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!
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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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.
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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!
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Benne Brittle Candy
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
Nutrition
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I’m all for the microwave this time of year! This candy will be a hit on my holiday trays!
I have never heard of this!! Such a sweet story about Ma. These kids of recipes are always my favorite!
I have never heard of this!! Such a sweet story about Ma. These kids of recipes are always my favorite!
Your ma and the lipstick I was laughing so hard at that! That is funny! This brittle! can we say YUM!
Does the wattage/power of your microwave make any difference on cook times?
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@
These sound really good. A great treat to snack on. Loved your Ma story!
These sound really good. A great treat to snack on. Loved your Ma story!
I’ve never tried benne seeds before but now I have to! What an awesome snack idea!
Your ma and the lipstick I was laughing so hard at that! That is funny! This brittle! can we say YUM!
This candy sounds like the perfect little treat when you want a bite of sweet! I love, it and I’m looking forward to trying it soon! And your Ma sounds like my kind of lady… Loved the lipstick story! 🙂
This is so clever! Im thinking these need to go in the easter candy bowl!
I have never heard of this!! Such a sweet story about Ma. These kids of recipes are always my favorite!
This is so clever! Im thinking these need to go in the easter candy bowl!
This is so clever! Im thinking these need to go in the easter candy bowl!
I would have loved your ma and I definitely love this candy. I know it would be a hit at the holidays but I think it would be a great treat on one of your meat and cheese trays!
This candy sounds like the perfect little treat when you want a bite of sweet! I love, it and I’m looking forward to trying it soon! And your Ma sounds like my kind of lady… Loved the lipstick story! 🙂
This candy sounds like the perfect little treat when you want a bite of sweet! I love, it and I’m looking forward to trying it soon! And your Ma sounds like my kind of lady… Loved the lipstick story! 🙂
I would have loved your ma and I definitely love this candy. I know it would be a hit at the holidays but I think it would be a great treat on one of your meat and cheese trays!
I would have loved your ma and I definitely love this candy. I know it would be a hit at the holidays but I think it would be a great treat on one of your meat and cheese trays!
I’ve never tried benne seeds before but now I have to! What an awesome snack idea!
I’ve never tried benne seeds before but now I have to! What an awesome snack idea!
Wow these look like a delicious snack! Or should I say sweet treat! Thanks for sharing for the #HomeMattersParty
I love sesame seeds – this looks great! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner Link up!
This one I’m a gonna’ have to try….
Super easy and not super sweet! Enjoy!