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Home » Recipes » Cookies

Dec 5, 2022

Black Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookies

4.37 from 49 votes

34 Comments

by Becca Du

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
black sesame chocolate chip cookies

I am literally swimming in sugar and butter this week as Christmas baking kicks into high gear. Next up on my cookie list are these black sesame chocolate chip cookies. They have the earthiness of black sesame seeds combined with the chocolatey-ness of chocolate chip cookies. I love how dark these cookies look, and yes it might be an unconventional choice for the cheeriness of Christmas, but the taste more than makes up for it. If you’re looking for another black sesame cookie for the holidays, check out my black sesame shortbread cookies or black sesame brownie cookies! I definitely love my black sesame flavored cookies!

mixed butter, sugar, and eggs

Ingredients, Substitutions & Adjustments

  • Black sesame seeds – Adds color and the smoky, earthy flavor of black sesame seeds.
  • All purpose flour – AP flour is the main dry ingredient in these cookies. Make sure to use a spoon to scoop your flour into the measuring cup. Using your measuring cup to scoop out the flour will compress the flour which results in more flour in the dough. Too much flour causes the dough to not spread properly.
  • Baking soda – Baking soda helps the cookies rise and give it that airiness.
  • Butter – Adds a bit of a nutty flavor to the cookies. Those nutty flavor is further enhanced by browning the butter.
  • Granulated sugar & light brown sugar – Both add sweetness to these cookies and help the cookies spread/rise. Granulated sugar helps the cookies spread, and brown sugar helps the cookies rise.  Brown sugar also adds a bit more sweetness and moisture to these cookies because it has molasses.
  • Eggs – Adds richness to these cookies. Make sure to use room temperature eggs for this recipe.
  • Salt – The salt helps balance out the sweetness of these cookies.
  • Vanilla extract – I am now a vanilla paste convert, but vanilla extract works for these cookies. You can also use 1 vanilla bean.
  • Chocolate chips – Use a lot of chocolate chips because they’re just that good lol. I like to use chocolate chips that are on the more bitter side because I think it helps balance out the sweetness from the sugars. I would recommend using any kind of chocolate chips you choose!
cookie dough

Making my black sesame chocolate chip cookies

First toast the black sesame seeds for 20-25 seconds. Pour black sesame seeds into a spice grinder or food processor. (I recommend a spice grinder.) Pulse until it has fully broken down into powder. Press black sesame powder through a mesh sieve into a bowl . See video if you need a reference. Add all purpose flour and baking soda to the bowl. Mix until combined and set aside.

Next, brown butter in a small sauce pan. Heat butter over medium high heat until the butter melts and then lower it to low. Cook the butter until golden brown and small brown solids start to appear. Remove from the heat and set aside. Combine granulated sugar and light brown sugar in a large bowl. Add the brown butter. Whisk with a stand mixer or hand mixer until just combined. Add the eggs and whisk until a smooth, creamy mixture forms (picture 2 above). Next, add the salt and vanilla extract and mix until just combined. Add the dry ingredients from step 2 to the bowl and mix with a spatula until just combined. Lastly, add the chocolate chips and mix until just combined. Let the cookies rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Use a 2 tablespoon (medium sized) cookie scoop to scoop your cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Make sure there are 2 inches of space between each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are light brown. Rest for 10 minutes on the baking sheets and then another 10 minutes on a cooling rack before serving.

Black Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookies Video

scooped cookie dough

Tips on how to make the perfect black sesame chocolate chip cookies

Use a spice grinder if you have one

I would highly highly recommend you use a spice grinder to break down your black sesame seeds. A food processor works okay, but you can’t really get that powder you want. The powder is what gives the cookies their grey color. Another option is to buy black sesame powder.

Be careful about over mixing your dough 

After you add the flour, make sure to stir only until just combined. As you mix the flour into the wet ingredients, gluten will start to form with each subsequent mixing motion. Gluten formation will make your cookies tough.

Why it’s important to rest the dough 

Resting the cookie dough is important because it helps to solidify the fat (ie. the butter). This is important because as the cookies bake, the fat will take longer to melt. The faster the fat melts, the more the cookie will spread.

Use an oven thermometer for an even temperature 

This is perhaps my #1 tip for baking in general. Most ovens, even nice ones, don’t have accurate temperatures. The oven I’ve been using has a 25 degree discrepancy between what it says on the oven and the internal temperature. So an oven thermometer has been a life saviour for me.

Use a cookie scoop for even sized cookies 

Not only does a cookie scoop make your cookies look uniform, they also help your cookies bake evenly. I used a medium sized (~2 tbsp) cookie scoop for this recipe.

black sesame chocolate chip cookies

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black sesame chocolate chip cookies

Black Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookies

Becca Du
A chocolate chip cookie recipe with black sesame cookie dough combined with dark chocolate chips.
4.37 from 49 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 45 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Asian
Servings 16 cookies
Calories 293 kcal

Equipment

  • Cookie Scoops
  • Oven Thermometer
  • Spice Grinder

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ cup black sesame seeds powdered
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup unsalted butter browned
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • First toast the black sesame seeds for 20-25 seconds. Pour black sesame seeds into a spice grinder or food processor. (I recommend a spice grinder.) Pulse until it has fully broken down into powder. Press black sesame powder through a mesh sieve into a bowl . See video if you need a reference.
  • Add all purpose flour and baking soda to the bowl. Mix until combined and set aside.
  • Brown butter in a small sauce pan. Heat butter over medium high heat until the butter melts and then lower it to low. Cook the butter until golden brown and small brown solids start to appear. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Combine granulated sugar and light brown sugar in a large bowl. Add the brown butter. Whisk with a stand mixer or hand mixer until just combined.
  • Add the eggs and whisk until a smooth creamy mixture forms (picture 2 above). Add the salt and vanilla extract and mix until just combined.
  • Add the dry ingredients from step 2 to the bowl and mix with a spatula until just combined.
  • Lastly, add the chocolate chips and mix until just combined.
  • Let the cookies rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
  • Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Use a 2 tablespoon (medium sized) cookie scoop to scoop your cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Make sure there are 2 inches of space between each cookie.
  • Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges are light brown.
  • Rest for 10 minutes on the baking sheets and then another 10 minutes on a cooling rack before serving.

Notes

  • break down your black sesame seeds. A food processor works okay, but you can’t really get that powder you want. The powder is what gives the cookies their grey color. Another option is to buy black sesame powder.
  • Be careful about over mixing your dough – After you add the flour, make sure to stir only until just combined. As you mix the flour into the wet ingredients, gluten will start to form with each subsequent mixing motion. Gluten formation will make your cookies tough.
  • Why it’s important to rest the dough – Resting the cookie dough is important because it helps to solidify the fat (ie. the butter). This is important because as the cookies bake, the fat will take longer to melt. The faster the fat melts, the more the cookie will spread.
  • Use an oven thermometer for even temps – This is perhaps my #1 tip for baking in general. Most ovens, even nice ones, don’t have accurate temperatures. The oven I’ve been using has a 25 degree discrepancy between what it says on the oven and the internal temperature. So an oven thermometer has been a life saviour for me.
  • Use a cookie scoop for even sized cookies – Not only does a cookie scoop make your cookies look uniform, they also help your cookies bake evenly. I used a medium sized (~2 tbsp) cookie scoop for this recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 4gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 165mgPotassium: 130mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 386IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 2mg
Keyword black sesame chocolate chip cookies, black sesame cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle says

    December 23, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    5 stars
    I don’t think I’ve ever seen a recipe like this before, so when I saw you post this I basically rushed to make it. Needless to say, it was so good, I made it twice in a week. First time with regular flour and second time with Bob’s 1-1 Gluten Free Flour. Both were delicious! The gluten-free version had a grainier texture, which might have been from the flour or me adding extra black sesame, because I’m just obsessed with black sesame haha! Thanks also for posting all the helpful tips. It drives me nuts when recipes are super minimal, and I love being able to understand what all the steps do. 🙂

    Reply
    • Becca says

      December 23, 2020 at 10:02 pm

      Thank you so much Michelle! I am absolutely obsessed with black sesame too!

      Reply
  2. Jess says

    January 6, 2021 at 7:47 am

    I made this yesterday, but the black sesame flavor wasn’t as strong as I was hoping for. If I were to double the black sesame powder, what changes to the recipe would you recommend to account for the change in wet vs dry ingredients? My cookies came out on the drier side already, so I’d want to make adjustments that result in a chewier cookie if anything.

    Reply
    • Becca says

      January 6, 2021 at 9:08 am

      Hi Jess. I would say 1/4 cup more light brown sugar and 1/4 cup more butter. These are estimates, so you will need to experiment for yourself to see if these amounts work. Essentially, you want to go for a wetter dough and adding more brown sugar and butter is a way to do that. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  3. Diane says

    January 20, 2021 at 6:51 am

    I have made black sesame chocolate chip cookies before. Compared to that recipe, I appreciate that this recipe’s sweetness. However, the black sesame flavor isn’t as strong as I would like. I would double or triple the amount of black sesame.

    Reply
    • Becca says

      January 20, 2021 at 8:40 am

      Hi Diane. Thanks for trying the recipe! If you double or triple the amount of black sesame you might need to add more sugar to ensure you still get the same texture. A cookie’s texture is created with a balance of wet and dry ingredients. You can also add an egg yolk or 1-2 tbsp more butter to try to balance out wet and dry ingredients without increasing the amount of sugar. Let me know if you try this recipe again!

      Reply
  4. Jeanette says

    April 17, 2021 at 9:01 pm

    5 stars
    Tasty black sesame cookie recipe! Can’t wait to try out your black sesame brownie recipe next!

    Reply
    • Becca says

      April 18, 2021 at 11:30 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  5. Deborah says

    May 19, 2021 at 7:17 pm

    If I already have black sesame seed powder, do I use the same amount (1/2 cup)? Does 1/2 cup of black sesame seeds yield 1/2 cup powder? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Becca says

      May 20, 2021 at 9:55 am

      Hi Deborah. I would a little less than 1/2 cup of black sesame seed powder. I would use about 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp of black sesame powder.

      Reply
    • Linn says

      September 29, 2021 at 8:08 am

      Hello Becca 🙂

      Can I change the black sesame powder with charcoal powder to get the black colour? Thanks ❤

      Reply
      • Becca says

        September 29, 2021 at 9:12 am

        Hi Linn. Yes you can but it will change the taste of the cookie. I have never used charcoal powder, so I am not sure how much to use. I would recommend using a smaller amount and see how it tastes to you before using more.

        Reply
  6. Ella says

    June 25, 2021 at 2:50 pm

    Can the batter be frozen? This was good first time I made, I froze it after and it stayed thick.

    Reply
    • Becca says

      June 26, 2021 at 10:33 am

      Yes you can! Preheat the oven to about 20 degrees lower than the original recipe temperature. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. And bake for 2-5 minutes longer than the recipe calls for so 12-15 minutes until the edges are light brown.

      Reply
  7. Yuner Teh says

    August 1, 2021 at 5:46 am

    Hi Becca,

    I tried pulsing my own black sesame seeds, which produced some oil and the powder was clumpy.

    Then tried black sesame powder which also was slight clumpy in the bottle (humid country)

    Any ideas on how to reduce clumps?

    Reply
    • Becca says

      August 1, 2021 at 10:15 am

      Hi Yuner. Clumping is definitely normal for broken down black sesame seeds. I usually pass them through a fine mesh sieve and that helps a lot. They don’t go through the sieve easily, so you will probably need to press them through. It’s a lot of work but the results make it worth it.:)

      Reply
  8. Tiffany Kim says

    September 12, 2021 at 5:40 pm

    Hi!

    I was wondering how the recipe would change if I used black sesame paste instead of powder?

    Reply
    • Becca says

      September 12, 2021 at 7:52 pm

      Hi Tiffany. Unfortunately, I can’t say for sure since I haven’t made them with black sesame paste. I would guess that you would need more flour since black sesame paste has more liquid in it. I would add a tablespoon at a time until it looks like cookie dough. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!

      Reply
  9. Jenn says

    September 23, 2021 at 4:23 pm

    How long can we store it for? Room temp, fridge and freezer duration?

    Reply
    • Becca says

      September 23, 2021 at 4:32 pm

      Hi Jenn. They will last up to 3 days at room temperature and up to 6 months in the freezer!

      Reply
  10. DB says

    November 13, 2021 at 9:57 pm

    2 stars
    A nice consistency but……

    I don’t know if it’s cultural differences but these are way too sweet despite the fact I reduced the chocolate in half, used a dark, less sweet chocolate, and 10% less than the recommended sugar.

    The sweetness completely overpowers the sesame flavor. Sesame is a main flavor her in Japan, even used for ice-cream. My Japanese partner had high expectations but was very disappointed.

    Neither of us could eat more than one cookie at at a time. These are going to last a while.

    Reply
    • Becca says

      November 13, 2021 at 10:19 pm

      Hi DB. Thank you for trying the recipe, and sorry they were too sweet for you! Maybe try reducing the sugar as well?

      Reply
  11. Qui says

    December 20, 2021 at 10:21 pm

    Wanting to try this recipe. How much black sesame seed paste would you recommend in place of powder? Thank you

    Reply
    • Becca says

      December 21, 2021 at 8:08 am

      I would recommend a 1/3 cup of black sesame paste. However, I am not 100% sure this will produce the best result because I didn’t test it with black sesame paste. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  12. Davelle says

    January 16, 2022 at 12:38 am

    Hi Becca, I’ve followed your recipe to the T and been trying it out 4-5 times but no matter how many times i tried, i still keep getting cakey cookies or cookies that won’t spread out. have tried googling to see what’s wrong and troubleshooting but i still am very clueless. this isn’t the first time i have cakey cookies that’s why i always hesitant to bake cookies and shy away from them but i really do like the flavour of your recipe a lot! would really like to seek for some help. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Becca says

      January 17, 2022 at 11:58 am

      Hi Davelle. Thank you so much for trying my recipe and being patient with it! The spread of cookies have a lot to do with the balance between wet and dry ingredients, specifically the butter in the dish. Essentially, the faster the butter melts, the more the cookie will spread. That’s why I recommend resting the dough in the fridge to prevent the butter from melting too fast.

      I would try a couple things. First, I would try not resting your dough in the fridge and going straight in the oven. Your butter will be less solid, so it will spread more. Second, try baking it less by a few minutes – ~2 minutes maybe. You can always bake cookies more but you can’t bake them less. Cooking them less will make them less dry/cakey. Third, your oven temperature might be the problem. A lot of ovens’ internal temperatures are different than what it says on the dial. For example, I put my oven to 375 degrees F for 350 degrees F. An oven thermometer will help you fix this issue. Lastly, you can try just adding a tablespoon or two of butter. That will help increase the wet ingredients and improve spreading. Let me know if you try any of these things and if they help!

      Reply
  13. Tiffany says

    February 1, 2022 at 6:40 pm

    5 stars
    These were so good! Perfectly sweet vs. bitter vs. nuttiness for me 🙂

    Thank you for providing the metric amounts as well. I think I would have ended up with a lot less sesame if I were only measuring with the measuring cup. (Also, I figured it out, but you left out the step to add the chocolate chips in the condensed instructions)

    Reply
    • Becca says

      February 1, 2022 at 7:07 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for calling out that mistake. I fixed it in the recipe!

      Reply
  14. Chewy says

    February 18, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    How can I increase the black sesame flavour, cut the sweetness and still keep the chewiness of the cookie?

    Reply
    • Becca Du says

      February 18, 2022 at 11:07 pm

      Unfortunately, I don’t have a concrete answer for this because I didn’t test it. I can only guess at how I would do it. To increase the black sesame flavor, I would add more black sesame seeds or black sesame powder. If you reduce the sugar, you will need to reduce the flour as well to achieve a chewy cookie. I don’t know how much sugar you are thinking of reducing it by but my recommendation is add the flour a tablespoon or quarter of a cup at a time until it looks like a cookie dough. I don’t know how much experience you have making cookies but if I were to change a recipe, I usually can see when the dough is at the right consistency. Alternatively, you can replace the sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  15. Rhonda says

    March 14, 2022 at 5:07 pm

    I wonder what tahini in place of butter would taste like, if that would boost the sesame flavor more that others seem interested in. Have you tried it in any recipes before? I haven’t tried either, though I have been looking into recipes to try at some point. I just loved the cool grey color of these, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Becca Du says

      March 14, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      Ohhh interesting point. I made a tahini chocolate chip cookie, but I haven’t tried it with black sesame. It could be something interesting to try!

      Reply
  16. Beatrice says

    November 3, 2022 at 10:18 am

    I’m so excited to try this! Do you know if I can use black sesame paste instead?

    Reply
    • Becca Du says

      November 3, 2022 at 10:30 am

      Hi Beatrice! Yes you can use black sesame paste instead, but I haven’t tested this recipe with black sesame paste, so I’m not sure how much to use. What I would recommend is add 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup of black sesame paste then after you add the flour, touch the dough with your finger and if the cookie dough still sticks to your finger, add more flour. Add a tablespoon at a time until it doesn’t stick anymore. That’s how I would approach the recipe if I were to make this recipe with black sesame paste. Let me know how it goes if you try it!

      Reply

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Hello I'm Becca! I believe any day can be made better with a bowl of noodle soup. Here you will find recipes from my Chinese/Vietnamese heritage and stories from my experience living here in beautiful LA. Grab a drink and stay awhile! Read More

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