As everyone is busy planning holiday parties and baking Christmas cookies, I started to ponder what to bake for this holiday season. I wanted to bake something Japanese and share it on the blog.
Then I remember that I used to bake these delicious Sesame Cookies before I started blogging. I searched for my notebook page where I jot down the recipe a while back.
If you ask my children what kind of Japanese sweets they like, my son would immediately respond “Green Tea Ice Cream!” instead of more traditional wagashi (Japanese confectionery) like Mitarashi Dango. Just like me, he’s into anything matcha (green tea) and he loves my Green Tea & White Chocolate Cookies.
My daughter on the other hand is a strange kid (of course in a good way). When she first tasted my Black Sesame Ice Cream, she was crazily in love. Which 4 year old would enjoy nutty, sort of savory, unique flavor of black sesame ice cream?
So I knew my daughter would adore these Black Sesame Cookies (黒ゴマクッキー), and she did!
If you wonder what is like to have black sesame seeds in cookies… Well, they are sweet, but the sesame seeds adds nutty savory flavor. To me, it’s a perfect balance between the two, and the crisp texture is just too addictive!
These crisp cookies are called Icebox Cookies (Refrigerator Cookies) and they are made from cookie dough that has been formed into a roll and chilled in the refrigerator then sliced and baked. This type of cookies are more popular and common in Japan than typical American cookies, such as Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Hope you enjoy these delicious {sweet + savory} Sesame Cookies. You can use white, black, or both sesame seeds for these cookies. My favorite are definitely the black ones!
Ingredients:
- 1 stick unsalted butter (8 Tbsp, 1/2 cup, 4 oz, 117.4 g)
- 5.6 oz (160 g) all purpose flour
- 1.4 oz (40 g) almond meal
- 2.8 oz (80 g) sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1.4 oz (40 g) roasted sesame seeds (black, white or mixed)
- 1 egg yolk
Instructions:
- Cut the butter into small cubes and keep them refrigerated until ready to use (I cut on parchment paper and wrap up the butter for easy transfer.).
- In the food processor, combine the flour, almond meal, sugar, and salt. If you don’t have a food processor, you can simply use a bowl to mix all the ingredients.
- If you want your sesame seeds to be fine texture, add them now. If you prefer to keep the original shape of sesame seeds, add them with egg yolk later on.
- Take out the butter from the refrigerator and mix together. If you use a regular bowl to mix, use a dough/pastry blender to combine the butter into the dry ingredients.
- Lastly add egg yolk.
- If the food processor is small (like mine) and it doesn’t look like it’s mixed completely, take it out and mix well with a silicone spatula.
- Form the dough into a ball and cut in half.
- Roll it to a log approximately 2” across. For me it’s easier to work when the dough is wrapped in plastic wrap. While rolling, unwrap some parts of plastic wrap then roll again. Form a nice shape. I wasn't paying attention so my log is flat on one side (see step 11)!
- Wrap the logs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C). Remove the dough from plastic wrap and cut into discs about 1/4 inch thick (if you prefer thicker cookies, cut into discs about 1/2 inch and you get 20 cookies total).
- Place them on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container. Cookies will last for a day or two.
Notes
I don't know the source of this original recipe which I'm pretty sure it came from a Japanese magazine years ago (pre-Internet days). I wrote down the recipe and kept adapting. This recipe is the final result.
Itadakimasu!
Hi, I'm Nami. Thanks for stopping by Just One Cookbook. You can read little bit more about me 
{ 131 comments… read them below or add one }
yummy! happy holidays!
i have never had these sesame cookies and i didn’t even know they are more popular than chocolate chip cookies in japan but i am excited to have bookmarked your cookie recipe to try soon
Oh Mami, these must be heaven on a cookie! Thanks for sharing this delicious treat!
I like it
i love anything that has sesame, green tea sort. this cookie looks so crunchy yet melt in your mouth type. thanks for sharing
I loves black sesame seeds and I’m gonna try this soon. Bet it must be very yummy to munch.
I am so sold on these, Nami. Love black sesame, love the custard, have to make the ice cream soon, but I think will make these first. Might make a nice xmas gift actually. Thanks so much!
Not only do I love cookies, I love sesame too! Deelicious – and I’m sure the perfect pairing with coffee or tea!
I want!! YUM! We use sesame seeds a lot in our cuisine, but not in sweets… I have to try this!
These look fantastic Nami, I grew up eating those sugary Polish sesame snaps so I can understand how a child would love the flavours. I’ll definitely make these in the new year when we get back from holidays.
I have had limited experience with black sesame seeds and can confirm that they pack quite a punch in the taste department. I’m sure that these cookies are yummy.
I’m just like your daughter – I love black sesame! these cookies sound really good. What do you think of using walnut meal instead of almond? I think it’ll be similar to the sesame-walnut sweet soup. hehe.
Happy to hear you like black sesame too! About walnut meal, I think it’ll be delicious too! Let me know how it went.
My family divide into two group, my daughter and elder son prefer green tea ice cream , whereas my husband and youngest son prefer black sesame ice cream, and me both also like ^_^. Maybe I can make this nutty cookies for coming Lunar New Year.. Beautiful cookies on beautiful wooden plate , I like!
Looks yummy! I love black sesame ice cream so these cookies are something I want to try! I’ve already made your green tea cookies, which are also a winner!
Hi GreenBean!
Thank you for making the green tea cookies!
I hope you like these too. If you like Black Sesame Ice Cream, then you will love these cookies. 
These look delicious!! I made some refrigerator cookies today too! I’ll have to try these. Please share at Foodtastic Friday and Friends!
Yum these sound like a sesame butter cookie. I’ve never tried these before but I’m sure they’re delicious. See you can bake!
i like the idea, Nami: I think they would have a nice crunch! and they have a very “dramatic” look.
Icebox cookies are so nostalgic for me! I remember my mom making pinwheel cookies and she would refrigerate them in logs and bake them later. These sesame cookies look divine! So glad you found the recipe and sharing it with us!
Hi Donna! It’s more common to icebox cookies than chewy cookies. Your mom’s pinwheel cookies sounds delicious!
I love sesame cookies and so did my late mother in law. I never found the right recipe and instead would get it for Mama from the Japanese supermarket. I must try your sesame cookies & will also go check out your Matcha cookies, a fave of my sons. Thanks for all the terrific recipes, Nami! It is indeed cookie time
Oh yummy! I am going to try this! I love the smell of sesame:)
These would make such lovely gifts too!
Nami these look lovely . Sweet and kinda savoury is my favourite. I am with your strange ina nice way daughter.
Oh I love sesame cookies that we make for chinese new year, also like peanut cookies. but method is different from this icebox cookies. bet your cookies are just as lovely
Each kid is a box of surprise. The strange thing that we talk about brothers and sisters, with same dad and mom, but each one has his/her own personality. Wondering what my kinds will about these delicious cookies…
Looks so yummy!! I am going to copy this recipe down and make it when i’m back next year. Thank you for sharing. I love anything green tea and sesame!!
I’m going to Hokkaido..and let’s hope I don’t get freezed over. LOL!
Hi Faithy! Enjoy your trip to Hokkaido! Yeah be ready for the cold weather, but enjoy lots of great food, especially seafood!
I love the fact that sesame seeds are combined with almonds in these cookies. I would definitely love the taste! I think it would be something I could bake for a Chinese New Year treat
I love it when you bake!!! These cookies are brilliant – I love sesame seeds.
I can’t wait to bake these lovely cookies, Nami! I’ve had some different kinds of sesame cookies but never ones with black sesame seeds – sounds wonderful! Your daughter has good taste. I like the addition of almond flour, too. Thanks for sharing!
This is so unique… I have never had sesame cookies! They look so pretty
These cookies look delicious, I love your photos
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Just in time for Christmas!! So excited to try this. Just like your daughter, black sesame is one of my favourite flavour!
Hope you are ready for Christmas!
Hi Vivi! If you like black sesame seeds, watch out…. these cookies won’t last long!
I’m not sure if I’m ready… way too busy everyday to think about it. Hope you are enjoying this holiday season!
Hi Nami,
These Black Sesame cookies look amazing! I can’t wait to make this for my mom as she loves sesame. =) Your kids are so lucky!
Are you able to convert the recipe into cups, tbsp, etc?
Thanks.
Hi Candice,
I didn’t measure in cups this time. Since I didn’t bake these cookies using cups, please understand that the following recipe may not turn out as well as the recipe I came up with.
Here’s the conversion.
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup almond meal
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup sesame seeds
Let me know how it goes (maybe others are curious too)
Black Sesame Cookies {saying that with a high pitch squeek} ! That’s because I know that this is going to be absolutely delicious and packed in flavour. Great clicks Nami and wishing you and your family a wonderful HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ♥ Jo
Those look amazing Nami! I love sesame seeds, and sesame cookies would be fantastic addition to my winter holiday baking!!! Thanks for the recipe and for these beautiful pics!!!
i really like that all this is done with just the food processor ^^ minimal cleaning up ^^ looks yummy too! it’s perfect as gifts ^^
And you say you don`t have cookies to exchange or swap. These cookies look wonderful. Both of my parents, and I, would love this!
Nami, great minds think alike-I made batches of ice box cookies too although mine were more savoury
These look great!
I think i might be a strange kid too…´cause i did also fell i love with the delicious taste of black sesame ice cream:-)
Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe, can´t wait to try it!
Sesame, black or plain are one of my favourite ingredients in cookies, an I am so glad you shared your recipe for Icebox cookies with us, Nami
These look so crunchy and tasty, and I am so bookmarking the recipe, I know already that I will love these cookies!
ooh Nami! one word: yum, yum, yum, yum yum… oh that’s five : )
These cookies are fabulous and bet the nutty flavor the sesame gave was fantastic. You know I’m not a great baker… still baking my cake box cookies.
Your directions and step by step pictures make me think I can do these. I should give these a try. 
Nami,
I’m already going nuts over the look and sound of these. Black sesame seeds and the ice cream too? Your daughter (and son!) have really sophisticated tastes. Love how this is so different and so, well, Nami! Fabulous. Ah, makes me giggle when you say, “I used to make these before blogging…” My kids tell me, before you started blogging, you used to bake much more. Hm. Need to use black sesame seeds like this. Have wonderful, relaxing holidays, Nami.
What is almond meal? And where can you get it? Can you just ground almonds?
Almond flour and meal are both just ground up almonds. Almond flour is most often made with blanched almonds (no skin), whereas almond meal can be made either with whole or blanched almonds.
They are used in pastry like cake pie filling, etc.
If you google almond meal/flour, you can find some links on how to make fresh almond meal/flour.
Mine is from Trader Joe’s, but you can find it in baking section in supermarkets.
Hope this helps.
This is a unique recipe Nami and your presentation is stunning!
yum! i’ve never had sesame cookies, and these look delicious!
Those cookies look amazing!! My family enjoys a lot of black sesame seed-based goodies over the holidays and New Year’s, so this recipe would fit right in. I actually really like the “icebox cookies” process because it helps ensure that the cookies turn out with the right shape! Thanks very much for sharing this recipe~~
You are welcome! I hope you enjoy these cookies. If you like black sesame seeds, you will really enjoy these cookies!
A tempting Christmas gift Nami. Thank you! A legion of cousins will bless you next sunday at our Christmas party…
Thank you Serena! I hope everyone will enjoy these cookies!
Happy Holidays!
Lovely cookies! This is a great flavor combination.
Cheers,
Rosa
How lovely! I’ve never tried this cookies before but I’m sure it tastes good. Love your pics and the presentation. Definitely bookmark it now.
Nami, I am sure these out-of-space looking biscuits are French pastry-inspired! I posted a long long time ago French classic butter biscuits (Brittany Pucks or Palets Bretons) and they are made in the same way! It’s one of these French and Japanese fusions that prove that everything tweaked by the Japanese becomes sophisticated and flavoursome. I think I will try this Japanese version very soon.
I think your children grow to become big gourmets! Your daughter’s preference for black sesame ice-cream reminds me of the fact that as a child I loved pickled herring, fish roe paste and chili! (And also tripe soup, but only with lots of chili!)
I must tell you I tasted several different dangos when I was in Japan but only one kind (tasted in a department store undergroung) was extraordinary! It was as soft as marshmallow and coated in powdered sesame seeds… It was like tasting a piece of art. Unforgettable experience. I am pretty sure I would never manage to make it so soft…
I love how you bundled them together with string!
I love Black Sesame Ice Cream too so I would devour these cookies as well. I have flipped through little booklets from the 1950′s dedicated to ice box cookies. You are so retro chic! Hope you are feeling better and not coughing anymore.
I love both matcha and black sesame ice cream. Your kids have great taste! Nami when I saw your newsletter email and photos I was blown away by the photo. The cookies look amazing in your gorgeous picture.
Sesame, in any incarnation, is one of my favorite flavors. Black sesame sounds like such a grown-up taste. Lovely.
いいですね。日本人好みのクッキー。作ってみる価値あり！
This is why I always look forward visiting your blog. You bring unique and inspiring ideas. I use sesame in my cooking and also make sweet sesame balls every winter. This year I was thinking to try them in cookies. Now I have to try this. They look so crunchy!
I love sesame seeds in baked goods. First, their little flecks are so pretty. And second, they lend such a delicate nutty flavor. These would be perfect with your son’s favorite green tea ice cream.
Hi Nami, Wow…this recipe is looking Wonderful and I’m loving it so much. t is looking so good with all the lovely pictures and write up as well. I have been here after a while but enjoyed scrolling through your rest of the wonderful recipes.Today only I was wandering what to make, Got it now! I can’t wait to try it on my island. Thanks for sharing awesome recipes.
Have a wonderful week ahead and happy holidays !!!
Thanks & Regards, Sonia !!!
Sesame and butter is a good combination by the flavor they create. I looks like this is such an easy treats to prepare. Thank you for sharing another one of your delicious looking cookies.
Yum…
So these were the cookies you were teasing us with on instagram…
Looks Great!
Have a great weekend ….
I love black sesame, especially black sesame ice cream, so I know I’d love these!
These sound delightful! I will try them soon.
These look and sound delicious Nami! I’ve been overdoing it on the chocolate lately
so I will have to give these a try next. Thanks for recipe!
Wonderful cookies. Like your son I love anything matcha as well, although sesame is a close second!
Fantastic! I love them!
Oh wow! Your sesame cookies look really good!
Hi. I love these cookies and I will definitely try them. I like making cookies for Christmas and give them away as present. I am going to bake this weekend and make a lot of cookies give-away… To family, friends and neighbors! I will soon post them on my blog.
Ciao.
Such beautiful looking cookies and I love that you can make the dough in the food processor and keep it in the freezer – so convenient!
Delicious! I love sesame seeds and these cookies seems perfect to me!
I love all things that combine sweet and savory, I’d love to try these and the ice cream!
This sesame cookies looks delicious, will try to bake it oneday.
Thank you Verna! I hope you enjoy these cookies!
I love the color of these cookies. So nicely browned with little black flecks. I love that the recipe calls for simple ingredients, yet the flavor has to be fantastic.
Great cookies Nami. I bet these taste out this world.
Nami, these cookies are so, so pretty. I love the crunch from the sesame seeds!
Wow, these look so terrific! I’ve never had sesame seeds in a cookie before (at least I don’t recall having it). The flavor of these must be wonderful! Good stuff – thanks.
These cookies look fantastic! I love sesame seeds, but I haven’t ever used them for baking!
Another recipe I never heard of, learning a lot of Japanese dishes here Nami. Thanks for sharing this one
These sound fantastic! What a good excuse to use some of the black sesame seeds in my cupboard
I’ve never really tried these cookies before. Looks very tasty and definitely will try it. Thanks for the recipe and the visuals. Those will really help
.
Hi Armie! Thank you for your feedback! I’m glad to hear my step-by-step is useful. It takes a lot of time but readers like you seem to enjoy seeing step-by-step photos so I think I’ll continue to do so….
Gorgeous cookies
I remember being totally intrigued by your black sesame ice cream! This is another fabulous mind blower
looks beautiful! I like black sesame cookie too
Never tasted or heard about these cookies. They look yummy and I’m more than tempted to try them. Thanks Nami for introducing this recipe
I’m with you kids – Green Tea Ice Cream! It’s one of my favorite ice creams of all time! This coming summer I’m going to try your black sesame ice cream. It’s on my bucket list.
These black sesame seed cookie do look wonderful and I love recipes that peak my interest because I just can’t taste them in my head. I love sesame seeds, but I can’t place them as the main ingredient in a cookie. Guess I’m going to have to make them to find out. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
I have so many cookies to make this season! I’m definitely trying these. I have a ton of black sesame seeds that have been sitting around a while with no real plan. Thanks for the idea!
I wonder how they taste. In fact they have all my favorite ingredients. Nami, the photos have very Christmasy feeling. Love the berries and pine cone! Thank you for sharing more Japanese desserts.
Nami, that is so cute your daughter went crazy for these. I see why though, I’ve never had a cookie with black sesame seeds, I’m thinking I will have to get me some and try them. Hope you had a great weekend.
-Gina-
Nami, you certainly have my greatest attention there with this cookie recipe and of course I will try it out and let you know – you already know how much we enjoyed your Green Tea Cookies with White Chocolate, I cannot wait to see how much we all will enjoy this recpie as well!
What an elegant cookie! HUGS!
These black sesame cookies are very new to me and I never Herd before. Imagine the earthy flavor from sesame and surely melting in the mouth, what a great recipe!
btw, I love the pictures, the style and the tonal
I am dying to try these – they sound fabulous!
Yum, I love sesame in dessert
Although I’d probably go with your son on the green tea ice cream choice (or red bean ice cream which is a personal fav). I might be making these to take to my family for Christmas, they look delish!
These cookies are fantastic! I won’t it theme right now!
These look great! Do you need to toast the sesame seeds first, or just use as is?
Hi June! Thank you, and I hope you will enjoy this recipe!
I’d highly recommend roasting it (if you are not using roasted black sesame seeds like I used). More nutty flavor will be absorbed into the dough.
I’ve always loved Black Sesame anything too! The sweet soup, the rolls, the ice cream…Your daughter isn’t weird at all! =)
These cookies sound absolutely scrumptious! I love black sesame in desserts, as you probably know by now, since I really enjoyed trying out your black sesame ice cream recipe! I’d love to try making these too… (I also think it’s very cool-looking how dark the cookie dough is from the crushed black sesame seeds before you bake it, and how it seems to change color a little while crisping up.) Yum!
Nami! I’m so glad that you decided to do something Japanese. I love sesame cookies but haven’t made them myself. This is perfect for Chinese New Year as we usually serve similar types of sesame cookies. I know I’m talking ahead, but it’s kind of exciting to think about my first Chinese New Year so far away from home. I’d definitely going to try this one out.
I just finished baking them. And they came out DIVINE! Thanks again for your wonderful recipe!
Hi Grace! Yaayy! I’m glad you enjoyed it and thank you for letting me know!
You made my day!
Love these sesame cookies. Honestly they are exactly what I would love along with my tea. More popular than chocolate chip cookies, now I got to visit Japan!
Can’t wait to try this cookie! Maybe it will even make it to my christmas cookie packages!
Neat! I never bakes sesame cookies but you made it look so easy.
these look sooo good
Thank you jhiselle!
Hi, Nami! This is new for me. I have never tasted sesame cookies. I’ll have to try it. I bet that it does have a nutty taste but without the high caloric content of a cookie made with nuts e.g. pecans. I also love the new look of you blog and logo. Congrats again! You did a great job!!! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!! xx
I remember the ones that you made last year, and they look axactly perfect as well!
Hi nami, i just discovered your blog via another blogger, some awesome stuff youve got here! i look forward to trying more of your recipes!
Hi Amy! It’s nice to meet you and thank you for your kind words!
I only hate toasted sesame seeds in my pantry so I really need to track down the black seeds ASAP so I can make this for Jason – he’ll love these so much!
Those cookies look so delicious, your kids have great taste! I for sure had to pin them, and need to try them:-) Yum, Hugs, Terra
I just finished baking it. These cookies are so delicious!
Wonderful recipe, thanks Nami.
Have a happy holiday.
Hi Liliana! Thank you for trying this recipe! I’m happy you enjoyed them! Happy New Year!
Nami, just baked this delicious cookies. however i got a problem while cutting, the center of the dough will crack. May i know where goes wrong?
Thanks for your feedback. I didn’t have that issue, and I remember the dough was still somewhat soft (not rock hard) after 1 hr in fridge. How was yours? Did you try cutting a bit thicker too? Hmmm…. hard to know what caused it, even considering you use the same ingredients. Maybe the dough wasn’t mixed thoroughly (so some parts were dry and enough butter etc)…. I’m sorry I can’t really know for sure….
because i do not have food processor, thus i mix all the ingredient by hand. i think you are right, the butter might not mixed evenly in the dough. maybe i melted the butter before mix into the dry ingredients, what do you think?
i do not dare to cut it thicker as after baked the cookies will become bigger.
I checked online and learned that there are recipes that use melted butter while other recipes are like this one which requires cold butter. I am not an expert in baking but I read somewhere to use cold butter for crispy texture…I might be wrong though. Do you have a pastry/dough blender? That might be helpful. I recently bought one and it works great to mix equally. Thank you so much for your feedback!
Hi, would like to share my experience. I do not have food processor so I used my hands too to blend all ingredients. I cut the butter to quite small pieces first. I baked half recipe but I used one full egg yolk.
If I want my cookies bit softer, I normally add one more egg yolk from the original recipe. Or, if I want crispier, then, less egg yolk used.
I really love Nami’s sesame cookies. My colleagues did not stop eating slice per slice. The taste is just perfect.
I hope it helps. Hopefully too your next trial is successful, just don’t give up..
Liliana Tan
Hi Liliana! Thank you so much for your kind feedback and you are so sweet! I really appreciate it. Glad to hear your colleagues also enjoy them.
xo
Hi Nami! I have baked your cookies and blog about it today. I really love the taste of these cookies, not too sweet and with a very unique flavour! Thank you for sharing such a delicious recipe!
Here’s my post: http://foodiebaker.com/2013/01/18/black-sesame-icebox-cookies/
Thanks again, Nami!
Just visited and saw your gorgeous cookies. Thank you! I shared your link on my facebook fan page too.
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