I’m always looking for ways to incorporate my southern roots into my Southern California life. Bene Seed Wafers are very popular in the south . They were actually one of the foods brought over from West Africa.

I love all things sesame! I also love turmeric so when I was looking for ways to create a Hanukkah cookies adding turmeric to make them warm and golden was perfect.

These cookies are sweet, but not too much. The turmeric adds a warmth but not spice.

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Turmeric (Gelt) Sesame Cookies

This is my riff on Southern Bene Seed Cookies.

Course: Endings, Everything Else

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cookies, sesame, turmeric

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup Unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1-1/2 Cups Light Brown Sugar
• 2 Lg Eggs at room temperature
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1-2 tsp. Ground Turmeric
• 1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
• 1-1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Cup toasted sesame seeds
• 1/4 Cup Turbinado Sugar

Instructions

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add in eggs one at a time.
• In a small bowl, whisk together turmeric, flour, baking powder and sesame seeds.
• Gradually add flour mixture into sugar mixture, just until well combined. Do not over mix.
• Turn out onto parchment paper and form dough into a log, roll in turbinado sugar and let chill for up to an hour.
• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325° and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Slice cookies into 1/4” circles and and place 2” apart on baking sheets.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes until edges are just golden brown.
• Let cool 10 minutes on pan then transfer to rack to cool completely.