Tahini Brownies: Recipe and Baking Tips

Tahini is a paste made from ground toasted sesame seeds. The sesame paste is a common ingredient in Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean cuisine. When making tahini, producers mix ground sesame seeds with neutral-flavored oil to create a creamier texture similar to peanut butter.

Home cooks can combine this gluten-free paste with other ingredients, like garlic and olive oil, to make hummus and other savory dips and sauces. Additionally, tahini has a complex savory flavor that perfectly balances the sweetness of sugary desserts.

Tahini brownies are a Mediterranean-inspired twist on the traditional fudge-like baked dessert, consisting of layers of tahini-flavored brownie batter and a nutty topping. Serve chocolate tahini brownies as-is, or top them with homemade whipped cream and vanilla ice cream to make a decadent sundae.

Follow these tips to make the most of this sweet-and-savory confection.

1. 1. Experiment with toppings. Alter these simple tahini brownies with complementary toppings like chopped nuts, toasted sesame seeds, chocolate chips, pepitas, or dark chocolate drizzle. Serve the brownie squares with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or shredded halva.
2. 2. Swap out the tahini. If you can’t find tahini at your local grocery store, use another nut or seed butter—like peanut butter or almond butter—in its place. Learn more about nut butter.
3. 3. Bake the brownies mindfully. To avoid overbaking your brownies—which will yield a dry, crumbly product—keep them in the oven until the batter is just set. The ideal texture resembles a dense fudge with a slightly cakey crumb. Even if the center appears undercooked, your brownies are done when their edges pull away from the sides of the baking pan. Stick a toothpick in a spot along the edge of the brownies to check the doneness: If it comes out mostly clean, the brownies are ready.
4. 4. Store in an airtight container. This rich dessert will keep well in an airtight container on the countertop for 5 days. For long-term storage, wrap the cooled brownies tightly in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-proof bag in the freezer for up to 2 months.