Black Sesame Cookies

Name: Black Sesame Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Yield: 24 servings
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed; 2 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 6 tbsp black sesame paste; 1/4 cup black sesame seeds, toasted

Chewy Japanese-bakery style sugar cookies swirled with toasted black sesame paste and rolled in black sesame seeds for a nutty, marbled bite. The viral Summergeist bake of July 2026.

32 minEasyServes 24160 cal/serving

JapaneseDessertOvenVegetarianLow CarbLow-SodiumPork-FreeNightshade-Free

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp black sesame paste
1/4 cup black sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2

In a large bowl, cream 1 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3

Beat in 2 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until fully combined.
4

In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt, then stir into the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
5

Dollop 6 tbsp black sesame paste over the dough and fold gently 3 to 4 times with a spatula so it swirls through without fully blending, creating a marbled effect.
6

Scoop the dough into 1 1/2 tablespoon balls, roll each ball in 1/4 cup toasted black sesame seeds, and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
7

Bake until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underdone, 10 to 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Questions

Can I make Black Sesame Cookies dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1 cup unsalted butter, softened. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Black Sesame Cookies gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Black Sesame Cookies keep?

Store it airtight: two to three days at room temperature or up to a week refrigerated. It freezes for up to two months; thaw at room temperature.

Can I halve or double Black Sesame Cookies?

Yes. As written it serves 24. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. Doubled, split it across two pans and rotate them halfway; one crowded pan bakes unevenly.

Serve it with

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