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Salty Brownie Tassies

Salty brownie tassies with cream cheese pie crusts.

One of my most-baked recipes is Pecan Tassies. When I posted that recipe years ago, I had discovered that the word “tassie” was not that familiar to most people. Thus, the name change. But, to me, they have always been and always will be tassies.

Salty Brownie Tassies are a delicious combination of two dessert favorites - pie and brownies! - Bake or Break

While I’m still likely to whip up a batch of those old favorites some time during the holidays, I also wanted to do something just a tad different. Enter chocolate.

At their simplest, these are brownies in a cream cheese pie crust. While that is certainly a worthy dessert, you can also make things a bit more interesting.

Before filling the crusts with brownie batter, you can add just a little extra something that will serve as a tasty surprise. For about half of my batch, I placed a hazelnut in the center of the crust and then covered it with brownie batter. While I wholeheartedly endorse hazelnuts, you could use any kind of nut or maybe a few flavored chips like peanut butter or butterscotch.

Salty Brownie Tassies are little sweet and salty bites of deliciousness! - Bake or Break

I also took the route of one of my favorite combinations and sprinkled a bit of coarse salt on top. This, as almost always, is a matter of preference. I used just a bare pinch, but feel free to add more if you really like the sweet and salty thing.

This pie dough would work well for Pecan Tassies as well. Double up the dough recipe and go half and half for a great addition to your holiday dessert offerings.

Salty Brownie Tassies

Yield 24 tassies
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Salty Brownie Tassies are a combination of two dessert favorites - pie and brownies! Made with mini cream cheese pie crusts and fudgy brownie filling!

Salty brownie tassies with cream cheese pie crusts.

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

For the filling:

  • 24 hazelnuts (optional)
  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • coarse salt, such as fleur de sel

Instructions

To make the crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
  2. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and cream cheese until combined. Gradually add the flour, mixing just until combined.
  3. Using about 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of dough at a time, press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of 24 mini muffin cups.

To make the filling:

  1. If using hazelnuts, place a hazelnut in the center of each muffin cup.
  2. Place the chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium-low heat until melted. Stir until smooth.
  3. Remove from heat. Add the sugar, egg, vanilla, and salt, stirring until smooth.
  4. Spoon about a teaspoonful of chocolate mixture into each muffin cup, filling just to the top of the crust.
  5. Sprinkle the tops with coarse salt.
  6. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until the pies are golden and the filling is puffy. Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, remove the pies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Recipe slightly adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.

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    7 Comments on “Salty Brownie Tassies”

  1. Yes! A tassie recipe without pecans! *lol* I will make these….

  2. I have never heard of tassies before but now I’m feeling rather cheated that I haven’t! Where were these cookies all my life?! And I’m thinking a dollop of nutella in the center of that brownie batter would possibly make me shout for joy. Delicious cookies and a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you!

  3. Wonderful for those who are allergic to nuts. The hazel nut is great but sadly so many are allergic…I’m making these for my grandson …and me of course! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! 

  4. Hi Jennifer, 
    I made these today. At 21 minutes they  looked to be done. Unfortunately, the crust didn’t cook through on a few of them. I tried to press them to an even thickness, used about 1.5 tsp of dough. Any suggestions? Love your IG pics!
    Thanks, Jean

    • Hi, Jean. Getting an even thickness should have made them bake evenly. If some didn’t bake thoroughly in the same pan as ones that did, then I’d guess it’s the pan or maybe hot/cool spots in your oven.

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