Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside with delicately sweet nutty roasted black sesame seed paste or tahini rolled in simple pie pastry and dipped in toasted sesame seeds.
Chinese New Year Cookie in under 30 Minutes
How would you like to have a delicious cookie on your table for Chinese New Year or any time of the year in less than 30 minutes?
I thought you might like that. Not only is this sesame spiral pie cookies recipe a breeze to make, they are only lightly sweet and could easily be grabbed for those quick and easy breakfasts on the run.
Chinese New Year Cookie Party
Healthy World has teamed up with 14 other amazing food bloggers today to bring to you many delicious Chinese cookies recipes to celebrate Chinese New Year in style. You are just going to love this Chinese New Year Cookie round-up as you have all of your favorite Chinese cookies all in one handy location so be sure to sure to pin so you can make them this holiday season. In addition, we would like you to join the party on social media channels (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) with the hashtag #ChineseNewYearCookieParty and show us your cookie creations.
Chinese New Year Festivities
Chinese New Year is right around the corner and is one of the biggest holidays here in Asia. In Hong Kong, there is a hustle and bustle in the air. Everyone is heading to the flower markets to decorate their homes and putting up Fa Chun (which are little red wave signs to bring good luck and fortune to your home in the new year).
Many are going to the temples to predict their fortune and meditate. Everyone is busy cleaning, organizing and buying their ingredients to make some delicious treats to celebrate their time with family and friends in this year of the monkey. Healthy World Cuisine has written an overview of some of the traditions, customs and foods celebrated in Chinese New Year as a part of the VRAI Magazine HERE.
One of my favorite ways of celebrating Chinese New Year here in Hong Kong is to view the fireworks and of course have friends over for Chinese Tea and little sweet and savory treats and biscuits. How beautiful would these sesame spiral pie cookies look on your cookie platter?! Be sure to check our our 10 Fun and Easy Chinese New Year Recipes for more inspiration.
Sesame Seeds are the Symbol of Prosperity
Most often the little sweet and savory treats that are shared during Chinese New Year in Hong Kong are deep fried and although very delicious, I wanted to make something baked and only delicately sweet as that is more the trend here in Asia. Sesame seeds, especially black sesame seeds, are thought to bring prosperity in the New Year so these Sesame spiral pie cookies are sure to be a favorite.
I used pre-made refrigerated pie dough from Pillsbury (they also have a gluten-free version) to make sesame spiral pie cookies and this was a huge time saver. I slathered on a very thin layered of lightly sweetened black sesame seed or tahini paste (as displayed below) onto the pre-made pie dough rolled it up, cut horizontally and then dipped into toasted sesame seeds and then baked for a just a few minutes. How easy is that! No real measuring or slaving in the kitchen, just a quick and easy cookie recipe.
How to Make Black Sesame Seed Paste
I have used both black sesame paste (roasted ground whole black sesame) and also tahini paste inside the Sesame Spiral Sesame Rolls. It gives you some different options no matter where you are in the world. Nami-san, one of my favorite Japanese foodie buddies gives an awesome tutorial on How to make Black Sesame Seed Paste if you are interested in making your own from scratch. We can find pre-made black sesame seed paste readily here in Asia but you can find this in an Asian grocery store near you.
Health Benefits of Sesame Seeds
Black sesame seeds (hei zhī ma) are high in calcium, magnesium, protein, and fiber. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), black sesame seeds are used to treat many ailments of the kidneys, liver and spleen. Black sesame seeds are thought to reverse some of the aging process, good for the hair and restore blood and essential qi to the kidneys so it has that going for it as well. If you like sesame seeds, be sure to try our Hot Black Sesame Cereal.
Recipe Exchanges if you cannot find sesame seed paste
Tahini (ground hulled white sesame seed paste) is available in many places around the world. Also, just slathering any type of nut butter such as peanut, walnut or almond inside with a little crush nuts and roll.
This recipe can be easily modified to gather the ingredients you have already in your kitchen or at your local market. However, my favorite, is the black sesame spiral pie cookies. I love the nutty toasty flavor and after all we all need as much of the anti-aging effects we can get our hands on and in the cookie form...who needs to think twice.
Please stop over enjoy our fun Chinese New Year Cookie Party round up with our amazing food blogging team.
- Vermillion Roots : Vegan Cornflake Cereal Cookies
- The Missing Lokness: Fried Red Bean Puffs
- Daily Cooking Quest: Chinese Peanut Cookies
- Curious Nut: Chocolate Almond Cookies
- What to Cook Today: Tapioca cookies (kue bangkit)
- Butter & Type: Red Bean & Strawberry Pinwheel Cookies
- Wok & Skillet: Pineapple Jam Tarts
- Healthy World Cuisine: Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies
- Brunch-n-Bites: Cherry Blossom Cookies
- Miss Hangarypants: Mochi Stuffed Almond Cookies
- Foodie Baker: Melt-in-the-Mouth Chinese Gluten-Free Peanut Cookies
- Hapa Nom Nom: Honey Almond Cookies
- Omnivore's Cookbook: Quinoa Sesame Brittle
- Yummy Workshop: Browned Butter Chinese Walnut Cookies
- Thirsty for Tea : Macau Almond Cookies
- Created to Cook : Ultimate Pecan Sandies
Xin Nian Kuai Le! (新年快乐.)
Gong Hei Fat Choy!
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Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp black sesame paste
(or can use tahini or any nut butter like peanut, almond or walnut butter) - 2 tbsps black sesame seeds
toasted - ½ cup brown sugar
packed (I only like my delicately sweet so you may want to add more to suit your taste or can use honey or sugar alternatives) - 14 oz pre-made refrigerated pie crust
(I used Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust- Pillsbury also makes a gluten free pie crust too) - 1 egg
beaten - 3 tbsp toasted sesame seeds toasted(white or black)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190 degree celsius (374 degrees F). Take your pre-made refrigerated pie crust out of the refrigerator and take out of the container and let to come to room temperature for about 10 minutes.
- In a small bowl mix black sesame seed paste and brown sugar (or coconut sugar or other sugar alternative) until well mixed. (You can also use tahini paste or any nut butter like peanut, almond or walnut butter)
- Unroll your pre-made pie crusts and cut the edges off the circle crust to make a square (This makes it easier to roll up and cut) You can pull together the scrap crusts and roll out as well.
- Spread a very thin layer of black sesame seed paste (or tahini or other nut butter) on top of each pre-made raw pie crust. I have to emphasize for your to only use a THIN layer of black sesame seed paste as if you get too thick the sesame seed paste will run all over your baked cookies. Sprinkle the raw pre-made pie crusts that are covered with the thin layer of black sesame paste with toasted black sesame seeds.
- Start at one end and tightly but gently roll the pie crust into a tortilla swirl. Slice the roll into 1 inch segments. (you will get about 10 cookies from each pie crust section or about 20 cookies total)
- Beat an egg and brush the egg around the edges of the sliced cookie and roll in the toasted sesame seeds. (I used toasted white sesame seeds.)
- Placed your prepared Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies on a greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart (they do not expand) or parchment paper and bake for about 14-16 minutes. Your cookies should be slightly golden on the outside and crisp on the outside but chewy in the center.
- Enjoy your Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies with a little Chinese Tea and friends and family.
Hmm ! You temptress ! These look SO beautiful ! And I love sesame seeds of whatever colour . . . and you talk of Hong Kong and the Chinese New Year . . . and I have just received a large on-line natural foods consignment with the best tahini I have ever tasted included. So . . . shall do some homework re the ingredients of locally available pie crusts . ., . many have transfats etc included . . . Meanwhile much love, take care and am thinking of your son . . .
Thank you so much Eha! I guess we are feeling a little melancholy around the holiday, being so far apart. However, making recipes that we all enjoy helps us feel connected. I think you will like this sesame cookie recipe because, unlike a western recipe, this cookie is just very delicately sweet. Stay well and take care.
These look amazing Bobbi! I have black sesame seeds handy and will try it out soon. Thank you sharing!
These sound absolutely delicious Bobbi! I love tahini, it's one of my absolute favourite things (so yummy on toast with some honey drizzled over the top) but I've never thought to use it in a cookie. These are stunning to look at and I can imagine how nice the flavor would be. My mum is having a CNY party at her house this year so maybe I will try and bring some cookies along for a treat! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by Laura. I love tahini too. As you know, tahini has that little tang of flavor so you need to sweeten up according to your needs to overcome that tang as I only like my sweets delicately sweet. Have a super time at your mums CNY party.
These look absolutely fabulous! Perfect for the Chinese New Year. 🙂
Thank you! Wishing you a fab CNY!
To me these are so unique - wow! While I have a sweet tooth, I, too, prefer baked and delicately sweet treats so these would be perfect - AND they look exquisite! I need to see if I can find Pillsbury Gluten free pie dough here too!
Thank you Shashi. I noticed that the Pillsbury gluten free pie crust comes in a tub instead of in a pre-rounded pie crust but that still beats making it from scratch. Take care
I would LOVE to have a batch of these on my table for Chinese New Years and any time of the year. Bet these are as much fun to make as they are to eat.
Thanks for sharing this, I love the idea of making it specially using pre made pastry this definitely can be prepared in a breeze!
Ok they look delicious but I think time plays a major role in falling in love with them! I love quick fix recipes as this ones! Shared all over!
My families go to the CNY fireworks in Victoria Harbor every year. It is really incredible! Bobbi, this cookies look fantastic! A dozen please! I can't believe these are made with pie-dough. So easy! Have a Happy New Year!
Well my baking schedule just got a whole lot lighter, totes all about the speedy to prepare recipes, especially when I find them on your blog, guaranteed to be tasty! I have all the ingredients, gonna make a batch tonight and bring to work for the gang. Thanks Bobbi! 🙂
Oh, Bobbi! What a brilliant idea of sesame spiral pie cookies. Absolutely love these youth-giving cookies. Super fun and full of YUM!
This is truly a creative idea. And I love anything with sesame seeds in it. I think I will be making these really soon 🙂
Thank you Anita. Wished we lived closer so I could try some of your delightful Chinese Peanut Cookies. Wishing you and your family a wonderful CNY.
Hi Bam, I always learn something new reading your post, love, love these cookies, made with all my favorite things.
Thank you Cheri, wishing you a super week.
When you said these spirals were a breeze to make, I thought, "Sure, BAM. A breeze for a talented baker like yourself." Then I read the recipe. Darn! You're right. These are easy enough that even I could make them. And they would impress the heck out of anyone with whom they were shared. I just won't mention the breeze thing. You understand. 🙂
Hope you're having a great week!
I lived in HK for 18 years before moving to the US. The cookies and pictures really bring me back to home! Your cookies are too lovely!
Wow, i can't believe these beautiful cookies are so easy to make! I thought this is the type of project you got to work on for three hours! Using pre-made pie crust? What a genius idea! Pinning and sharing of course 🙂
Happy Chinese New Year and hope you have a great time with your family!
Very cool! I'm very interested in the texture of these, might have to make some and try it out!