Tahini Blondies

Salty sweet tahini blondies with crumbled halva and chocolate chunks. These blondies are super chewy and the perfect weekend bake.

The creation of this recipe stemmed from a mistake. I was originally going to make maple crullers (coming soon), but as I was getting ready to start my star piping tip fell down the disposal and was very deformed. I didn’t want to leave y’all with a missing recipe so I improvised with these blondies instead. The results were phenomenal! These tahini halva blondies are so delicious, filled with crumbled marble halva and ooey melted chocolate chips.

Tahini and Halva Blondie Ingredients:

• Butter: The butter in this recipe is melted and then browned to add a warm and nutty flavor.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is used instead of white sugar so the blondies stay extra chewy.
• Eggs: Large room temperature eggs will work the best.
• Vanilla: I love making my own vanilla, but store-bought vanilla extract will also do the trick.
• Tahini: Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It has a similar taste to peanut butter, but is slightly more savory.
• Flour: I tested this recipe with King Arthur All-Purpose flour.
• Baking Soda: Double check that your baking powder is not expired.
• Salt: Salt is vital for a good blondie! It brings the chocolate and tahini flavors to life.
• Chocolate Chips: You can either use chocolate chips or chopped chocolate. Chopped chocolate will melt more.
• Halva: Halva is a middle eastern candy made up of sesame seeds. I explain it more below.

What is Tahini?

Tahini is a smooth and creamy paste made from ground and toasted sesame seeds. It’s somewhat similar to peanut butter but much thinner and more savory. It is used for salad dressings and other savory applications much of the time, but I love it in sweets (especially these tahini blondies)!

It can be tricky to find but I’ve seen it more and more in local grocery stores. If your stores middle eastern delicacies are sparse, you can find on Amazon here.

What is Halva?

Halva is a middle eastern sesame candy that is sweet, nutty, and crumbly. Cut in slices, it has a fudge like consistency. It can have multiple flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and even pistachio, but my favorite is marbled halva.

Halva can be hard to find, but I’ve found it at Whole Foods and online. Your best bet is a Middle Eastern specialty store.

Note: If you are in the DMV, I highly recommend Aphrodite Greek Imports.

Tips and Tricks:

1. Allow your butter to cool slightly after browning it. If your butter is too hot when you add in the brown sugar, the sugar will melt and turn gloopy.
2. Make the dough by hand. Tahini blondies can become tough very easily, so using a wooden spoon or spatula allows you to be in complete control over the batter.
3. Similarly to tip #2, do not overmix!
4. Weigh out your ingredients with a scale. Scales are much more accurate than volume measurements and are super cheap.

More Bar and Brownie Recipes:

• Orange Brownies
• Butterscotch Blondies
• Tahini Skillet Brownie

Tahini Blondies

• Author: Delaney
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 16 squares 1x
• Category: Bars and Brownies
• Method: Baking

Print Recipe

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Description

Salty sweet tahini blondies with crumbled halva and chocolate chunks. These blondies are super chewy and the perfect weekend bake.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 stick of unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons tahini
• 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup chopped semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup crumbled halva (preferably marbled)

 

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Instructions

1. Grease a 8×8 pan with non stick spray and line with a strip of parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter for 5-6 minutes until amber in color and nutty in smell. Pour into a medium sized bowl and let cool for 2-3 minutes
4. Pour in the brown sugar and whisk vigorously until the brown sugar is evenly dispersed.
5. Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and tahini and whisk until smooth and no streaks of tahini remain.
6. Pour in the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until just combined. Stir in the chopped chocolate and crumbled halva.
7. Press into the 8×8 pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until dark brown and the middle no longer shakes in the pan.
8. Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes and then in the fridge for 30 minutes. Slice into 16 squares and enjoy!

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Nutrition

• Calories: 218
• Sugar: 10.5g
• Sodium: 183mg
• Fat: 13.2g
• Saturated Fat: 5.6g
• Carbohydrates: 21.8g
• Fiber: 1.4g
• Protein: 3.2g
• Cholesterol: 27mg

Keywords: halva, halvah, tahini, chocolate, 8×8 pan, blondies