5 Sweet Treats Made Tastier with Tahini

True, we crave tahini with hummus and baba ghanoush and falafels. But surprise -- we also love tahini in a chocolate shake! Oh yes. In fact, tahini's nutty flavor is a natural fit for many dessert recipes. The toasted-sesame goodness of tahini does wonders for everything from puddings to shakes.

1. Tahini Mint Chocolate Shake

"If you like mint and if you like chocolate, you'll love this shake with a hint of tahini," says Yoly.

2. Vegan Tahini Cookies

Spelt flour, sesame seeds, tahini, and cinnamon create a vegan cookie that's chewy and delicious. There's no dairy or eggs here -- and no refined sugar.

3. Chocolate Tahini Pudding

Buckwheat Queen raves, "Thick and creamy and chocolatey. Yum!" Allison Maze turned them into frozen treats: "The verdict? Rich, chocolatey, and perfectly sweet pudding pops. I increased the tahini by an additional 1/2 tablespoon since I rather enjoy its smooth, nutty taste."

4. Chocolate Tahini Spread

"Want a virtuous alternative to chocolate hazelnut spread? Tahini-tella is made with dark chocolate and tahini and makes morning toast into a no-guilt treat!" says Diana Moutsopoulos. "I love to spread this on sourdough toast, then top with sliced banana and a sprinkling of cinnamon and sesame seeds."

5. Mango Tahini Smoothie

"Great smoothie!" raves PULLEYHEATHER. "I was looking for a way to use tahini other than hummus, and this was a good option. If you use fully thawed fruit, you may want to throw in a few ice cubes. I also added about 1/2 cup of spinach, which you can't even taste with the fruit in there but adds more nutrients!"

VIDEO: How to Make Tahini

Check out our collection of Hummus Recipes.