Black Sesame Seed Cheese Cookies: Halloween Savoury Recipe

These Black Sesame Seed Cheese Halloween Cookies are rich, buttery, and wonderfully savoury, with a nutty aroma from black sesame and a bold, cheesy depth. And with their distinctive dark speckled look, they’re also perfect for Halloween.

Hey, folks – I hope you all are doing well. And to all my Canadian readers: I hope you’re having a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Today, I am excited to share another fun recipe for Halloween (or any other time of the year). So, let’s dive into these savoury Black Sesame Seed Cheese Cookies.

Cookies vs. Biscuits

These Black Sesame Seed Cheese Cookies raise a fun linguistic question – are they cookies or biscuits? In British English, “biscuits” are crisp, often savoury baked goods, while in American English, “biscuits” are soft, fluffy quick breads. This recipe lands somewhere between the two. These are savoury, crisp, and buttery like British biscuits, yet rich and shortbread-like – fitting comfortably under “cookies.” No matter what you call them, these savoury black sesame and cheese cookies are deliciously confusing in the best way possible.

Why You’ll Love This Halloween Recipe

These Savoury Black Sesame Halloween Cookies are not your typical sweet treat. Serve them as part of a cheese board, alongside a glass of wine, or as a sophisticated Halloween party snack. They will surprise anyone expecting something sweet – and delight everyone who loves bold, savoury flavours.

• Perfect for Halloween – Their deep colour and moody look make them ideal for a spooky or sophisticated spread.
• Unique savoury cookies – Buttery like shortbread yet nutty, toasty, and cheesy — a surprising combination.
• Texture twist – Crumbly, rich, but with a faintly bready and chewy edge from the ground sesame.
• Simple to make – Just basic ingredients like butter, flour, cheese, and sesame create gourmet-looking results.
• Versatile – Great as an appetizer, with soups, or paired with wine and charcuterie.

Savoury Black Sesame Halloween Cookies: Flavour and Texture Profile

These cheese cookies are buttery, crumbly, and slightly crisp, with a faint bready chew that sets them apart from classic shortbread. The sesame powder gives the dough body and a mild toastiness, while the cheese delivers a sharp, savoury punch. The combination feels both familiar and unexpected – like a cross between a shortbread, cracker, and bagel. Their dark speckled look makes them perfect for Halloween entertaining or for adding contrast to a cheese platter.

Ingredients You’ll Need for These Black Sesame Seed Cheese Cookies

Each ingredient in these savoury cheese cookies contributes to their flavour and unique texture:

• All-purpose flour – Provides balance, softness, and body.
• Cheese – I used Irish Cheddar, but any sharp cheddar or hard cheese (like aged Gouda or Gruyère) works beautifully. It brings salty, savoury depth.
• Butter – Adds richness, structure, and the melt-in-your-mouth shortbread texture.
• Egg – Helps bind everything together and gives structure to the dough.
• Black sesame seeds – Used both ground into powder for the dough and sprinkled on top. They lend a nutty, earthy flavour, subtle chewiness, and that signature dark speckled look.
• Salt (optional) – Use sparingly, depending on the saltiness of your cheese.
• Sugar (just a little) – Balances flavours without making the cookies sweet.
• Egg wash – Gives a sheen and helps the sesame seeds adhere while baking.

How to Enjoy Savoury Black Sesame Halloween Cookies

• Serve with wine, olives, and aged cheese or as a part of a cheese or charcuterie board.
• Add to a Halloween cheese board with figs, dark grapes, and prosciutto.
• Pair with creamy soups or dips.
• With dips or spreads.
• Just like a tasty snack.

More Black Sesame Halloween Recipes

Looking for more fun Halloween recipes featuring black sesame seeds? Here are some options I recommend based on my experience and preference:

• Black Sesame Seed Brigadeiro – Halloween Brazilian Fudgy Balls
• Black Sesame Shortbread Cookies
• Black Sesame Seed Crepes
• Zombie Finger Biscuits (Savoury Halloween Biscuits)
• Black Sesame Seed Oatmeal
• Black Sesame Cheese Balls
• Black Sesame Date Truffles

I hope you like these Black Sesame Halloween Cookies, and you will give them a try. If you make these cookies, please let me know by posting in this thread, sending me an Instagram message, or sharing your photos using the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.

Cheers!

Black Sesame Seed Cheese Cookies: Halloween Savoury Recipe

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

Black Sesame Seed Cheese Halloween Cookies are rich, buttery, and savoury, with a nutty aroma from black sesame and a bold, cheesy depth.

Course: Halloween, Savoury BakesCuisine: Author’s RecipesDifficulty: Easy

5.0 from 2 votes

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Servings

16-24

servings

Prep time

40

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• ½ cup (about 70 g) toasted black sesame seeds, plus 1/4 cup (35 g) for sprinkling on top

• 1 cup (about 130 g) all-purpose flour

• 150–170 g (1 ½ cups loosely packed) sharp cheese (Cheddar, Gruyère, or aged Gouda), shredded

• 100 g (7 tbsp. or 1/2 cup) unsalted butter

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp (4 g) sugar

• A pinch of salt (optional) – depending on the saltiness of your cheese

• 1 small egg yolk – for egg wash

• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) water or milk – for egg wash

Directions

• Using a powerful food processor or grinder, process 1/4 cup (40 g) of black sesame seeds into a powder. Depending on the capacity of your processor, it may end up as a paste, which is perfectly fine.
• Place the butter, cut into small pieces, in a bowl and microwave it for 10-15 seconds, 1 or 2 increments. It should be very soft (but not too melted).
• Add the shredded cheese, powdered sesame seeds, softened butter, salt (if using), sugar, and egg to a large bowl. Beat with a wooden spoon (spatula) until smooth, for about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the flour and mix until it forms a dough. You will get a soft, slightly sticky to the touch, and pliable dough (some crumbs would be okay). Cover and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C and line baking sheet(s) with parchment.
• To make the egg wash, in a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk and milk or water for 15 seconds.
• Roll the dough out (about 0,7-1 cm) and cut using a cookie cutter or simply a knife. Place the cookies onto the sheets and brush with the egg wash. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
• Bake for about 12-14 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your biscuits – they should be slightly golden on the edges. If desired, you can use the broiler for a minute or so to get more beautiful browning.
• Remove from the oven and let completely cool. Once cooked, they will harden up more but remain soft and flaky. Keep them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to a week. After a couple of days, they might become too soft and less flavourful, but it’s easy to fix. Just preheat the oven to ~400 degrees F, place them onto a baking sheet, and pop them in the oven for about 2-3 minutes, then remove. Once cooled, they will be fresh and crisp again! Enjoy.