Name: Traditional Gullah Benne Wafers Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 24 servings
Cuisine: Gullah Geechee
Ingredients: 1 cup toasted benne seeds (sesame seeds); 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup light brown sugar, packed; 1 large egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt

Sesame cookies brought from West Africa. A Gullah Geechee tradition that tastes like history. These benne wafers are the perfect sweet and nutty treat.

Ingredients

1 cup toasted benne seeds (sesame seeds)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Toast benne seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Cream butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Beat in egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet mixture.
Fold in toasted benne seeds until evenly distributed.
Drop teaspoon-sized balls of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.

💡 Pro Tip: Benne seeds are traditional sesame seeds brought from West Africa by enslaved Gullah Geechee people. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.