Tahini:
Grams to Cups
By Stefan Ulrich · Last updated
One cup of tahini weighs 240 grams. Made from ground sesame seeds, tahini has a thin, pourable consistency and a pleasantly bitter, nutty flavor that makes it a distinctive ingredient in halva, cookies, and sesame-forward baked goods.
How much Tahini weighs at each cup measure.
Convert Tahini
1 cup = 240 grams
= — grams
= — cups
Quick reference
Measurement Table
| Cups | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 5 g | 0.18 oz |
| 1 tbsp | 15 g | 0.53 oz |
| ⅛ cup | 30 g | 1.06 oz |
| ¼ cup | 60 g | 2.12 oz |
| ⅓ cup | 80 g | 2.82 oz |
| ½ cup | 120 g | 4.23 oz |
| ⅔ cup | 160 g | 5.64 oz |
| ¾ cup | 180 g | 6.35 oz |
| 1 cup | 240 g | 8.47 oz |
| 1¼ cups | 300 g | 10.58 oz |
| 1½ cups | 360 g | 12.70 oz |
| 2 cups | 480 g | 16.93 oz |
| 3 cups | 720 g | 25.40 oz |
About Tahini
Tahini is thinner and more fluid than most nut butters, which is why it weighs slightly less per cup (240 g) than almond butter (256 g) or peanut butter (~250 g). Its lower viscosity also makes it easier to stir into batters without forming lumps, which is an advantage in cookie and brownie recipes.
Like other natural nut and seed butters, tahini separates into an oil layer on top and a dense paste below. Before measuring, stir it thoroughly — ideally with an immersion blender for a jar that has been sitting a long time — to achieve a uniform consistency.
In Middle Eastern and Mediterranean baking, tahini appears in sesame cookies (simsim), halva, and date-tahini bars. In contemporary baking, it has become popular in chocolate chip cookies and brownies, where it adds depth and a subtle bitterness that balances sweetness effectively.
Tahini made from unhulled sesame seeds (darker in color) is more bitter and nutritious than hulled tahini (lighter, more neutral). Most Western recipes default to light (hulled) tahini. Check your recipe and match accordingly — the flavor difference is significant.
Tips for measuring Tahini
- Stir thoroughly before measuring — separation is common and affects density.
- Light (hulled) tahini for milder flavor; dark (unhulled) for more bitterness.
- Tahini blends well with chocolate, honey, and citrus in baking.
- At room temperature, tahini flows and measures more accurately than when cold.
Common mistakes
- Measuring separated tahini — oil-heavy surface is much less dense than the paste below.
- Confusing light and dark tahini — they have meaningfully different flavors.
- Using cold, stiff tahini straight from the fridge — bring to room temperature first.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many grams in a cup of Tahini?
- 1 cup of Tahini weighs 240 grams — the standard used in most American recipes. Use the converter above for any other amount.
- How many grams is ¼ cup of Tahini?
- ¼ cup of Tahini weighs about 60 grams. The full table above lists every common cup fraction.
- What's the most common mistake when measuring Tahini?
- Measuring separated tahini — oil-heavy surface is much less dense than the paste below. Weighing on a kitchen scale avoids it entirely.
- How do I measure Tahini without the mess?
- Grease the cup or warm the tahini slightly so it levels easily and releases cleanly — weighing is still the most reliable method.