Easy Italian Sesame Seed Cookies (Reginelle)

Italian Sesame Seed Cookies-Biscotti Regina are an easy to make, crunchy and lightly nutty Sicilian cookie. These delicious Reginelle cookies are not too sweet and are covered in toasted sesame seeds. A perfect cookie to add to your Christmas cookie tray! Great for breakfast or for an afternoon coffee break.

What are Italian Sesame Cookies?

Also known as Italian Sesame Seed Cookies or Biscotti Reginelle (Queen's Cookies),  this scrumptious cookie is covered with crunchy sesame seeds and is sure to become a favorite!! A traditional Sicilian cookie that is easy to make, crunchy, not too sweet, with an addictive nutty flavor from the toasted sesame seeds.

You may not know that yes, these are traditional Sicilian cookies, but did you know that they are also very Arabic. More on this part of the recipe below...

If you like this recipe, you will also love my Italian Christmas Cookies and my Pistachio Cookies, perfect for the holidays.

Besides the Sicilian S Cookies, these are one of my other top Sicilian cookies to enjoy for breakfast! Or just with a nice cup of espresso. It's one of the first cookies I ever tried as a little girl when I lived in Sicily. And now, just one bite of this cookie instantly transports me back to being with my Sicilian family.

Why you'll love these Reginelle cookies

• They're easy to make with simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand.
• The toasted sesame seeds add a delicious nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch to the cookies.
• They're not too sweet, making them a great treat for any time of the day.
• The recipe is customizable, so you can substitute the sesame seeds with other nuts or seeds, or even dip them in melted chocolate for a more indulgent treat.
• The cookies can be frozen for later use, making them a convenient and tasty option for unexpected guests or busy days.

What are Sicilian Sesame Seed cookies called in Sicilian?

Sicilian Reginelle or Biscotti Regina in Sicilian dialect are called ca’giugiulena . The word giuggiulena derives from Arabic gialgiala, Arabic for sesame seeds. Or you may hear them called viscuotta ‘nciminati. The reginelle in Palermo are one of the cookies enjoyed for the Festa dei Morti (Day of the Dead holiday).

What is the history of Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies-Biscotti Reginelle?

These not overly sweet and super crispy sesame cookies are originally from Palermo, but they are found all over the beautiful island of Sicily. The story goes that they were named after Queen Margherita of Savoia, hence, Biscotti Regina-Queen cookies.

Sicily was invaded by many different cultures over the centuries. The Phoencians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and the Spanish (just to name some of the conquerors!).

Each invasion left a strong influence on the uniquenesses of everything about Sicily! The Arabs brought with them citrus, sugar, rice and even sesame seeds. Which is why these are such a famous Sicilian cookie with an Arabic influence.

What ingredients are in Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies?

Here is the list of ingredients. Keep in mind that in Sicily, this recipe is varies even from city to city. In some areas they use lard (strutto)and some areas of Sicily will add orange rind. And some recipes will even include saffron and I have heard about even cumin being added. (Full recipe is below)

• All-purpose flour: This is the foundation of the cookie, providing the structure and bulk. It's responsible for the texture and crumb of the baked good.
• Baking powder: Acts as a leavening agent that helps the cookie rise and become fluffy by producing gas bubbles when it interacts with the wet ingredients.
• Salt: Enhances the other flavors within the cookie, making the sweet and buttery notes more pronounced.
• Margarine (or unsalted butter or lard): Adds richness and moisture to the cookie, helping to create a tender and soft texture.
• Sugar: Sweetens the cookie and contributes to its golden-brown color. It also aids in the browning process and the formation of a nice crust.
• White sesame seeds: Add a crunchy texture and a mild, nutty flavor to the cookie.
• Milk (or unsweetened almond milk): Moistens the dry ingredients to form a dough, and contributes to the cookie's texture and taste.
• Vanilla extract: Provides a warm, sweet aroma and flavor that complements the other ingredients.

How to make Italian Sesame cookies?

Gather all your ingredients.

The first step is to lightly toast the sesame seeds. I've seen recipes where you don't toast the seeds, but I prefer to lightly toast them.

The second step is to whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together.

The third step is to mix the margarine (or butter or lard) with the sugar until it's nice and fluffy. 

The fourth step is to mix the wet mixture into the dry mixture. 

The fifth step is to add the milk a bit at a time (I used unsweetened almond milk). This is if you were using an egg, when you would add it in. I made these vegan and used almond milk in place of egg. 

Here is how the dough is when it's ready.

The sixth step is to form the cookies and roll them around in the toasted sesame seeds.

It's important to roll the cookies the same size, that way they'll bake evenly. You could brush a little milk on the cookies before rolling in the seeds to help them stick better (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't). 

You could make them even bigger (I've seen these cookies pretty big in Sicily). 

The final step is to bake them until their golden. I spread mine out over two baking sheets.

Can you make Sicilian Sesame seed cookies without eggs?

Yes! I made these without eggs and used almond milk in place milk. So they are totally dairy-free and also vegan.

What shape are Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies?

In the area of Taormina I have seen them shaped sort of oval- oblong. In Palermo they are rectangular. You could make them sort of oval like I did.

How to store biscotti regina?

These cookies will stay fresh in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 2 weeks. They will even keep their crunch (I made mine without egg).

• Toasting the sesame seeds before using them enhances their flavor and texture, but be careful not to over-toast them as they can easily burn.
• It's important to use softened margarine (or butter) for these biscotti regina to ensure the dough comes together properly.
• Do not overwork the dough as this can lead to tough cookies. Mix the ingredients until just combined and smooth.

Expert Tips to make Biscotti Regina

•To make these cookies even more authentic, you can use lard instead of margarine or butter. The use of lard was common in traditional Italian baking.

•For a citrusy twist, add some grated orange rind to the dough. This adds a refreshing burst of flavor to the otherwise buttery and sweet cookie.

•If you want to add some color to your cookies, you can substitute some of the all-purpose flour with almond flour. This will also add a subtle nutty flavor to the cookie.

•To ensure even browning, rotate your baking sheet halfway through the cooking time. This will prevent one side from becoming too dark while the other remains pale.

•For an extra special touch, drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cookies. This adds a beautiful contrast to the golden-brown cookies and makes them look even more enticing.

Substitutions/Variations for Reginelle Cookies

• You can substitute the sesame seeds with other nuts or seeds such as chopped almonds, hazelnuts or sunflower seeds for a different flavor and texture.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
• If you don't have vanilla extract, you can use almond or orange extract instead for a different flavor profile.
• To make these cookies even more decadent, dip them in melted chocolate after rolling them in sesame seeds.

FAQ'S

Some other delicious cookies recipes to try:

• Italian Rainbow Cookies
• Mostaccioli-Italian Christmas Spice Cookies
• Cuccidati-Sicilian Fig Cookies
• Italian Lemon Knot Cookies
• Sicilian Savoiardi Cookies-Ladyfinger Cookies
• Easy Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken
• Cranberry Almond Biscotti-easy Italian biscotti recipe
• Fig and Walnut Biscotti | #einkornexperiment

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Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies-Biscotti Regina

Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies-Biscotti Regina- are an easy to make, crunchy and lightly nutty Sicilian cookie. These delicious cookies are not too sweet and are covered in toasted sesame seeds. A perfect cookie to add to your Christmas cookie tray! Great for breakfast or an afternoon coffee break.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total34 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian, Sicilian

Keyword: Christmas cookies, vegan

Servings: 22

Calories: 70kcal

Author: Lora

Ingredients

• ½ cup sesame seeds
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ¼ cup margarine softened (or unsalted butter or lard)
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 tbsp milk I used unsweetened almond milk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place a rack in the center of the oven.
• In a large skillet, add the sesame seeds and on medium heat, lightly toast them. Keep stirring them as they’re getting a little colors, as you don’t want them to get too brown. Set them aside in a casserole or large dish to cool down (that’s where you will be dipping the cookies into them).
• Line baking sheets with parchment paper (I used 2) and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder.
• In another large bowl, by hand or with an electric mixer, beat together the margarine (or butter)with the sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add in the vanilla and stir to combine (or beat with the mixer to combine).
• Add in the flour mixture a little bit at a time. Scrape bottom and sides of bowl to combine well. Add in the milk a tablespoon at a time, until you have a soft dough.
• Dump out the dough onto a clean work surface. Work the dough just a bit until it is smooth and cohesive, adding just small portion of flour if it’s needed to bring the dough together.
• Scoop out small portions of the dough to make 2-inch cookies. Brush with a little milk and roll them in the container with the toasted sesame seeds.
• Space out the cookies 1-inch apart on the baking sheets (depending on how precisely you scoop out portions, should make about 22-24 cookies).
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Nutrition

Serving: 22g | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 0.3mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 97IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

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