Tahini Halva Bites (Honey)
Melt-in-the-mouth sesame halva — the ancient sweet of the old markets — made simply with tahini and honey instead of boiled sugar. Crumbly, nutty, addictive little squares.
Why you'll love this recipe
- An old world recipe, made the way it always was
- One of the most-requested recipes here
- Not one spoon of refined sugar
- No baking required
- Sweetened with real honey
What you'll need
Everything here is a real ingredient you can find in a normal shop. Nothing artificial, no powders pretending to be sugar. Here is the full list, with the quantities I actually use.
- 1 cup (250 g) tahini (well stirred, good quality)
- 1/3 cup (110 g) raw honey
- 1/2 cup (50 g) almond flour or milk powder (to firm)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla, pinch salt
- Optional: 1/3 cup chopped pistachios; 2 tbsp cocoa for a marble
- Sesame seeds for the top
How to make it
Line a small loaf pan with parchment.
Gently warm honey until just runny; stir into tahini with vanilla and salt.
Mix in almond flour until it forms a thick, fudgy paste (add a little more if loose). Fold in pistachios.
For a marble, swirl 2 tbsp cocoa through half.
Press firmly into the pan; top with sesame seeds. Chill 1 hour, then cut into 16 bites. Keep cool.
Save this one for later — hover the image to pin it.
Storage
Keep it covered in the fridge and it will hold for three to four days. If you are making it ahead, hold back any fresh topping until just before you serve so nothing goes soft. Most of these freeze well too, wrapped tight, for up to three months.
Questions about this recipe
Is Tahini Halva Bites (Honey) really made without refined sugar?
Yes. All the sweetness comes from honey - there is not one spoon of white sugar in it. That is the whole point of how I cook.
Do I need to bake Tahini Halva Bites (Honey)?
No baking at all. It sets in the fridge, so you do not need to turn the oven on - which makes it an easy one for a hot day.
How long does Tahini Halva Bites (Honey) keep?
Kept covered in the fridge it holds for three to four days. Most of these freeze well too, wrapped tight, for up to three months - hold back any fresh topping until just before serving.
How many does Tahini Halva Bites (Honey) make?
This makes enough for 16. It scales cleanly, so use the 1x / 2x / 3x buttons on the recipe card if you need more or less.
Tahini Halva Bites (Honey)
Melt-in-the-mouth sesame halva — the ancient sweet of the old markets — made simply with tahini and honey instead of boiled sugar. Crumbly, nutty, addictive little squares.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 g) tahini (well stirred, good quality)
- 1/3 cup (110 g) raw honey
- 1/2 cup (50 g) almond flour or milk powder (to firm)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla, pinch salt
- Optional: 1/3 cup chopped pistachios; 2 tbsp cocoa for a marble
- Sesame seeds for the top
Instructions
- Line a small loaf pan with parchment.
- Gently warm honey until just runny; stir into tahini with vanilla and salt.
- Mix in almond flour until it forms a thick, fudgy paste (add a little more if loose). Fold in pistachios.
- For a marble, swirl 2 tbsp cocoa through half.
- Press firmly into the pan; top with sesame seeds. Chill 1 hour, then cut into 16 bites. Keep cool.
