And despite the appreciation I have for Sesame Snap, so quaintly packaged in its transparent wrapper, I have to say making it at home has brought this confection to an entirely different playing field. And this is besides the fact I added orange peel (which is heaven on earth when paired with sesame, if you haven’t tried it yet). This is based solely on the fact it is highly aromatic, intensely toasty and sweet, and it’s got a wonderful stick-to-your-teeth chewiness that is incredibly addictive. Get ready to salivate your way through this batch!

Sesame Orange Brittle

Ingredients:

– 3/4 cup granulated sugar
– 1/4 cup honey
– 1/2 tsp nutmeg
– 1 tbsp water
– a pinch of salt
– 1 cup sesame seeds, raw
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 2 tsp salted butter
– 1/4 tsp baking soda
– zest of one small orange (about 2 tsp)

Directions:

1. In a small pot over medium heat mix together the sugar, honey, nutmeg, water and salt. When it melts into a smooth liquid, add the sesame seeds. Stir frequently until the sugar mixture turns a dark amber colour (5-7 minutes). If you have a candy thermometer, it should read 300F.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and butter, followed by the baking soda and orange zest. Pour the mixture out onto either a silicone mat or parchment paper into 1/4-inch thick slab.
3. Allow to harden (15-20 minutes) before breaking into pieces. Otherwise, allow it to cool for only 10 minutes and then cut into bite size pieces with a sharp knife (be careful not to cut through your silicone mat).

Store them in an air-tight container, using wax paper between the layers (don’t stack them directly onto each other, as they will stick together and all hell will break loose as you try to pry them apart).