Tahini and Banana, a Popular (And Tasty!) Pairing

This is a fun snack to make with the kids. Sally Staub

You know peanut butter, but have you tried tahini? While peanut butter is made by grinding up peanuts, tahini is a paste made by grinding up toasted sesame seeds and is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine (think hummus). Just be sure to stir it up before measuring for this dish.

“I thought it would taste weird because of the tahini and sesame seeds, but it was heaven and we cannot wait to make it again,” said our 10-year-old recipe tester Max.

Tahini-Banana Snack Cake

Serves 12

• Vegetable oil spray
• 1 1/2 cups (7 1/2 ounces) all-­purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 very ripe bananas (skins should be speckled black)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and softened
• 1 1/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) sugar
• 1/3 cup tahini
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) whole milk
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray inside bottom and sides of an 8-­inch square metal baking pan with vegetable oil spray. Line the bottom of the baking pan with an 8-­inch square piece of parchment paper.