History

Benne is the Gullah-Geechee word for sesame, brought from West Africa with enslaved Africans in the 17th century. The seed grew well in Carolina soil and became a staple of Sea Island cookery. Benne wafers are documented in Charleston Receipts (1950), the Junior League's still-in-print cookbook compiled by 11 Charleston women. The cookie became a tearoom and confectionery staple by the mid-20th century; tins of benne wafers are now the city's most-shipped edible souvenir. Charleston Receipts remains in print at the City Market and most bookshops.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Sesame, Egg, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 60Hands-on 25 minTotal 45 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 120g sesame seeds (benne seeds, ideally raw)
  • 120g unsalted butter, softened
  • 200g light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 60g plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt

Method

  1. Heat oven to 175C (350F). Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and pale golden. Cool.
  2. Beat butter and brown sugar together until pale and creamy, 3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
  4. Whisk flour, baking powder and salt; fold into the butter mixture.
  5. Stir in the toasted seeds.
  6. Drop small half-teaspoons of batter onto parchment-lined trays, well spaced; they spread thin and wide.
  7. Bake 7 to 9 minutes until edges are deep brown. Cool on the tray; they crisp as they cool.

Tip from the editors. Toast the seeds properly; raw benne in a cold pan tastes grassy. Pull the trays at deep amber; pale wafers are chewy not crisp.

Where to eat benne wafers

Benne wafers in Charleston

Charleston City Market ★ 3.8

$ MarketDowntown

Charleston City Market runs daily inside four open-air sheds on Meeting Street since 1804. Open daily 09:30-17:30 (plus fri/sat night 18:30-22:30).

TipNight market Friday and Saturday adds craft vendors. Sweetgrass-basket prices run $30 and up.

Directions

Sugar Bakeshop ★ 4.0

$ BakerySmall-batch cupcakes and cookiesUpper KingWalk-in only

Sugar Bakeshop in Charleston bakes small-batch cupcakes, cookies and custom cakes from a Cannon Street counter since 2007. Located in Upper King.

Worth the queueLady Baltimore cupcake

TipSpecials sell out by mid-afternoon; arrive before 14:00 for the daily cupcake. Closed Sundays.

Directions

All Charleston signature dishes →

Benne wafers in Savannah

Byrd Cookie Company ★ 4.4

$ BakeryCookies (benne, key lime, butter)Historic DistrictWalk-in only

Byrd has baked cookies in Savannah since 1924; the Waters Avenue flagship is a retail-tasting shop with the bake floor visible behind glass. Benne signature.

Worth the queueBenne wafers, key lime cooler cookies

Directions

Savannah's Candy Kitchen ★ 4.4

$ Street foodHistoric District

Walk-up praline counter on River Street, with cooks pulling pralines in copper kettles behind the front window. Saltwater taffy, fudge and chocolates inside.

TryPecan pralines pulled in the front window

Directions

Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room ★ 4.7

$ Soul foodHistoric District

Mrs. Wilkes has run from a Jones Street basement since 1943, $35 communal Southern home cooking at ten-person tables. Sweet potato souffle, cash or check.

TryCommunal-table Southern lunch

Directions

All Savannah signature dishes →

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