasion, but they’re some of my family’s favorite treats.
Why I Love These Tahini Cookies
– Simple ingredients and easy to make. I do bake a few things that I truly love–hello bakalava and banana bread— but I am no baker and I do prefer easy, no-fuss dessert recipes. These cookies are just that. They require 5 simple ingredients (not county salt), one bowl, and a hand mixer.
– Tahini’s earthy and nutty flavor elevates these shortbread cookies. These cookies aren’t too far removed from your traditional shortbread cookie that so many people love, but upping the flavor with rich tahini paste takes it to a new level of delicious. Just think grandma’s shortbread cookie with a modern twist.
– Not too sweet with just the right texture. Besides the flavor, tahini also gives the cookies depth and a perfectly crumbly texture. BONUS! Tahini allows you to replace a bit of the butter in these cookies, making them just a little bit better for you. Tahini has loads of nutrition as well (antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and more.) But don’t take this as an excuse to eat a lot more cookies, they are very much still cookies!
If you ask me, these are the perfect treat with a cup of hot coffee, Italian hot chocolate, or some of my favorite mint tea.
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter – I’m an olive oil gal all the way, but these are shortbread cookies so butter is a must to give them their crispy, crumbly texture. I use a bit less butter here, thanks to the addition of tahini. By using unsalted butter, you can control the amount of added salt in these cookies. TIP: Butter at room temperature will also ensure the cookies don’t spread too much while baking.
- Sugar
- Tahini Paste– I use Organic Tahini paste by Soom (find it here), it’s made from 100% roasted and pressed organic Ethiopian White Humera sesame seeds offering a creamy texture and the best flavor.
- All-purpose Flour – no special flour needed here, all-purpose flour ensures proper texture and gives the shortbread cookies their distinct lightness.
- Baking Powder – allows the cookies to rise and fluff up a bit.
- Salt – a little salt balances the sweetness and gives a very subtle savory bite.
- Powdered Sugar (optional) – after your cookies are baked and cooled, you can dust them with powdered sugar, if you like.
How to make tahini cookies: step-by-step
Important Tip: Before you begin this recipe, make sure you have time to chill your cookie dough for at least 1 hour. If the dough is warm when put in the oven, your cookies will melt and spread like crazy.
Step 1: Cream sugar and butter together
In a large bowl with a hand mixer on medium speed, mix room temperature butter and 1 cup of sugar. You are looking for a light and fluffy texture that appears whipped and airy.
Tip: Your butter must be room temperature for proper mixing and cookie texture.
Step 2: Add tahini and mix well.
Add tahini to the butter and sugar mixture, and mix again until it is fully incorporated, and the mixture looks even (it’ll turn a slightly darker color from the tahini.)
Step 3: In a separate bowl mix dry the ingredients.
This includes the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix so they are well combined.
Step 4: Combine the flour mixture with the wet ingredients.
Dump your dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients. Mix well to make sure the ingredients are combined evenly.
Tip: Make sure to not overmix your dough though or the cookies with turn out tough and hard.
Step 5: Form the cookie dough into a log and chill (important.)
Transfer cookie dough to a clean surface and form into a log that’s about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the dough log tightly with plastic wrap and make sure no air is exposed to the dough or it will dry out in the fridge. Chill in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour or overnight.
Step 6: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and slice cookies.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the cookie dough log into about ½ or 1/3 inch slices, place on a baking sheet that has been lined with a baking mat or parchment paper.
Step 7: Bake
Bake your cookies in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. You are looking for the edges to turn a beautiful golden brown and the middles to look set and not under baked and doughy. And if you like them a tad extra crunchy, you can leave them till the edges turn a deeper golden brown (a few of mine did.)
Remove from oven, and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 10 minutes and then move them to cool fully in a cooling rack. If you’d like dust with powdered sugar to finish.
A few tips
In case you missed any of these tips for making tahini cookies, here they are:
1. Butter must be at room temperature. The softened butter works into the dough effortlessly, so you ensure your cookies are tender and crumbly, not overworked and tough. When you take a bit, you want the cookie to break easily and just crumble away in your mouth, you don’t want them to break your teeth.
2. Don’t overmix the dough, or you will wind up tougher and harder cookies as well. Mix just until the wet and dry ingredients come together.
3. Chill the cookie dough for at least 1 hour or overnight. If you do, your cookies with melt and spread too much when baking. Putting cold cookies into a hot oven will help them keep their shape and texture.
4. Use an over-sized cookie sheet or two cookie sheets if needed. When baking, the dough will spread a bit and you don’t want to cookies to bake into each other. Arrange the cookie dough portions about 1 to 1.5 inches apart on your sheet pan to allow room.
5. Make ahead option: you can prepare the cookie dough and shape it into a log. Tightly wrap it with plastic wrap and store it in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag (as long as the dough is well-protected). From here, you can freeze the dough for up to 6 months.
How to Store Cookies to Stay Fresh?
To store your baked tahini cookies, first, be sure they are fully cooled.
You can store them in an airtight container, even better, a tightly sealed metal tins or canisters. They will keep for 1 week at room temperature, but be sure the lid on your container or canister is tightly shut to make sure no air will enter.)
You can freeze baked cookies, in a freezer-safe container, for up to 6 months.
If you’re ready to take your shortbread cookie game to a whole new level, these pizzicati and ma’amoul recipes are a must-try!
Hungry for more? Try Homemade Granola with tahini and olive oil or Tahini Date Banana Shakes.
For more desserts, visit us here. For all recipes, visit us here.
SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE FOR QUALITY OLIVE OILS, ALL-NATURAL SPICES AND MORE.
Print
Tahini Shortbread Cookie Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: Up to 24 cookies 1x
Description
My family’s favorite tahini cookies! Nutty, slightly sweet, and perfectly satisfying with the perfect crumbly texture. These shortbread cookies are made with a bit less butter than normal but don’t lack any buttery goodness or tenderness, thanks to rich organic tahini paste!
These cookies take just 5 ingredients, a couple bowls, and a hand mixer. So simple! But be sure to read the tips and step-by-step guide above.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 sticks (7 oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup tahini paste
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
- Powdered sugar, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the butter and sugar. Using a hand mixer on medium speed, combine until light and fluffy.
- Now add the tahini and continue mixing on medium speed until well-incorporated.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Transfer the dry ingredients to the tahini mixture, and mix until well-incorporated into a dough.
- Take the tahini cookie dough out of the bowl and make it into a log (about 2 inches in diameter). Place the log on the short end of a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll the wrap twisting the ends in opposite direction so that the dough log is tightly wrapped. Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Slice the dough into 1/3 to 1/2 inch rounds, and arrange on a very large baking sheet (or two baking sheets) lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in the 350 degrees heated oven for 15 minutes or so until the cookies are light brown around the edges and set.
- Remove from the heat and leave the cookies in the baking sheets to cool briefly (about 10 minutes). Then transfer to a cooling rack to completely cool. Dust with powdered sugar, if you like.
Notes
- Important note: before you begin, make sure you have at least 1 hour for the cookie dough to chill. Chilling the dough is an essential step and you can do it for 1 hour or overnight.
- Where to find Tahini? My favorite tahini is Organic Tahini by Soom, and it’s available here at our online shop!
- To store: be sure the tahini cookies are fully cooled before transferring to an air-tight container or canister. Be sure to cover tightly. They will keep for up to 1 week at room temperature. Or you can store them in the freezer for up to 6 months, but be sure that the cookies are well-protected.
- Make Ahead Option: You can make the dough ahead and freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Visit Our Online shop for quality Mediterranean ingredients.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
These are my type of cookies. I should make them this weekend!
Yes you should!! 🙂
These tahini cookies look heavenly!
Give them a try, for sure! You’ll love them!
Tahini has some great health benefits. I love that the cookies will have a healhty flair!
I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I had never thought to use tahini in cookies before! This is a genius idea. 🙂
I hope you like them, Carrie!!
My kids really loved these cookies! They can’t stop eating these!
These were incredible! I have never added tahini to baked goods before and I was amazed how yummy they were!
always up for a delicious and easy cookie! I’ve never baked with tahini before. Such a great flavor in these shortbread cookies!
This recipe has me excited. I love tahini but have never baked with it before. Thanks.
Hi Suzy, new to your site. We can’t eat butter, I ‘m wondering if I can do earth balance soy free butter in this recipe? I’m gonna try. Thanks again. Tracy
Hi Tracy, I think you can make this substitution, if you’ve used Earth Balance for baking with good results in the past.
During Lent (I am Orthodox) is there any substitute for the butter, like all tahini, vegetable oil instead of butter, vegan spread instead of butter?
a
These being shortbread cookies, they do rely on the consistency of butter. Another reader suggested using Earth Balance as an option. You may try that.
Melt-in-your-mouth tender! This is a fabulous recipe, — thank you so much for sharing it. I love peanut butter cookies as well as shortbread, but I’ll now be making this recipe instead.
With the exception of rolling the cookie log in lightly toasted sesame seeds before refrigerating, I followed the recipe exactly, though I may have baked them a bit longer than recommended ( about 17 minutes total) to be sure they were a darker golden brown around the edges. But if your oven temperature isn’t reliable, you may want to follow the suggested timing.
I sliced and baked only half the log for my test batch, and froze the other half. I’m glad I did, or I may have eaten the entire batch all on my own. Delicious!
Awesome, Palyn! so glad you enjoyed these. And thank you for sharing your experience
This looks yummy. There is a sticky tahini cookie recipe that is more like a moist oatmeal cookie but this would be a nice option also. Uh oh, imagining sitting with a nice cup of tea or coffee and indulging. Lol
AFFY, thanks much! These are perfect with tea or coffee…hope you give them a try!
Like your recipes and signed up for your blog.
Awesome!!! thanks so much Jovina. Will be checking your site out!
Awesome recipe Suzy! I am going to prepare this for my family…we all lead busy lives, yet we want our families to have food that is good and healthy, thank you so much for all that you do.
Hi Phyllis! Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy!
I love your blog! The cookies look amazing. Have you tried a gluten free version? Curious which flour(s) to use to get the same great results 🙂
Hi Elle! Great question. I have asked my gluten free cooks and blogger friends and they recommended Cup 4 Cup or King Arthur. Not sure if some adjustments are needed though in terms of measurements, but I assume those brands provide instructions.
Wow, I’ve never thought of putting tahini in shortbread cookies but look forward to trying it. Love all of your step by step photos!
Thanks so much, Karen! I really enjoy Tahini and love finding new ways to use it. Hope you like this one.