Sesame Candy Recipes

EASY SESAME CANDY

Steps:

• Lay a silicone mat on your work surface. You will use this for rolling out the sesame candy.
• Pour the black sesame seeds into a large pan and toast them on medium-high heat for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Because of their black color, it may be difficult to tell when the sesame seeds are done toasting. The sesame seeds usually release a faint aroma when they are ready. You can also see wisps of smoke coming from the sides of the pan. Turn off the heat and transfer the sesame seeds to a bowl.
• Next, toast the plain sesame seeds for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer the toasted seeds to the bowl with the black sesame seeds. Mix the two types of seeds together.
• In a large stainless steel pan, add the oil, honey, and sugar over medium heat. Stir everything together and wait for the sugar to dissolve completely. This will take several minutes, and the syrup should be runny. Make sure to stir frequently to keep the sugar from burning.
• Once the sugar dissolves, turn off the heat. Add the sesame seeds and stir to coat the seeds with the syrup.
• Working quickly, pour the sesame seeds onto the silicone mat. Try to pile all the seeds into one mass. Lay the other silicone mat over the seeds and press down gently. Use a rolling pin to roll out the sesame candy. You want to make sure to be quick here so that you can roll out the candy into a thin layer.
• Lift up the top silicone mat. Lay a chopping board over the candy. Carefully flip the candy onto the chopping board. Remove the silicone mat.
• Use a sharp knife to trim the sides of the sheet of sesame candy so that you get straight edges. Cut the candy sheet into 1-inch strips of candy. Cut each strip into candies about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Don't worry if your candy isn't uniform in size. Mine are never perfect.
• You can enjoy the candy immediately. The candy will continue to harden as it cools to room temperature. Once cooled, store the candy in an airtight container for several weeks.

CRUNCHY SESAME SEED CANDY

Steps:

• Coat a 9-inch-square baking pan or dish with oil or non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
• Put the sesame seeds into an ungreased 10-inch skillet (preferably one with a non-stick surface) and stir them over medium-high heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until they are lightly browned and aromatic.
• Temporarily transfer the seeds (they will be hot) to a bowl, making sure that none are left in the skillet; set aside.
• Put the honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger into the skillet and mix them well.
• Slowly bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• As soon as the entire mixture comes to a full rolling boil, cook it vigorously for exactly 2 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and immediately stir in the sesame seeds until well mixed.
• Quickly turn out the hot mixture into the prepared pan and use a metal spatula that has been dipped into cold water to press the candy into a very smooth and even layer.
• Cool the candy in the pan for l5 minutes, or until it is solid but still lukewarm.
• Run the spatula around the edge of the candy to loosen it.
• Then turn out the whole slab of candy onto a wooden board or other cutting surface.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the large square of warm candy into very small squares, diamonds, or rectangles.
• Cool the candies completely; then store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
• If a professional look is desired, roll each cooked candy in a small piece of stiff cellophane and twist the ends.

SESAME CARAMELS

Steps:

• Lightly coat bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch square pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides; lightly spray parchment.
• In a small saucepan, combine cream, butter, and salt; heat gently over low. In a heavy medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Clip on a candy thermometer. Over high heat, cook until sugar is dissolved, swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming, 8 to 12 minutes.
• Continue swirling pan until sugar is a dark golden color, about 10 minutes. Carefully add warm cream mixture to pan, taking caution as it will bubble up. Reduce heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until caramel reaches 248 degrees on candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer to prepared pan, sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds, and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Transfer caramel to a large cutting board. Cut into 1-inch pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper to seal.

GREEK SESAME SEED CANDY

Steps:

• Put bakeware liner in a large shallow baking pan (1 inch deep). Remove bottom of springform pan and set aside. Oil inside of springform ring with vegetable oil and put ring, upside down, in center of bakeware liner.
• Bring honey, sesame seeds, and salt to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, then boil undisturbed until mixture registers 280 to 290°F on thermometer, about 15 minutes.
• Holding ring in place, quickly pour mixture into ring, then cool on a rack until candy is set but still warm, about 40 minutes. Unmold by peeling ring with candy off bakeware liner. Transfer candy to a cutting board, then run a paring knife around edge of springform ring and lift ring off candy. Cut candy into 1-inch pieces with an oiled large knife.

SESAME BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
• Combine sugar, honey, and water in a small, thick bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until a smooth slurry forms, about 3 minutes. Stir in raw sesame seeds.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until mixture turns an amber-caramel color, 5 to 10 minutes. A candy thermometer should read 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla extract. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet.
• Cool until hardened, 15 to 20 minutes. Break into pieces.

SESAME CANDY

Steps:

• Wash sesame seeds and remove any debris that may be in the seeds and drain well.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat until a drop of water bounces around the skillet.
• Pour seeds into skillet and stir constantly.
• Dry and parch seeds until light brown, approximately 2 minutes.
• Watch closely, do not burn seeds.
• In a heavy saucepan, combine and melt the sugar, butter, milk and vinegar.
• Using a wooden spoon, stir constantly until ingredients are dissolved.
• Cook over medium high heat to light crack stage.
• If using a candy thermometer, the temperature should be between 265 and 285 degrees F.
• Once it reaches the desired temperature, remove from heat and beat in the sesame seeds with your spoon.
• Pour immediately into prepared an 11 by 2-inch pyrex baking dish.
• Score candy while still warm and cut into squares when cool.

SESAME HONEY CANDY

Steps:

• In a saute pan, toast the seeds over medium heat for 2 minutes until golden (the pumpkins will pop). Combine the water, honey, and sugar in a saucepan. Over high heat, bring the syrup to 240 degrees F. Add the seeds and bring the syrup to hard crack (250 degrees F). Spritz a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and pour the syrup onto it. After a few minutes, score the candy into 2 by 1/2-inch bars. Let harden, and then cut into bars.

SESAME CANDY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Spread the sesame seeds on a rimmed baking sheet, and place it in the oven. Toast the seeds until light golden, shaking them on the baking sheet occasionally, about 8 minutes. Let the seeds cool on the sheet.
• Put the sugar, honey, butter, and 2 teaspoons water in the saucepan, and set it over medium-low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon frequently as the butter melts and the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Simmer until the syrup is a deep-caramel color, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, brush a nonporous work surface (such as granite or stainless steel) with olive oil; coat the metal spatula with olive oil as well. When the caramel is done, turn off the heat, and stir in the sesame seeds, almonds, citrus zests, and cinnamon. Pour (and scrape) the molten candy from the pan onto the work surface, and quickly spread it into an even rectangular layer, about 1/2 inch thick. Allow it to cool and firm up for a minute or two, to firm up but not harden.
• With a serrated knife and a straight edge, slice the sheet of candy into 1-inch strips. Then cut diagonal slices 1 inch apart. Divide the strips into diamond-shaped pieces. With a metal spatula separate the pieces, and arrange them in a single layer, not touching, on trays lined with parchment or wax paper, and let them harden completely. Store them in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between the layers.

LIDIA'S SESAME CANDY RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread the sesame seeds on a rimmed baking sheet, and place it in the oven. Toast the seeds until light golden, shaking them on the baking sheet occasionally, about 8 minutes. Let the seeds cool on the sheet. Put the sugar, honey, butter, and 2 teaspoons water in the saucepan, and set it over medium-low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon frequently as the butter melts and the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Simmer until the syrup is a deep-caramel color, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, brush a nonporous work surface (such as granite, or stainless steel) with olive oil; coat the metal spatula with olive oil as well. When the caramel is done, turn off the heat, and stir in the sesame seeds, almonds, citrus zests, and cinnamon. Pour (and scrape) the molten candy from the pan onto the work surface, and quickly spread it into a even rectangular layer, about 1/2 inch thick. Allow it to cool and firm up for a minute or two, to firm up but not harden. With a serrated knife and a straight edge, slice the sheet of candy into 1-inch strips. Then cut diagonal slices 1-inch apart. Divide the strips into diamond-shaped pieces. With a metal spatula separate the pieces, and arrange them in a single layer, not touching, on trays lined with parchment or wax paper, and let them harden completely. Store them in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between the layers.