Grandma’s Chinese Black Sesame Balls

Why you’ll love this recipe

• These “lava” centered dumplings are a delightful surprise, with a warm, nutty filling that flows out when bitten.
• The dough is made with just two ingredients—water and glutinous rice flour—making it naturally gluten-free and very chewy.
• It’s a celebratory dish traditionally eaten during festivals to symbolize family unity and togetherness.

Key Ingredients

• Glutinous Rice Flour: Unlike regular flour, this creates a bouncy, “mochi-like” texture that is soft and elastic.
• Roasted Peanuts: Adding crushed peanuts to the sesame filling provides a crunch and a secondary layer of nuttiness.
• Lard or Butter: This is the secret to the “molten” center; it melts during boiling to create the liquid filling.

✅Quick Tips: Freeze the rolled filling balls for at least 30 minutes before wrapping; this makes them much easier to handle without a mess.

Key Steps

• #1: Mix the hot sesame filling and chill it until firm so you can roll it into uniform, mess-free balls.

• #2: Fridge and solidify the black sesame filling, and then shape them into ball, freeze them for the 2nd time while you make the dough.

#3: Here is how to shape it into black sesame glutinous balls

Grandma’s Chinese Black Sesame Balls

Glutinous rice dough encloses a sweet filling that flows out when bitten. Serve warm for a comforting traditional treat.

Author: Aila Lin Cooking Method: Vegetables Courses: Desserts

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Prep Time 60 mins Cook Time 10 mins Total Time 1 hr 10 mins Servings: 4

Ingredients:

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• 150 g roasted black sesame seeds
• 50 g roasted peanuts (crushed)
• 50 g sugar
• 100 g butter (melted)
• 50 g honey

Glutinous Rice Dough

• 300 g glutinous rice flour
• 225 g hot water

Instructions

1. Crush roasted black sesame and peanuts until fine. Mix with sugar, melted butter, and honey until smooth
2. Chill until firm, roll into 12-14g balls, and freeze.Add hot water to glutinous rice flour and knead until smooth and soft
3. Divide into 35g balls and cover to prevent drying.Flatten dough, wrap frozen filling, seal, and roll smooth.Boil in water and gently stir
4. When the rice balls float, cook 1–2 more minutes. Serve hot.

Keywords: Tang Yuan, Black Sesame, Dessert