Italian Sesame Seed Cookies

These Italian Sesame Seed Cookies are a traditional family favorite made with a simple, tender cookie dough and plenty of nutty, toasted sesame seeds.

They're lightly sweet, crisp around the edges, and delicious with a cup of espresso or coffee.

This is my family's recipe, passed down from my grandmother, who came from Rome, Italy. She always kept a tray of these Italian sesame cookies ready for family and guests.

That's one of the reasons I love family recipes so much. Every time we make them, we keep a little piece of the people who came before us alive.

If you've ever enjoyed those classic Italian bakery cookies covered in sesame seeds, this is the recipe you'll want to keep.

As a child, I didn't appreciate them quite as much as I do now. Give me a chocolate chip cookie back then and I was happy!

But as I grew older, I began to appreciate the simple, old-fashioned Italian cookies I grew up with.

Why You Will Love These Italian Sesame Cookies

• A traditional family recipe with generations of Italian-inspired baking behind it.
• Lightly sweet and nutty, rather than overly sugary.
• Toasted sesame seeds give every bite wonderful flavor and crunch.
• Easy ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
• Perfect with coffee or espresso for an afternoon treat.
• Wonderful for Christmas cookie trays, holidays, parties, and cookie exchanges.
• Easy to customize with lemon, almond, anise, orange, or vanilla extract.

What are Italian Sesame Cookies?

Italian Sesame Cookies are traditional cookies made from a simple sweet dough that is coated in sesame seeds before baking.

They are especially associated with Sicily, where they are commonly known as Reginelle or Biscotti Regina, meaning "queen's cookies."

They are also sometimes called Sicilian sesame cookies.

The cookies are known for their generous coating of sesame seeds and their crisp, nutty texture.

My family recipe has its own history and method, and I love keeping that tradition alive in my kitchen.

Flavor Variations for Sesame Cookies

1. Lemon Sesame Cookies – Add lemon extract and a little fresh lemon zest for a bright, fresh flavor.
2. Almond Sesame Cookies – Replace some or all of the vanilla with almond extract for a classic Italian bakery flavor.
3. Anise Sesame Cookies – Add anise extract for that distinctive old-fashioned Italian cookie flavor.
4. Orange Sesame Cookies – Use orange extract along with fresh orange zest for a fragrant citrus version.
5. Lemon-Almond – Combine lemon zest with a small amount of almond extract for a wonderful bakery-style combination.
6. Orange-Anise – Orange zest and a touch of anise make a lovely traditional Italian flavor combination.
7. Vanilla Bean – Use vanilla bean paste or vanilla powder in place of vanilla extract for a richer vanilla flavor.
8. Chocolate Sesame – Add mini chocolate chips to the dough for a fun twist while keeping the toasted sesame coating.
9. Pistachio Sesame – Add finely chopped pistachios to the dough for extra texture and a nutty Italian-inspired variation.
10. Citrus Glaze – After the cookies cool, drizzle them lightly with a simple lemon or orange glaze.
11. My favorites for this recipe: lemon, almond, and anise. They all pair beautifully with the toasted sesame seeds and give the cookies a slightly different Italian bakery flavor.

Tips for Making Sesame Cookies

• They're also beautiful served alongside other Italian cookies on a holiday dessert tray.
• Toast the sesame seeds first. This gives the cookies their best flavor.
• Don't make the dough too soft. You want a firm dough that is easy to roll and shape. Watch the cookies near the end of baking.
• Remove them when lightly golden for a more tender cookie, or bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.
• Try different extracts. It adds a bright flavor that pairs beautifully with toasted sesame seeds.
• Don't skimp on the sesame seeds. The generous coating is what makes these cookies special.

Why Toast the Sesame Seeds

• Why Toast the Sesame Seeds? Toasting the sesame seeds brings out their natural nuttiness and gives these cookies much more flavor. You can purchase sesame seeds already toasted, but toasting them yourself only takes a few minutes.
• How to Toast Sesame Seeds on the Stovetop: Place the sesame seeds in a wide skillet over medium-low heat. Stir or shake the pan occasionally until the seeds become lightly golden and fragrant. Watch them carefully because sesame seeds can go from toasted to burnt quickly. Allow them to cool before using.
• How to Toast Sesame Seeds in the Oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Spread the sesame seeds in an even layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned and fragrant, stirring once or twice. Let them cool completely before coating the cookies.

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A Special Memory

These Italian Sesame Cookies have always held a special place in my family. My brother John absolutely loved them and would often ask me to make a batch whenever we were getting together.

I would make extra because, somehow, they never seemed to last very long! He had a special appreciation for the traditional recipes we grew up with, and these cookies were one of his favorites.

After he passed away, making these cookies took on an even deeper meaning for me. I still make them in his memory, and every time I bake a batch, I think of him and all the wonderful times we shared.

Food has a beautiful way of keeping memories alive. A familiar smell coming from the oven or the taste of a cookie you've made for years can bring someone you love right back into your kitchen.

That's why I continue to make these Italian Sesame Cookies.
They aren't just a family recipe—they are a little piece of my family's history that I can continue to share.

Reginelle cookies, Biscotti Regina, Italian sesame seed cookies, Italian sesame cookies recipe, Italian sesame seed cookie recipe, Sicilian sesame cookies, How to make Italian sesame seed cookies

cookies, dessert, Italian cookies

italian

Yield: 25

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Italian Sesame Seed Cookies

These Italian Sesame Seed Cookies are a traditional family favorite made with a simple, tender cookie dough and plenty of nutty, toasted sesame seeds.

Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Ingredients

• 2 heaping cups of flour
• 2/3 -cup Crisco shortening
• 3/4- cup sugar
• 2 egg separated (keep whites in a bowl) you need the yolks for the cookie dough
• 1/4 cup milk or half and half
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, lemon extracts, anise, orange..... anyone of those will do well.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Place toasted sesame seeds in a shallow dish.
3. Separate eggs, placing the whites in a shallow bowl. Lightly whisk the whites.
4. In a large bowl, beat shortening and sugar together.
5. Add the egg yolks, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, and vanilla. Mix until a smooth, firm dough forms.
6. Roll small portions of dough into short oval-shaped logs.
7. Dip each piece lightly into the beaten egg whites.
8. Roll generously in the sesame seeds.
9. Place on the prepared baking sheets.
10. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until golden brown.
11. Remove from the oven and cool completely before serving.
12. Recipe Note: For a softer cookie, bake until lightly golden. For a crispier cookie, bake toward the longer end of the recommended time
13. Storage: Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature or freeze for longer storage
14. Note the directions for toasted sesame seeds on the Stovetop:
15. When toasting, use a wide frying pan.
16. I spray mine with cooking oil.
17. They will pop on high heat, so cover the pan.
18. If you have a silicone splatter cover, place it on top and keep a close watch.
19. Heat the sesame seeds on medium-low heat, shaking the pan occasionally.
20. Remove the seeds when they darken and become fragrant.
21. Tips: It usually takes 3 to 5 minutes to toast sesame seeds if using a frying pan
22. Directions for toasting inside the oven:
23. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
24. Spread the seeds out on a baking sheet on parchment paper
25. Bake until the seeds brown and become fragrant, about 15 minutes
26. Allow the toasted seeds to cool before using so they don't get burned.
27. Store in a covered jar at room temperature if not using all the toasted seeds.

Notes

Flavor Variations for Sesame Cookies

1. Lemon Sesame Cookies – Add lemon extract and a little fresh lemon zest for a bright, fresh flavor.
2. Almond Sesame Cookies – Replace some or all of the vanilla with almond extract for a classic Italian bakery flavor.
3. Anise Sesame Cookies – Add anise extract for that distinctive old-fashioned Italian cookie flavor.
4. Orange Sesame Cookies – Use orange extract along with fresh orange zest for a fragrant citrus version.
5. Lemon-Almond – Combine lemon zest with a small amount of almond extract for a wonderful bakery-style combination.
6. Orange-Anise – Orange zest and a touch of anise make a lovely traditional Italian flavor combination.
7. Vanilla Bean – Use vanilla bean paste or vanilla powder in place of vanilla extract for a richer vanilla flavor.
8. Chocolate Sesame – Add mini chocolate chips to the dough for a fun twist while keeping the toasted sesame coating.
9. Pistachio Sesame – Add finely chopped pistachios to the dough for extra texture and a nutty Italian-inspired variation.
10. Citrus Glaze – After the cookies cool, drizzle them lightly with a simple lemon or orange glaze.
11. My favorites for this recipe: lemon, almond, and anise. They all pair beautifully with the toasted sesame seeds and give the cookies a slightly different Italian bakery flavor.

Tips for Making Sesame Cookies

• They're also beautiful served alongside other Italian cookies on a holiday dessert tray.
• Toast the sesame seeds first. This gives the cookies their best flavor.
• Don't make the dough too soft. You want a firm dough that is easy to roll and shape. Watch the cookies near the end of baking.
• Remove them when lightly golden for a more tender cookie, or bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.
• Try different extracts. It adds a bright flavor that pairs beautifully with toasted sesame seeds.
• Don't skimp on the sesame seeds. The generous coating is what makes these cookies special.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

116

Fat (grams)

6 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

2 g

Carbs (grams)

14 g

Fiber (grams)

0 g

Net carbs

14 g

Sugar (grams)

6 g

Protein (grams)

1 g

Sodium (milligrams)

51 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

16 mg

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2019.