Honey Sesame Seed Candy

This homemade honey sesame seed candy is a popular treat that is so easy to make. Naturally gluten- and dairy-free, this popular sesame candy can be made crunchy or soft. It is not only a healthier candy but also perfect for holiday gift-giving.

Although our family enjoys this homemade sesame candy around Hanukkah, this honey sesame candy is thought to originate in the Mediterranean, possibly dating back to ancient Greece.

They call this sesame candy Pasteli in Italy, and many cultures include it in their holiday celebrations. In Hebrew, it is called Sukariyot Soomsoom, and it is the perfect candy to serve for Hanukkah or Rosh Hashanah.

Pack it in a jar, wrap it up, and gift it to someone you love. They will thank you because this is the best sesame seed candy! If you love making homemade candy, check out my gluten free candy recipes!

For those that like this candy on the softer, chewy side, you can use cookie cutters to cut this candy into shapes!

Ingredient Notes:

• Sesame seeds – I highly recommend getting these on Amazon because they are much cheaper to find in larger quantities than the small jars at the grocery store.
• Honey – any type is great. You don’t need to use expensive local honey; make sure your choice is 100% honey and has no added corn syrup.
• Dark or light brown sugar – either one works perfectly
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• A non-stick cooking spray – I used a coconut oil one, but any light, non-flavored spray will work.

Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

Step 1: Begin by spraying or coating a casserole dish or baking pan so the candies will not stick. Grab an ungreased, non-stick skillet and the sesame seeds. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until the seeds become lightly browned and aromatic.

Place the seeds into a bowl and allow them to cool.

Step 2: In your non-stick skillet, add the brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and ginger over medium heat. Stir this mixture constantly and bring it to a boil.

When the mixture comes to a full rolling boil, begin timing. Allow the mixture to cook for exactly two minutes in the pan.

Step 3: After two minutes, remove the skillet from the heat and add the sesame seeds. Stir quickly until they are completely mixed in.

Step 4: Pour the mixture into the pan where you sprayed cooking oil. Use a metal spoon or spatula dipped into cold water to press the candy into the pan so that it is an even, smooth layer. Let the candy cool for 15 minutes or until it is only lukewarm to the touch.

Step 5: Gently dump the candy on a silicone mat. This is the time to make cuts and have some fun. You can cut the candy into small shapes with cookie cutters or just cut it into squares or rectangles.

Step 6: Place the cut pieces of cooled sesame honey candy on wax paper. Make sure there is plenty of space around each piece.

Step 7: Cut the wax paper around the candies. Fold the wax paper over the candy, then twist both ends.

Step 8: Store the sesame candy in an airtight container at room temperature. This recipe will make approximately 64 small pieces of candy.

If you love seed candy, you may also love these Honey Roasted Cashews or these crunchy nuts clusters!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

• If you have one, you will want to use a silicone mat. It will prevent sticking and a lot of grief when washing dishes. NOTE: You can use wax paper in a pinch, but you need to move it off quickly so the wax paper doesn’t stick permanently.
• Do not buy your sesame seeds in a bulk container. Bulk bins are a huge risk for cross-contamination with gluten!
• You can make this with regular white sesame seeds or black sesame seeds.

More Delicious Candy Recipes:

• Homemade Chocolate Truffles
• Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Candy
• Easy Pistachio Toffee