Kwanzaa Benne Cakes

Benne cakes originated in West Africa. Benne means sesame seeds, and they are eaten for good luck. Bring some luck to your Kwanzaa celebration by trying these delicious and simple cakes.

Level: Moderately easy

Time involved: One to two hours

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup finely packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup toasted sesame seeds
• Vegetable oil

Equipment:

• Cookie sheet
• Mixer or food processor
• Cooling racks

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet.

2. Mix together butter and brown sugar in a mixer or food processor and beat until creamy.

3. Mix in egg, vanilla, and lemon juice. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and sesame seeds. Mix together.

4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheets and allow them to cool on cooling racks.

Excerpted from:

Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Holiday Crafts © 2002 by Marilee LeBon. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

To order this book visit the Idiot's Guide web site or call 1-800-253-6476.