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Home » Recipes » Sweet Snacks

Tahini Loaf Cake

Modified: Sep 8, 2022 · Published: Oct 21, 2020 by Famidha Ashraf · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

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This Tahini loaf cake is such a delightful tea cake with the nuttiness of the sesame butter (tahini) and the moist crumb with that crisp coat...yummy... just makes this cake irresistible. 😋 You have to try this tahini cake recipe to know it.

five slices of tahini cake in a plate with dried rose petals scattered

I have been baking this Tahini cake since 2018 and honestly lost the count. In one instance, my friend carried it with her to India and kept it for days! Whoever had this cake, loved it in the very first bite! I thought kids won't like this but my niece and nephew ate without any reservations! So, it is high time you use that jar of tahini lost in your fridge and make this cake. 

Every time I shared a Tahini cake picture on Insta stories, I had dozens of followers ask me the same question - tahini in a cake? does that taste good? Hello! hasn't anyone heard about Halawa /halva? And not to forget the trending tahini chocolate cookies being baked! But let us talk about this Tahini cake recipe today!

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  • Ingredients used
  • How to make Tahini cake?
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments

Ingredients used

  1. Flour: I have used all-purpose flour (maida) and have not tried any other type of flour. 
  2. Baking powder: You cannot replace this with baking soda. 
  3. Salt: a pinch will do.
  4. Sugar: I have used the usual white granulated sugar and have not tried any other type of sugar. 
  5. Egg: 2 large or 2 medium or 3 small eggs
  6. Vanilla extract: You may use vanilla extract or rose water or orange blossom water or cardamom powder
  7. Oil: I have used sunflower oil. Any cooking oil that does not have flavour can be used.
  8. Milk: You may use full-fat milk or full-fat buttermilk/laban. 
  9. Tahini: Mostly labelled as Tahina. If you cannot source, make your own at home. You just need some sesame seeds! 
  10. Sesame seeds: little to coat the cake top. You may use white or black or both.
sliced tahini loaf cake

How to make Tahini cake?

This is actually a very forgiving recipe so you don't have to be super precise with the ingredient measurements. It is better to use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to make the batter easily else you need to have a strong arm and be prepared for the workout. 😜

Prep the oven and pans

Firstly, you will need to preheat the oven to 180°C with the wire rack in the middle. Then make sure to grease and line with baking paper at least 2 mini loaf pans or you may use one 8×4 inch loaf pan or one 6×2 inch round pan. I would guess this batter would be okay even on a madeleine pan but please use your discretion. 

Prepare the wet batter

Prepare the batter by first mixing the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium-sized bowl and keeping it aside. Then, in a larger bowl and add the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract or rose water or cardamom powder. Use an electric hand whisk or stand mixer to whisk the egg mixture on medium speed for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture is pale and sugar is not too grainy. Next, add the oil, milk and tahini and whisk again until combined. Now, add the flour mixture in two to three batches whisking each time. 

Pour batter into lined pan

It is a good practice to use a rubber spatula to transfer the batter into the lined pan(s) making sure you fill only ¾th of the pan as the cake will rise considerably. Rubber spatula makes it easy and reduces any waste. Next, sprinkle the top with sesame seeds. You may use white sesame seeds or black sesame seeds!

Bake the tahini cake

My two mini loaf pans took almost 45 minutes to get baked. If using round pans, then do check the cake at 30-35 minutes. If the loaves are browning too fast, but the toothpick is coated with wet batter, then you may reduce the temperature a bit or place some aluminium foil on top of each pan. (I never had to do this but stating it here as ovens act differently.) Remove the pan only if the toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean or with dried crumbs. 

Cool the cake and then slice to serve

Remove the cake from the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack. Let the cake cool completely before you try to slice. Use a bread knife or sharp knife to slice the loaf and serve with coffee or tea or nothing. Store any leftover cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The cake tasted and sliced better the next day. 

tahini tea cake slices

📖 Recipe Card

Tahini cake loaf recipe

Tahini Loaf Cake

Tahini cake is a delightful tea cake with the nuttiness of the sesame butter and a moist crumb with a crisp coat making this cake irresistible.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 1 loaf
Calories: 279kcal
Author: Famidha Ashraf
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, (maida)
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • a pinch of salt
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs, (or 2 medium or 3 small) room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup oil
  • ¼ cup milk , room temperature
  • ¼ cup tahini, measured and whisked lightly
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C with the wire rack in the middle.
  • Grease and line with baking paper two 5x3 inch mini loaf pans. (you may use one 8×4 inch loaf pan or one 6×2 inch round pan.)
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium-sized bowl and keep aside.
    1 cup all-purpose flour
    ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    a pinch of salt
  • Take a large bowl and add the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract or rose water.
    ¾ cup sugar
    2 large eggs
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Use an electric whisk to whisk the egg mixture on medium speed for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the mixture is pale and sugar is not too grainy.
  • Add the oil, tahini and milk and whisk again until combined.
    ½ cup oil
    ¼ cup milk
    ¼ cup tahini
  • Add the flour mixture in two to three batches whisking each time to incorporate.
  • Use a rubber spatula and pour the batter into the lined pan(s) making sure you fill ¾th or till brim of the pan as the cake will rise beautifully.
  • Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds.
    2 teaspoons sesame seeds
  • Place the loaf pans in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. If using round pans, then do check the cake at 30-35 minutes. If using one big loaf pan, bake for close to an hour. If the loaves are browning too fast, but the toothpick is coated with wet batter, then you may reduce the temperature a bit or place some aluminium foil on top of each pan.
  • Remove from the oven only if the toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean or with dried crumbs.
  • Remove the cake from the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack.
  • Slice the loaf and serve with coffee. Store any leftover cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The cake tasted and sliced better the next day.

Notes

Instead of vanilla extract, you can try rose water or orange blossom water for a change. 

Nutrition Info

Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: middle eastern
Tried this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!

Recipe inspired and adapted from Nadia's Instagram PotsnBites 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shea says

    May 05, 2025 at 8:19 am

    Can the milk be substituted to make the recipe dairy free?

    Reply
    • Famidha Ashraf says

      May 05, 2025 at 8:24 am

      Yes, you can! I would suggest to use 1:1 plant-based milk. Make sure it is unsweetened version. Happy baking!

      Reply
  2. Dheapika Vijayakumar says

    March 04, 2025 at 9:09 pm

    5 stars
    I have tried this cake numerous times and it's one of my favorites. The tahini flavor in the cake hits really differently, and I love it.

    Reply
  3. Niya says

    July 16, 2023 at 6:17 am

    do you like it best with vanilla ,rose or orange blossom? what's your preferred one

    Reply
    • Famidha Ashraf says

      July 17, 2023 at 3:06 am

      I loved all three versions but my partner is not a fan of obw. So, I stick to either vanilla or rose water. You can just use vanilla in the cake and may be make an icing with rose water.

      Reply
  4. Maria says

    May 28, 2022 at 7:58 am

    5 stars
    Terrific! I just made this. It was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

    Reply
  5. LazyBug says

    December 15, 2021 at 4:41 am

    5 stars
    Made this today. Baked as single loaf... Turned out great😋Never thought of adding tahini to a cake batter.. Thank you for the recipe!!

    Reply
5 from 3 votes

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Mr.F and Famidha

Hey, I'm Famidha

An Indian chai lover in the UAE. As a passionate food blogger, I share a diverse collection of recipes spanning the Middle East and South Asia. With each dish, I aim to spark your culinary curiosity and encourage you to try new flavours and cooking methods.

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