These pine nut tahini cookies have a delicate, flaky shortbread texture and a sweet sesame flavor.
Have you ever tried halva? It’s a sweet, sesame-based confection that can often be found at local candy shops or Jewish delis. Sometimes I see pre-packaged versions but you really want to find the homemade stuff. It’s rich, dense and wonderful. I love it.
And when I first tasted these tahini cookies, halva immediately came to mind.
These cookies have a tender, flaky texture similar to shortbread. The tahini is prominent and pine nuts add a light crunch and complementary flavor.
You can use regular honey in this recipe but I recommend orange blossom honey if it’s available to you. Orange blossom honey is lightly floral and blends perfectly with the other flavors.
I gave one of these cookies to my grandmother to try and her response was “These are so good; these taste like halva!” If Zelda gave these cookies her seal of approval, that means you need to try them.
Looking for more cookie recipes?
Head over to the Cookies & Bars section of my recipe index to see all of my cookie recipes in one place! If you want specific suggestions, I recommend checking out my Soft Gingerbread Cookies with Chocolate as well as my Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies.
Pine Nut Tahini Cookies
Ingredients
- 6 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour (approximately 1 1/4 cups)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup well-stirred tahini
- ½ tablespoon honey (I used orange blossom)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- pine nuts
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with on medium-high for several minutes until light and fluffy.
- Slowly add the tahini, honey and vanilla.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until a dough has just formed.
- Transfer dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and flatten. Chill in the refrigerator until the dough has firmed up, at least 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, roll dough into approximately 1-inch balls. Line them up on the cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart. Top each cookie with 5 pine nuts.
- Bake for approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheets for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
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Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
I spent years in Greece where halva is very popular indeed, so I’m sure I’d love these cookies … I love that you’ve included pine nuts!
Ashley says
Oh my word, do these look like perfection. Just love the thickness!
Crystal S.(Apples & Sparkle) says
These cookies sound delicious! I love anything tahini, and I must say this is the first dessert recipe I’ve seen that uses it. Sounds so, so good! : )
Tutti Dolci says
These cookies look incredible, I love desserts with tahini!
Naomi Robinson says
I love the sound of these. The tahini sounds so interesting.
Megan {Country Cleaver} says
My first halva experience was life changing – and I bet these cookies are no doubt the same!!
Devra says
These look awesome! Are there substitutions if I don’t use white flour and white sugar – i.e. would brown rice flour and cane sugar work? or maple syrup? or brown rice syrup? just trying to see if there is a healthier alternative because I love halva and I love using tahini in recipes
Savory Simple says
I can never guarantee the recipe will work when there are substitutions I didn’t personally test. Those are some pretty major substitutions and will definitely change the structure of the cookie. But if you give it a try, please let me know how it turns out!
ATasteOfMadness says
I have never tried it, but it sounds magical!
Marissa says
I’ve never tried halva, but these cookies look so good. And with a grandmother’s approval, obviously I need to try these.
kbelleicious says
Oh yum. They are nutty and buttery and salty which is the perfect combo of flavor to me! They look wonderful
Christine says
I will be making these today with my son. I am so exciting….tahini is one of those things we just happen to be able to easily get in China…and we can even find pine nuts in a fruit vendor’s shop! Yay!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says
What a unique cookie!