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Crispy Spider Web Black Sesame Shortbread Cookies

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These crispy spider web black sesame shortbread cookies offer a unique, nutty twist on traditional Halloween treats with a delicate spider web pattern and buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (90g) powdered sugar
  • ½ cup (70g) black sesame seeds, finely ground
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: a tiny drop black food coloring gel
  • Optional: powdered sugar for dusting after baking

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread black sesame seeds on a baking sheet and toast for 5–7 minutes, stirring once, until fragrant but not burnt. Let cool, then grind finely in a food processor or spice grinder. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup (227g) softened unsalted butter with ¾ cup (90g) powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
  3. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon salt until combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, sift together 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour and the finely ground black sesame seeds (½ cup / 70g). Add a tiny drop of black food coloring gel if desired.
  5. Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture, stirring gently with a spatula or on low speed until dough comes together. Add a teaspoon of cold water if dough feels too dry.
  6. Turn dough onto parchment paper and press into a flat rectangle about ¼-inch thick. Wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Unwrap chilled dough and roll out to about ¼-inch thickness on parchment paper.
  8. Using a sharp knife, gently score concentric circles spaced about 1 inch apart, then score lines radiating from the center like spokes on a wheel. Use a toothpick or skewer to drag lines outward from the center of each circle to create the spider web effect without cutting through the dough.
  9. Transfer parchment with dough onto a baking sheet. Bake for 18–22 minutes until edges are crisp and cookies turn light golden brown.
  10. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before carefully breaking along scored lines to separate cookies.
  11. Optional: Dust lightly with powdered sugar for a ghostly effect.

Notes

Toast and grind sesame seeds for deeper flavor. Keep dough chilled to prevent stickiness and ensure clean spider web cuts. Use a sharp knife and gentle pressure when scoring the dough to avoid cutting through. Watch baking time closely to prevent burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween cookies, black sesame cookies, shortbread, spider web cookies, crispy cookies, nutty cookies, easy Halloween recipe

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/crispy-spider-web-black-sesame-shortbread-cookies-easy-halloween-recipe/