Tahini Swirl Brownies

Decadent and fudgy brownies get a major upgrade with a tahini swirl and just the right amount of toasted sesame oil—my secret ingredient for baking.

Tahini Swirl Brownies
Chocolate Tahini Brownies with Flaky Salt on a Piece of Parchment Paper
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

When it comes to brownies, I am a purist. Keep the nuts, booze, jams, candies, and marshmallows away from my classic, fudgy brownie. I am solely looking for a rich, chocolatey brownies—save me from the frills. The one exception that I have to this rule is tahini. The nutty, sesame spread makes for a subtle yet exciting addition to a baked good that is admittedly perfect as is.

These tahini swirl brownies are a riff on what I consider the greatest brownie recipe—I find myself coming back to it again and again and again. I’m obviously talking about Smitten Kitchen’s classic brownies. It all goes down in one bowl and it is as simple as they come, with flour, butter, unsweetened chocolate, sugar, vanilla, eggs, and salt. No rising agents, no shopping for chocolate in a variety of percentages—just one kind of the good stuff.

Add Sesame Flavor Throughout 

To really get the flavor of tahini in the brownies, I add some to the chocolate batter, in addition to swirling a couple spoonfuls of it on top. The swirled tahini mixture is sweetened with a little maple syrup and one of the most underrated ingredients to bake with: toasted sesame oil. It adds a deep, rich toasted sesame flavor without being too savory or overwhelming.

After all is said and done, these fudgy treats take under an hour to make and they feel elevated from your classic, bake sale brownie. I’d recommend using a premium tahini brand, such as Soom or Seed + Mill for the smoothest, creamiest, most luxurious brownies.

Chocolate Tahini Brownies with Flaky Salt on a Piece of Parchment Paper
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

Preheat the oven to 350°F. 

Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

Pyrex Baking Pan Lined with Parchment Paper and Sprayed with Nonstick Cooking Spray for Tahini Swirl Brownies Recipe
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

Make the tahini mixture:

In a small bowl, use a fork to combine 3 tablespoons tahini, the maple syrup, toasted sesame oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside.

Tahini Swirl Ingredients Mixed Together in a Bowl for Chocolate Tahini Brownies
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

Make the brownie batter:

Create a double boiler by setting a medium, heatproof bowl over a medium saucepan filled with a couple inches of water. The water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Set the saucepan over medium heat. 

Melt chocolate, butter, and remaining 2 tablespoons tahini, stirring frequently with a whisk When the chocolate is fully melted, remove the bowl off the heat and stir until completely smooth. Whisk in the sugar, followed by the eggs, one at a time. Whisk in the vanilla and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt.

Stir in the flour with a spatula until no streaks remain.

In a Mixing Bowl, Chopped Chocolate Pieces, Tahini, and Butter for Chocolate Tahini Brownies Recipe
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane
Melted Chocolate Mixed Using a Spatula for Chocolate Tahini Brownies
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane
Sugar Added to Bowl of Chocolate for Brownies with Tahini Swirl
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane
Salt and Egg Added to Tahini Swirl Brownies Batter
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane
Flour Added to Bowl with Chocolate Tahini Brownies Wet Ingredients
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

Bake the brownies:

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Spoon the tahini mixture in small dollops on top and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter. Top with flaky salt, if you’d like, and bake until a toothpick comes out of the center without any wet batter, 28 to 30 minutes.

Brownie Batter Added to Baking Dish for Chocolate Tahini Brownies
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane
Tahini Swirl Ingredients Topping Brownie Batter in Baking Pan
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane
Tahini Swirled into the Batter, and Brownies Topped with Flaky Salt
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

Cool and serve:

Set the baking dish on a wire rack and fully cool the brownies to room temperature before slicing and serving. 

Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

Baked Chocolate Tahini Brownies
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane
A Hand Holding a Chocolate Tahini Brownie, Showcasing the Chocolatey Cross Section, and in the Background, More Brownie Pieces on a Piece of Parchment
Simply Recipes / Sara Tane