These halva cookies have grated halva added to the butter cookie dough, before baking until golden and delicious. A simple and easy cookie recipe that takes just 10 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to bake with no chilling time required.
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Like the tahini, halva has now become very popular. If you've never tired halva before you will be very presently surprised. It is not just delicious but one treat you cannot stop eating. My kids eat it like candy and often I have to store it away so they don't overeat. My favorite, of course, is pistachio halva and you will find me using it in almost everything from cookies to cakes, hamentaschen, and bonbons.
Why make these cookies?
- The recipe is very simple with the standard creaming method for making cookies.
- Apart from the halva all the rest of the ingredients are simple pantry staples
- These halva cookies are not the traditional recipe but even better. Unlike traditional cookies, where you add tahini and honey in the cookie dough, I prefer to use grated halva. This makes a huge difference in taste and texture.
- The dough needs no chilling time which means you can bake these cookies from start to finish in less than 30 minutes
Ingredients and substitutes
- Halva - You get halva in various flavors and you can choose your favorite. I am using pistachio halva today.
- All-purpose flour - Simple, plain flour works just fine for this recipe. No need for any cake flour or self-raising flour.
- Sugar - I am using both white sugar but brown sugar works just as well. In fact, brown adds a nice caramel flavor too.
- Butter - Regular unsalted butter is perfect make sure the butter is at room temperature but not too soft so it creams with the sugar nicely.
- Spices - Today, I am using cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger. But, you can also use pumpkin spice, gingerbread spice, or garam masala.
- Vanilla - You can use vanilla extract, bean paste, and vanilla sugar.
Step by step instructions
- Preheat the oven at 350°F / 177°C / Gas Mark 4
- Dry ingredients - In a bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Then add the egg followed by the vanilla extract.
- Next, add the flour mixture followed by the chopped halva and nuts. Combine well.
Pro tip - combine well but do not over mix as we do not want to activate the gluten in our flour.
- Shape golf size amounts of dough into balls and space them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave enough room for them to spread.
Pro tip - the bigger the pieces of halva in the dough the more uneven the cookies will bake. The pieces of halva will melt as the cookies bake.
- Bake the cookies on the center rack for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Pro tip - Baking time will differ with the size of the cookie dough balls. Mine took about 8 minutes. - Cool on the baking tray for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Pro tip - let the cookies cool on the baking tray first. Do not touch the cookies as the melted halva is very hot and can cause serious burns. - Enjoy!
More cookies you may like
- Pistachio Cookies or Chocolate Pistachio Cookies
- Hazelnut Cookies Recipe
- Cardamom Coffee Cookies or Chocolate Cardamom Coffee Cookies
- Condensed Milk Cookies or Sweetened Condensed Milk Cookies
- See all cookie recipes
Frequently asked questions
These cookies will keep at room temperature for a week or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. They also freeze beautifully for up to a month or more.
Halva is made from sesame seeds paste or tahini and sugar. It may or may not have nuts added to it.
Yes, it is easy to make halva at home.
- Make sugar syrup with 1 cup sugar with ¼ cup water. Boil until it reaches 245 F.
- Then poured the syrup into 1 cup tahini paste and add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon salt.
- ½ cup of nuts such as pistachio can be added now too.
- Pour the mixture into a parchment-lined 8 x 8-inch square pan and cool completely.
- Once cooled cut into slices.
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Printable Recipe
Halva Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1¼ cup (160 g) All-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Ground ginger ((optional) )
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg (freshly grated)
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon powder
- ½ cup (113 g) Unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ½ cup (100 g) Sugar
- 1 Egg
- ¾ cup (175 g) Halva (grated (with or without nuts) )
- ½ cup (72 g) Chopped nuts ((pecans, walnuts, or a combination))
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 350°F / 177°C / Gas Mark 4
- Dry ingredients - In a bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Then add the egg followed by the vanilla extract.
- Next, add the flour mixture followed by the chopped halva and nuts. Combine well.Pro tip - combine well but do not over mix as we do not want to activate the gluten in our flour.
- Shape golf size amounts of dough into balls and space them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave enough room for them to spread.Pro tip - the bigger the pieces of halva in the dough the more uneven the cookies will bake. The pieces of halva will melt as the cookies bake.
- Bake the cookies on the center rack for about 8 to 10 minutes. Pro tip - Baking time will differ with the size of the cookie dough balls. Mine took about 8 minuteds.
- Cool on the baking tray for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Pro tip - let the cookies cool on the baking tray first. Do not touch the cookies as the melted halva is very hot and can cause serious burns.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Marisa Franca
I didn't know what halva was but I do now. The cookies look fantastic and I think they'd be great to make at Christmas time. We love tahini and I'm looking forward to making a batch. I'm always learning something new with your posts!!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Marisa. If you like tahini you will love halva. It's the sweeter version of tahini but in a block. So glad you like my posts.
Mahy Elamin
This is a great idea for my breakfast! Its fantastic! YUM! This looks so delicious!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Mahy. Absolutely great anytime.
Jenni LeBaron
I've never worked with halva before, never heard of it actually, but I love the flavors you've described in using it and can see why it's a favorite. I think these cookies look spectacular!
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Jenni, if you love tahini you will love halva. Halva really is so delicious.
Claudia Lamascolo
Darn I wish I saw this before I tossed my sesame paste. I bought it and had no idea what to do with it! I used it to make eggplant with baked. These sound perfect. The jar got very old and I didnt know how long to keep it. Next time at least I will have another recipe to try it out on thank you
Veena Azmanov
Oh nooo. Halva is so delicious. You can even grate it over vanilla ice cream!! These are delicious. You must try these next time.
Denay DeGuzman
I absolutely love discovering beautiful recipes from different cultures! These Halva Cookies look so delicious. I'm looking forward to trying this recipe one day next week.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Denay. I think you will love these.