Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies
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. 
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.
Bam's Kitchen 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 favourite 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 for 2016 will be celebrated from Feb 8th to Feb 10th 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. Bam's Kitchen 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 favourite 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 savoury treats and biscuits. How beautiful would these sesame spiral pie cookies look on your cookie platter?!
Most often the little sweet and savoury 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.
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.
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.
Tahini (ground hulled white sesame seed paste) is available in many places around the world. Thanks to my dear sister, Cindy, her exchange idea was brilliant. 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
- Bam's Kitchen: 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!
Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies
January 31, 2016
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 sesame seeds.
- Cook: 30 mins
- Yields: 20 cookies
Ingredients
black sesame paste - 6 tablespoons (or can use tahini or any nut butter like peanut, almond or walnut butter)
black sesame seeds - 2 tablespoon toasted
brown sugar - 1/2 cup 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)
pre-made refrigerated pie crust - 1 package - (14.1 oz or 399 grams) (I used Pillsburry refrigerated pie crust- Pillsberry also makes a gluten free pie crust too)
toasted sesame seeds - 3 tablespoons toasted (white or black)
Directions
1Preheat 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.
2In 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)
3Unroll 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.
4Spread 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.
5Start 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)
6Beat 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.)
7Placed 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.
8Enjoy your Sesame Spiral Pie Cookies with a little Chinese Tea and friends and family.
