Black Sesame Vanilla Bark

Sep 17, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Beans Medium

Shards of black sesame vanilla bark on parchment

Snappy, glossy black sesame vanilla bark, an easy homemade gift. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 1/4 pounds (24 pieces).

Prep 20 min

Cook 10 min

Set 1 hr

Total 1 hr 30 min

Yield 24 pieces

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pieces

12.0 oz (340.0 g)white chocolate, good-quality bar, finely chopped
⅛ tspfine sea salt
2.0 tbsp (18.0 g)black sesame seeds, toasted
1.0 (3.0 g)vanilla bean, split and scraped

Make it at home

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Instructions

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
Set aside a third of the chocolate. Melt the rest in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water (or in 20-second microwave bursts), stirring, until it reaches 105°F.
Remove from the heat and stir in the reserved chocolate until melted and the chocolate cools to 84 to 86°F. It's tempered when a streak on parchment sets glossy and firm within 5 minutes.
Stir in the salt and vanilla seeds.
Spread the chocolate about 1/4 inch thick on the parchment.
Right away, scatter the black sesame seeds over the top and press gently so they stick.
Let set at cool room temperature until firm, about 1 hour, then break into pieces.

Tips

Short on time? Skip tempering, melt the chocolate gently, and keep the bark refrigerated; it will be softer and less glossy.
Vanilla swap: use 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste in place of 1 vanilla bean.
Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Store airtight in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make black sesame vanilla bark?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 1 hour to set. It makes about 1 1/4 pounds (24 pieces).

How should I store black sesame vanilla bark?

Store airtight in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste in place of 1 vanilla bean.

Snappy, glossy black sesame vanilla bark, an easy homemade gift. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 1/4 pounds (24 pieces).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 24 servings this recipe makes.

81 Calories / serving

4.9g Fat

8.5g Carbs

1.0g Protein

8.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (24 servings): ~1944 cal · 118g fat · 204g carbs · 24g protein · 202g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 81 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 15 min·0.9 mi·~1750 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 11 min·0.6 mi·~1100 steps
Moderate cycling 8 min·1.6 mi
Swimming laps 11 min
Jogging 8 min·0.7 mi·~1300 steps
Stair climbing 7 min·~650 steps
Dancing 13 min
Bodyweight circuit training 8 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 19 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.