Honey and sesame cookies

The transition from the urban environment to an oasis of tranquility is created through a sort of magical portal in a fine trail of winter scents, sweet flavors, and warm souls of gentle people. The Taină Vie Oasis, located just a few moments away from the hustle and bustle of Iași, in Bârnova, hosts us today for a recipe with a modern twist, made from healthy ingredients, bound together by plenty of honey. With a cup of tea from local herbs, a steaming cup of coffee, or a glass of warm milk before bedtime, these cookies go perfectly with any of these choices.

The cooking takes place in the heart of the oasis, at the home of Oana, Dragoș, and Ioana. The transformation goes as follows: A few hours before making the cookies, let the butter reach room temperature and become soft. Then, mix the butter with a whole egg, honey, and tahini (sesame paste). The secret here is to blend the ingredients thoroughly to achieve the flakiest cookies possible. Form the dough, which will be refrigerated for about half an hour.

During this time, in a hot pan, roast the sesame seeds to enhance their flavor through slow frying. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius while preparing the cookies. Roll small dough balls in the golden sesame seeds and flatten them gently on a baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, until they become golden brown. If stored in a tightly sealed metal container, they will stay fresh for up to two weeks. The oasis has been the core of sharing recipes, telling stories, and tasting various types of honey while we prepared the recipe above. When you want to leave time for time itself, take a moment of tranquility and find your way to an oasis!

Ingredients:

– 150g butter (80% fat)

– 100g tahini (sesame paste)

– 100g honey

– 1 egg

– 250g flour

– 1 teaspoon baking powder

– 100g sesame seeds

Preparation:

1. Mix the room-temperature butter with the whole egg, honey, and sesame paste. Mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
2. Add the flour and baking powder. Stir with a spatula, then with your hands, to form a slightly soft dough. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about half an hour or even longer.
3. Meanwhile, in a clean pan (without oil), roast the sesame seeds until they turn golden brown. If you have black sesame seeds, you can mix them together.
4. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form small dough balls, slightly larger than a walnut. Roll them in the toasted sesame seeds, flatten them slightly, and place them on the baking sheet.
5. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until they turn slightly golden.
6. Once baked, let the cookies cool and store them in a tightly sealed metal container. This way, they will stay fresh for at least two weeks.

Enjoy!