When we moved, I thought that I may not be able to find certain ingredients, such as black sesame seeds (as it's more commonly used in Asian cuisines), so I was quite surprised to find not just white, but also black sesame seeds in the local markets! Black sesame desserts are one of my favourites because of its uniquely rich, nutty and slight smoky flavour. I'm hoping to grab some glutinous rice flour so I can make some black sesame dumplings soon, but first, let me make some cookies!
I first made these cookies 2 years ago and I was in love with them ever since! I love these cookies because they are not too sweet and have a lovely crisp and crunch as the butter is creamed with caster sugar instead of icing sugar. On a random impulse this time round, I decide to incorporate both white and black sesame seeds into the cookie batter separately and make chequered cookies.
Making chequered cookies is definitely not difficult, it's just a little more time consuming as you need to roll out the dough, chill, cut, assemble and chill again before they can be baked. But I really love the visual effect of these cookies, even though they didn't turn out to be perfect squares. The mini ones are adorable but the big ones are more satisfying, which one would you have preferred?
Sesame Chequered Cookies
INGREDIENTS
- 30 grams black sesame seeds
- 30 grams of white sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoons honey, divided
- 115 grams unsalted butter, ½ cup
- 85 grams caster sugar, ⅜ cup
- 1 egg yolk
- 155 grams all-purpose flour, divided into 2 equal portions (1 ¼ cups)
- 2 teaspoons milk
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Toast the black and white sesame seeds on separate trays until the white sesame seeds is lightly golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- In a food processor, grind the white sesame seeds with 1 teaspoon of honey until fine. Repeat with the black sesame seeds. Set the sesame pastes aside.
- Weigh your empty mixing bowl and note it down. Place the butter and sugar in the mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, cream the mixture on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add in the egg yolk and beat on medium speed until incorporated, about 1 minute. Now weigh your mixing bowl again, subtract the weight of your empty mixing bowl and scoop out half of the dough into another mixing bowl.
- Mix in ½ of the flour (77 grams) and the black sesame paste into one portion of the dough and the remaining flour and white sesame paste into the other portion. If the dough is too stiff, mix in drops of milk until soft enough to handle.
- Wipe the table top with a damp cloth and line a plastic wrap on top (so that the plastic wrap will stay in place). Place the black sesame dough on top of the plastic wrap and shape it into a 4 x 7.5-inch block. Wrap the dough with the plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Repeat for the white sesame dough.
- While the doughs are still cold, slice both doughs into 0.5 x 7.5-inch strips (or equally into 8 strips). Brush each strip of dough lightly with milk and join them together to form a chequered shape, pressing them together gently. Wrap the chequered dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. (See pictorial guide below.)
At this point, you can also freeze the dough until you need it. There is no need to thaw the dough, just add 1 to 2 minutes to the baking time. - Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the chequered dough into ¼-inch thick slices and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes for large chequered cookies and 8 to 10 minutes for small chequered cookies, until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before storing it in an airtight container.
NOTES
- Adapted from Nami's (Just One Cookbook) Sesame Cookies
Hope the above pictorial will be useful if you are making chequered cookies! If you need step-by-step photos, head over here to see them!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Hi Jasline! Thanks so much for trying my sesame cookie recipe! I LOVE these checkerboard cookies! Really cute and looks amazing! I just shared your link on my facebook page... hope that was okay! 🙂 xo
Jasline N. says
Hi Nami, thank you so much for the feature! I love your sesame cookies recipe and am really happy to try out a checkerboard design with them!
Joyce, Kitchen Flavours says
Hi Jasline,
Lovely cookies! so glad to hear that you are able to find sesame seeds over there!
Either the big or the small cookies, I'll be happy to munch either one!
Jasline N. says
Hi Joyce, yes I'm glad I was able to find them! I couldn't decide which size to eat, so I always end up eating both... oops!
bentodays says
Looks perfect! I have yet to bake a neat set of checkerboard cookies!
Jasline N. says
Thank you Jean, mine is not that neat, I'm sure you can do better than me!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
They look fantastic! I love sesame flavoured things so these would be right up my alley 😀
Jasline N. says
Glad to found another sesame lover! 🙂
May Law says
非常有心思的饼干， 还有那详细的步骤图， 你。。你太好了！ 嘻嘻
Jasline N. says
哈哈，我相信如果是你做的饼干的话，一定会更美！
SavoringTime IntheKitchen says
Your cookies are adorable! I love the checked pattern and I love sesame seeds too 🙂
Jasline N. says
Thank you Susan! It seems that there are a lot of sesame lovers here! 🙂
Monica says
I love how these look and the sesame flavor! You did a great job. Wish I could taste one right now! : )
Jasline N. says
Thank you so much Monica, wish I could send you some!
Charmaine says
I realised that you are residing in Israel now... How interesting and a bold decision. 🙂
And I preferred the big ones but small ones are good as well. I too, ♡ sesame... 😉
Jasline N. says
Thanks Charmaine! If only I can send some big sesame cookies to you!
Raymund says
Wow this looks cool! and thanks for the detailed instructions on how to make them.
Jasline N. says
Thanks Raymund! Hope you have the chance to make them one day!