Dulce de mani y dulce de ajonjoli (peanut candy and sesame candy recipes) are easy-to-make and popular Dominican candies. Fragrant toasted peanut or sesame and crispy hard caramel bite-sized candies made with as little as two ingredients, they're a great treat for friends!
By - Reviewed: . Original: Aug 30, 2001
Why we ❤️ it
Walk into any Dominican colmado (corner store) and in some corner, you will find a jar full of dulces de mani and dulces de ajonjolí (Dominican peanut brittle and sesame candy). Like many a thing, its popularity endures not despite its simplicity, but because of it.
These crispy candy bites are made with just sugar and peanut (or sesame), and require no complex preparation or utensils. They last for up to a month and can be great inexpensive edible gifts.
What's ajonjolí
Ajonjolí is what Dominicans - and a few other Spanish-speaking countries - call sesame seeds. It is also known in Spanish as sésamo, ajonjolín, ajonjulí, aljonjolé, aljonjolí, jonjolé, Jjonjolí, haholí, jijirí, ejonjilí.
Dulce de maní y dulce de ajonjolí (peanut and sesame candies).
In our culture
You would think that by now, flooded as we are with imported, sophisticated candies, these would have disappeared. This is -- fortunately -- not the case, judging by the many brands competing for the nostalgic market.
Chain supermarkets, specialty stores, and airport shops now all carry these and other traditional Dominican sweets, in the past relegated to the big glass jar on colmado counters. Modern packaging, snazzy labels, and nutritional content show that what once was a small cottage industry, has now joined modernity.
I have never bought any of these from a store, but I suspect that most of them find their way into the luggage of those trying to stretch just a bit more the sweetness of visiting la tierrita, or into the suitcase of the relative who knows that this will be a gift well-received. It sure beats traveling with fruits, prepared foods - and even meat! (not that I have met anyone who does that, no, not ever.) You may risk a hefty fine or at least the stern gaze of a humorless custom agent unable to comprehend just how bitter homesickness is, and just how much a taste of home sweetens it.
Top tips
- This is traditionally made with unsalted peanuts, but I loved the touch of salt, and I bet you will too once you try it.
- I added a tablespoon of black sesame seeds to the white sesame for some visual interest.
- Be careful with hot caramel burns as they can be very serious. Take the necessary precautions to avoid them.
About our recipe
I hazard a guess that not many of our readers in our home country will even bother making these. Why, if after all, they're just a corner away, should the mood strike.
But if you find yourself craving a bite of this humble candy, while you reminisce of better, happier and simpler times, in a little piece of land where it's always summer, here's our recipe.
Video
Recipe
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Dulces de Mani y Ajonjoli [Video+Recipe] Peanut and Sesame Candies
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon peanut oil, (to grease the baking sheet)
- ½ cup sugar, (white, granulated)
- 2 teaspoons water
- ½ cup peanuts or sesame seeds, roasted lightly-salted (see notes)
Instructions
1. Prepping paper
Grease parchment paper, although Silpat (baking mat) is preferred.
2. Making caramel
- Mix sugar and water, stir to combine, the sugar will be just damp. Heat in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Once it starts turning into a caramel (gets darker), stir if necessary so it doesn't burn in the hots spots.
3. Adding peanut/sesame
- Once it turns into a thick golden brown caramel (5 -7 mins), mix in peanuts or sesame. Remove from the heat and immediately pour carefully onto the greased paper or baking sheet.
4. Shaping candies
- You can pour the hot mixture on the paper in small mounds, which is also a traditional presentation. If instead, you want to shape into squares, once cooler to the touch but still a bit flexible (about 4 mins), cut with a sharp knife into 1 inch [2.5 cm] squares.
5. Storing
- Once it's cooled to room temperature, and the caramel has hardened, store in a lidded jar at room temperature.
Cook's Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
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More peanut recipes
If you love the taste and peanut, and are looking for more Dominican peanut recipes, don't miss our beloved chocolate de maní (peanut hot drink), and mambá, our homemade savory peanut butter.
If you want to explore some non-traditional peanut dishes, make these cold Asian zoodles, or these nutritious homemade energy bars.
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