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Sesame Seed Candy – Benne Brittle

This buttery benne brittle candy is filled with toasted benne seeds (sesame) and is made right in your microwave in less than 10 minutes!

This buttery benne brittle candy is filled with toasted benne seeds (sesame) and is made right in your microwave in less than 10 minutes! Ma's Benne Seed Brittle Candy Recipe | Take Two Tapas | #BenneSeed #SesameSeeds #brittle #BenneBrittle #BenneCandy

Turn brittle candy on its head and add benne seeds (or sesame seeds) instead. Let me tell you about who created this recipe.

Virginia M. Curry (My Ma) was an amazing, funny, and unbelievably strong woman who bent over backward to help those who needed it.

Most importantly, she taught me not to put up with anyone’s nonsense, not only because it was a waste of your valuable time but because you didn’t have to. Believe me when I say that in her 75 years, she never did!

I have many memories of my Ma like her Fall Spiced Nuts, but this one, by far, is my favorite because it touches on this very trait.

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This buttery benne brittle candy is filled with toasted benne (sesame) seeds! | Take Two Tapas | #BenneSeed #SesameSeeds #brittle #BenneBrittle #BenneCandy

One day while I was staying with my Ma and Pa, she and I ran to the grocery store together to get our ingredients for dinner.

While Ma parked at the back of the lot to leave the closer spaces for those who needed them, a driver had pulled up to the front of the store, parked in the fire lane, and went inside to shop. A huge pet peeve of mine aside from hanging the toilet paper roll backward on the holder.

Upon witnessing this act, she turned to me and asked me if I thought parking in that spot was an acceptable thing to do.

Being that I was young, I said something silly like a fire truck might hit him. She agreed in that respect, but then said that it was just rude and inconsiderate and that is why it’s wrong. Why should he get to park up front and the rest of us had to park in a parking space?

Ma proceeded to take out her lipstick (which was a bright red) and write on the windshield of the car in big letters “NO PARKING IN FIRE LANE!” She tucked it back in her purse and we went inside to get our items like nothing happened.

While we were shopping, I kept imagining whose car it was and what they were going to do when they walked out and the bright letters. I also watched to see how she handled it because I would have been afraid that someone would have seen me and told the store manager.

She acted like it was any other day, we finished our shopping and left the store. The car was no longer there when we exited, and I breathed a small sigh of relief.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure policy here.
Toasted benne seeds (sesame) make Ma's Benne Seed Brittle Candy Recipe awesome! | Take Two Tapas | #BenneSeed #SesameSeeds #brittle #BenneBrittle #BenneCandy

When we made it back home, I asked her why she used her good lipstick and didn’t opt to leave a note instead. She said the lesson would sink in better if they had to wash all the greasy lipstick off their window, with an added bonus if they tried to use their windshield wipers to get it off

Plus people like that would probably just throw a note on the ground and it would then be littering.

Of all the memories I have of Ma, that is one of my favorite because it has many lessons all wrapped into one encounter. I miss her every day and more so now that it’s coming into the holiday season and I am again dreaming of her benne seed candy!

I decided to share this recipe for her Benne Candy since she can no longer share herself with the world. Think of Ma, and her lipstick, when you eat it!

For more insider tips & tricks, and a candid behind the scenes look follow me on social media! Check use out on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (yes, people still use Twitter, LOL!)

This microwave Benne Seed Candy is super easy! | Take Two Tapas | #BenneSeed #SesameSeeds #brittle #BenneBrittle #BenneCandy

More Easy Snacks

Ma's Benne Seed Brittle Candy in a glass bowl

Benne Brittle Candy

This buttery benne brittle candy is filled with toasted benne seeds (sesame) and is made right in your microwave in less than 10 minutes!
5 from 19 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sweets, Desserts and Shooters
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 182kcal
Author: Jennifer Stewart

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Karo light corn syrup
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup Benne sesame seeds, toasted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 11/2 teaspoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  • In a dry pan, add your benne seeds and toast on low for about 6 minutes or until fragrant and just starting to turn brown.
  • Watch carefully as they burn very easily!
  • I try to toast all the seeds I have on hand to save time for the next batch.
  • Toasting all your seeds and nuts at one time makes a great shortcut for your future recipes!
  • Line a baking sheet pan with a silicone baking mat
    or a sheet of parchment paper sprayed with non-stick spray.
  • In a large 6-8 cup microwave-safe, glass bowl, add the sugar and Karo corn syrup.
  • Stir to combine and microwave on high for 2 1/2 minutes.
  • Pull out (will be hot) and stir in the toasted benne seeds.
  • Mix and microwave on high for another 2 1/2 minutes.
  • Take out o the microwave and add salt, vanilla, and butter.
  • Stir and microwave a third time for 1 1/2 minutes.
  • Quickly after removing, stir in baking soda.
  • Immediately, because it will start to harden quickly, pour on prepared pan and spread out best you can.
  • I use a spatula or cake decorating off-set spatula sprayed with non-stick spray.
  • Candy will harden in about 10 minutes.
  • When cool, break into bite-sized pieces and place in air-tight container.

Notes

*If you like this recipe, leave me a comment and rate it with some stars!!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 456mg | Sugar: 41g

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Recipe Rating




Julie Menghini

Tuesday 19th of November 2019

I'm all for the microwave this time of year! This candy will be a hit on my holiday trays!

Michaela Kenkel

Monday 20th of May 2019

I have never heard of this!! Such a sweet story about Ma. These kids of recipes are always my favorite!

Michaela Kenkel

Monday 20th of May 2019

I have never heard of this!! Such a sweet story about Ma. These kids of recipes are always my favorite!

Deanna

Wednesday 1st of May 2019

Your ma and the lipstick I was laughing so hard at that! That is funny! This brittle! can we say YUM!

Vickie Newton

Saturday 8th of December 2018

Does the wattage/power of your microwave make any difference on cook times?

chubcheeks@bellsouth.net

Saturday 8th of December 2018

So glad you asked, I used one that was 1000W when making this recipe but most are 1200W now. I would recommend reducing the cook times by 30 seconds for each time if you have a higher wattage microwave. Thanks for reading@