Guatemalan Sesame Cookies (Champurradas)

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup grated piloncillo sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs, plus 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

1. 1
   In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. 2
   In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter, piloncillo sugar, and 3/4 cup granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add whole eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition, and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture until fully incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
3. 3
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze 20 minutes. Roll dough into balls (if dough becomes too soft, refrigerate until firm).
4. 4
   Place egg whites, sesame seeds, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in three separate shallow bowls. Working with one ball at a time, roll first in sugar, then egg whites, and finally sesame seeds until thoroughly coated. Divide evenly among four parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until golden around the edges but still tender on top, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.