Best Benne Crescent Cookies Recipes

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PECAN CRESCENT COOKIES



Pecan Crescent Cookies image

These sugary, nutty little nuggets have been a Christmas staple in my house since the late 70s. These tempting cookies were nearly impossible to sneak a pre-holiday nibble of, because even one bite would yield a trail of powdered sugar all over the kitchen, your shirt and your mouth!

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Categories     dessert

Time 1h

Yield about 5 dozen cookies

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 cups all-purpose flour, scooped
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Steps:

  • Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
  • Whisk the flour and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.
  • Combine the butter and granulated sugar in a separate large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in 4 teaspoons of water and the vanilla. Slowly mix in the flour mixture and finally, the pecans.
  • Break off tablespoonful pieces of dough, roll each to form a crescent shape and arrange evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheets. (You'll have leftover dough for a second batch.)
  • Bake until slightly golden on the bottoms and edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Watch very carefully--better to undercook than overcook. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 10 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  • Put the powdered sugar in a shallow plate. Once cooled, roll each cookie in an ample amount of the sugar.

BENNE COOKIES



Benne Cookies image

Emily Meggett, who published her first cookbook, "Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes From the Matriarch of Edisto Island," at 89, learned how to make these crisp wafer cookies from her grandmother who learned from generations before. Benne seeds, sesame seeds that enslaved Africans brought with them to the southeastern shores of America, have long been a staple in Gullah Geechee cooking. They are an important component in rice dishes and savory crackers and are the stars of these buttery wafers. Regular sesame seeds will work fine, especially if you toast them in butter, but Mrs. Meggett suggests you try to buy benne seeds, an heirloom seed that is available online. They have a nutty, almost burned honey flavor and bring out the umami in the cookies.

Provided by Kim Severson

Categories     snack, cookies and bars, dessert

Time 1h

Yield About 40 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon/129 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing
1 cup/140 grams benne seeds or sesame seeds
1 cup/125 grams all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup/100 grams granulated sugar
1/4 cup/55 grams packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets with butter.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and add the benne seeds, stirring them until coated. Toast the seeds, stirring frequently, until fragrant and darkened a shade, 2 to 3 minutes. Take care not to burn the seeds and turn down the heat if needed. Scrape onto a plate and let cool completely.
  • Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the remaining 8 tablespoons/115 grams butter and both sugars until well combined and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Add the cooled toasted benne seeds and the vanilla, then stir in the flour mixture.
  • Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the cookie dough at least 2 1/2 inches apart on 1 prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Remove the wafers from the cookie sheet immediately and place on waxed or parchment paper to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough on the second cookie sheet, reusing the first sheet when it's cool, if needed.

PECAN CRESCENT COOKIES



Pecan Crescent Cookies image

Rich, buttery and absolutely irresistible, these old-fashioned nut cookies were one of Mom's specialties. Any meal was a memorable event when she served this scrumptious treat. -Grace Yaskovic, Branchville, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield 6 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour. Stir in pecans., Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 2-1/2-in. logs and shape into crescents. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake at 325° for 20-22 minutes or until set and bottoms are lightly browned. Let stand for 2-3 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 104 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 14mg cholesterol, Sodium 52mg sodium, Carbohydrate 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein.

BENNE COOKIES



Benne Cookies image

I got this recipe from my Aunt Sue, a great cookie baker. Be sure not to make them too big or too close together or you'll end up with one big cookie.

Provided by BECKE

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Drop Cookie Recipes

Yield 42

Number Of Ingredients 7

¾ cup butter
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup toasted sesame seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Cream together the butter and the brown sugar. Beat in the eggs. Sift together the baking powder and the flour and mix in. Stir in the sesame seeds and vanilla.
  • Drop by teaspoon on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for about 25 - 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 86 calories, Carbohydrate 11 g, Cholesterol 17.6 mg, Fat 4.4 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 32.1 mg, Sugar 7.7 g

ALMOND CRESCENT COOKIES



Almond Crescent Cookies image

This is a recipe I make almost every Christmas. I got it from a coworker about 20 years ago. It's a big hit with those who like almonds.

Provided by staubenf

Categories     Desserts     Nut Dessert Recipes     Almond Dessert Recipes

Time 1h

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 8

½ cup salted butter, at room temperature
⅓ cup confectioners' sugar, plus extra for dusting
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
⅛ teaspoon salt
¾ cup all-purpose flour, sifted
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, sifted
½ cup almonds, finely chopped

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Beat butter and confectioners' sugar in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt; mix briefly to incorporate. Gradually stir 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour into the creamed butter, add almonds, and mix until dough is just combined.
  • Shape dough into tiny crescents; place on an ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake cookies in preheated oven until edges are golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Roll cookies in sifted confectioners' sugar when cooled.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 69.7 calories, Carbohydrate 5.6 g, Cholesterol 10.2 mg, Fat 4.9 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 0.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 39.5 mg, Sugar 1.8 g

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