Make these delicious chewy chocolate chip tahini cookies, and you may never go back to plain chocolate chip cookies again!
Tahini chocolate chip cookies
If you see a jar of tahini sitting in your pantry with no ideas how to use it up, these fancy homemade cookies are the perfect excuse.
They are super soft and pillow-like, with absolutely NO butter or oil.
The cookies are naturally egg free and dairy free.
And the recipe can be both vegan and gluten free as well. If you like soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, definitely give these tahini cookies a try!
Also make these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
What is tahini?
Tahini, or tahina, is a Middle Eastern condiment made from ground hulled toasted sesame seeds. People describe it as tasting earthy, slightly bitter, and nutty.
It is often used to make salad dressings, dips, or recipes such as hummus, halva, and baba ghanoush. But tahini is also wonderful in sweet recipes like cookies.
Sesame boasts a strong flavor that people usually either love or hate.
If you fall into the latter category, do not make these cookies, because the rich sesame flavor absolutely does come through.
These are chocolate chip cookies for sesame lovers.
One tablespoon of this healthy sesame spread contains 90 calories and 3 grams of protein, as well as antioxidants and vitamins like calcium, iron, fiber, selenium, manganese, copper, zinc, phosphorus, thiamine, and vitamin B6.
Try adding tahini to these Sweet Potato Brownies
Chocolate chip tahini cookie recipe video
Watch the step by step video above
Tahini cookie ingredients
This healthy cookie recipe calls for seven ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips, milk of choice, and sesame seed paste.
For the flour: You can use spelt flour, white all purpose flour, or oat flour for the cookie recipe.
I have not tried the tahini cookies with gluten free flour, whole wheat flour, or rice flour. So feel free to experiment, and be sure to report back if you do.
To make paleo and keto tahini cookies with almond flour, follow the chocolate chip keto cookie option mentioned below. Substitute three tablespoons of tahini for the two tablespoons of coconut oil.
For the sweetener: This ingredient can be white sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or evaporated cane juice.
I cannot vouch for substituting a liquid sweetener, such as honey or maple syrup, or erythritol since we have not baked the cookie recipe using any of these options.
As with the flour substitutions, report back if you experiment.
Peanut butter variation: Turn them into peanut butter cookies by substituting an equal amount of peanut butter for the tahini.
Especially if using natural nut butter from the refrigerator, gently heat the peanut butter until it is runny and easy to stir.
Readers also love these Snowball Cookies
How do you thin out tahini that is too thick?
If you’ve ever bought tahini from a grocery store, you may have noticed it is usually pretty thin when you first open the jar or bottle.
Get down closer to the bottom, and the remaining tahini is much thicker. Sometimes it is crumbly and not spreadable at all.
Many cookbooks will tell you to thin out tahini with water. However, that will not work for this cookie recipe because water dilutes the richness and the bold sesame flavor.
Instead, you can thin it out with a neutral oil. My preference is untoasted sesame oil.
If you prefer not to use oil, stick to using the tahini at the top of the jar for these tahini cookies, and use up the thicker tahini for another purpose entirely.
How to make tahini cookies
Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease a baking tray, or line it with parchment paper. Set this cookie tray aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients, and stir to form a traditional chocolate chip cookie dough texture.
Press the dough into one large ball. Then break off cookie sized pieces. Roll the small pieces of tahini cookie dough into tight balls with your hands or a cookie scoop.
You can press in a few extra chips or roll the balls in sesame seeds if you wish.
Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, and press them down into cookie shapes if desired, because they do not spread much on their own.
Bake on the oven’s center rack for eleven minutes. After this time, carefully remove the tray from the oven when the cookies still look under-baked.
Let the tray cool for at least ten minutes, during which time the tahini cookies will firm up considerably.
I like to transfer any leftover cookies to a lidded container. Or place leftovers on a plate and enclose the entire plate in a large Ziploc bag. The chocolate chip tahini cookies are soft and chewy the next day.
Tahini Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour (white, spelt, or oat flour. For low carb, make these Keto Cookies)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sugar or packed coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup tahini
- 2 1/2 tbsp milk of choice
Instructions
- *Flour should be very loosely packed. Measure one cup, then remove and discard one tablespoon. (If you have a food scale, use 110 grams.) If your tahini is not liquidy, see above for how to soften it.To make tahini cookies, preheat the oven to 325 F. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients to form a cookie dough – it will be dry at first, so keep stirring for at least a minute or two, when it will suddenly turn into a cookie dough texture. Form one big ball, then break off smaller pieces and roll into smaller balls. Place on a greased or lined baking tray, and press into cookie shapes. Bake 11 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before handling, as they will firm up considerably while cooling. Once the cookies are fully cooled, I like to put them on a plate and enclose the entire plate inside a large Ziploc. The cookies are super soft and chewy the next day!View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
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More Favorite Cookie Recipes
Michelle says
Thank you for this recipe. Is it possible to put less choco chips and increase the tahina? I just want a small amount of choco flavor but really want the tahina to be the star. What might be the correct proportions? I was thinking just about 2-3 tablespoons of choco chips.
Thank you!
CCK Media Team says
Hi, we really can’t say without trying it, but be sure to report back if you experiment!
Mrs E says
Hi, have you ever frozen the unbaked dough or cooked these from frozen?
Sarah says
I was following the recipe as listed, but the cookie dough was too crumbly and not sticking together (this was after a few minutes of stirring and adding a bit more tahini/milk).
So I threw in an egg, and it worked like a charm! I had to bake them an extra 4-5 minutes, but the cookies are AMAZING, probably one of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever tried. The flavor is great, but it’s the texture that stands out- I baked them until slightly browned, and they are a tiny bit crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside. The tahini flavor adds a subtle and pleasant unique touch, too. Definitely a make again! (with an egg ☺️)
M says
These are my NEW favorite! Seriously the best cookie EVER! the ingredients are unbelievable for how amazing the cookies turn out…soft with texture from the Chocolate chips… I used Miss Jones Sugar and a bit more milk than called for… ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Making them again today, Lord willing!
Misty Mayfield says
I used regular AP flour, half white sugar and half brown sugar. I had to add a touch more milk but theyncame out great. My boyfriend loves them too, and he is VERY picky! Will definitely be making them again.
Nellie says
Can I use whole wheat flour?
Louise says
I’d also like to know whether these can be made with wholewheat flour
TS says
I made them with whole wheat flour and they worked out great! The batter was dry though despite stirring forever, so I added a little olive oil (about 1 tbsp) otherwise I stuck to recipe as written.
Dana says
These cookies are amazing!
I’ve already made them twice in like 2 weeks and everyone who tried them absolutely loved them.
First time used tahini, second time smooth peanut butter, both times incredibly tasty and texture is chewy and on point.
Thanks katie for the recipe💕
Jamie says
I added an egg, some canola oil, and vanilla. But I baked as instructed and they are really yummy and a very nice soft cookie.
Connie West says
What would be the difference between adding an egg verses ommitting it?
Sophie says
These were incredible, soft and chewy. I used homemade oat flour with a top up of almond flour and added 1tsp of baking powder. I will be making often 🙂
Anne W Simpson says
LOVE this recipe!
Fran says
Stir your tahini just like you would for natural peanut butter, The oil separates and needs to be stirred back in. You shouldn’t have thick tahini at the bottom of the jar and thin at the top. Just a tip … stir, stir, stir!