Name: Gilded Sesame Cookies
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 3/4 hr
Yield: Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 cup well-stirred tahini; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1/3 cup sesame seeds (preferably hulled); 1/4 teaspoon gold or silver luster dust (optional); parchment paper

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Gilded Sesame CookiesRomulo Yanes

A tahini-based dough is rolled in gold- or silver-dusted sesame seeds for eye-popping cookies that melt in the mouth. (They're just as delicious if you skip the fancy gilding.)

Cooks' notes:

•For this cookie, it's best to use hulled sesame seeds, found at most supermarkets. They're not usually labeled "hulled"; look for sesame seeds that are pale ivory in color and more delicate than the mottled beige ones, which still have their outer coating and are found at natural foods stores and Asian markets.
•Dough can be chilled up to 1 day.
•Cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature 5 days. •Luster dust is nontoxic. However, the FDA recommends that it be used for decorative purposes only. If you want to use a coloring that is entirely safe (though not available in gold or silver) try Crystal Colors at sugarpaste.com. The colors are great for kids.

Recipe notes

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