My husband has a love (…ok craving…) for sesame snaps and frequently buys them at grocery stores. It looks deceptively healthy…after all it’s packed with sesame seeds, which are nutritious right? However, a look at the ingredient labels reveals that the snack is basically made up of sugar. For example, of the four ingredients in a Sezme brand sesame snap, three of the ingredients are sugar based. Here is the entire ingredients list: Sesame seeds, glucose syrup, sugar, honey. Jump to Recipe

I was determined to make a healthier version. But I was disappointed to see that most of the recipes out there on the Internet for homemade sesame snaps or sesame bars use quite a lot of sugar or sweeteners as the main ingredient as well. I really wanted a healthier, lower sugar version. So when I stumbled across this recipe (see source) from bon appetit for Sesame-Peanut Bars Recipe by Molly Mitchell, I was ecstatic!! I tried it out right away, making some modifications and a winner was born. I absolutely love the fact that it only calls for ¼ cup of honey.

This is a very easy and versatile recipe, and quick to throw together when the snack craving hits. Use whatever you have in the kitchen, be it toasted or raw sesame seeds, sweetened or unsweetened coconut flakes or coconut shreds. I’m sure it will work fine with other nuts too such as chopped pecans, hazelnuts or walnuts. Feel free to experiment. You can also make these bars a few days ahead of time and store them in an airtight jar or container. However, if you don’t intend to eat all of this right away, the best method I’ve found to maintain the crispiness of the sesame-cashew snaps is to freeze them in an airtight container. Then take some snaps out to thaw for about 10 minutes before consuming.

The problem? Now I’m also addicted!

4.41 from 5 votes

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Sesame-Cashew Snaps

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

A healthier and highly addictive protein-packed nutritious vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free and oil-free snack for all ages. Make a big batch and freeze the extras!

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: All Cuisines

Servings: 16 snaps

Calories: 139 kcal

Author: @dietitian_mom

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups raw or toasted sesame seeds [169 g]
• ¾ cup unsweetened shredded coconut [75 g]
• ¼ cup unsalted roasted cashews [32 g] (chopped)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup honey [60 mL] (alternatives are maple syrup or agave nectar)
• 2 tablespoons sunflower seed butter (or use an alternative nut or seed butter)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed meal (optional)
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line a 9 inch x 13 inch glass baking pan with parchment paper, with sufficient overhang on all sides.

2. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients (sesame seeds, coconut, chopped cashew nuts, salt and optional ingredients like the flaxseed meal and chia seeds if desired).

3. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients (honey, sunflower seed butter, and vanilla)
4. Add the wet ingredients mixture to the dry sesame seed mixture and mix well.

5. Scrape mixture into the prepared baking dish, and then press firmly into an even layer, as thinly as you can!

6. Bake in the oven until golden brown around the edges (at least 20–25 minutes, depending on how thick the mixture layer is).

7. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Then lift the entire parchment piece with the baked layer out of the baking pan (if it starts to crumble, let cool longer) and let the cashew-sesame snap block cool fully on the parchment paper on a wire rack (this cooling process will take at least 30–40 minutes). 

8. Once the cashew-sesame snap block has fully and completely cooled, cut into rectangular snaps. 
   

Recipe Notes

If you don't have any sunflower seed butter on hand, feel free to use another nut or seed butter instead. The result will be just as delicious and crunchy! If you would like to try and make your own sunflower seed butter, see the recipe here.

Nutrition Facts

Sesame-Cashew Snaps

Amount Per Serving

Calories 139 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Sodium 40mg2%

Potassium 96mg3%

Carbohydrates 9g3%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 121mg12%

Iron 2.1mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

(Source: Sesame-Peanut Bars. Bon Appétit. http://www.bonappetit.com.
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/sesame-peanut-bars. Published September 2015. Accessed February 10, 2018.)