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Chocolate Brownie Tart

posted by Liz Berg on September 22, 2022 (updated 11/17/24)

A Chocolate Brownie Tart is no more difficult than a traditional brownie recipe, but certainly more elegant! Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some fudge sauce to up the presentation even more!

This Brownie Pie is sweet and fudgy, just how my family prefers their brownies. But cutting brownies into wedges instead of squares kicks them up a few notches!

A slice of brownie tart topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a round white plate with a red handled fork.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 How to Make a Chocolate Brownie Tart

3 Recipe Tips:

4 Ingredient Notes:

5 Frequently Asked Questions

6 You May Also Like:

7 Chocolate Brownie Tart Recipe

Why You Must Make

If you love fudgy brownies, you’ll go nuts for this tart!
This is one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever make.
Each serving looks like a slice of pie, but there’s no crust to make, just a simple brownie batter!

Ungarnished slice of brownie pie on a white dessert plate with a red handled fork.

How to Make a Chocolate Brownie Tart

This chocolate brownie tart is as easy as pie, err, tart…chocolate chips were melted with butter and added to the other brownie ingredients. Using an Ina Garten recipe for inspiration, I skipped the nuts, and accidentally skipped the addition of another cup of chocolate chips that were to be included in the batter before baking….but do not fear, these were still wonderful.

Prepare the pan and preheat the oven.
Microwave the chocolate chips and butter and let cool.
Beat together the eggs, sugar, coffee, and vanilla.
Mix in the dry ingredients until just combined. Do not use a mixer, but instead mix with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.
Scrape into the pan and smooth the top.
Bake as directed.
Make the chocolate sauce if desired and serve with ice cream and fudge sauce.

A quick chocolate sauce of more chips, cream, and vanilla can be served over a scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top of a nice wedge of this decadent tart. I took this chocolate brownie tart along with some vanilla ice cream and the chocolate sauce to some friends who invited us to dinner.

We had a wonderful dinner and they were all crazy about this dessert. In fact, the hostess went back for seconds! This chocolate brownie tart is a must-try recipe any chocoholic.

Recipe Tips:

PRO-Tip: Have your eggs at room temperature for easy incorporation into the batter.
PRO-Tip: Check the expiration date on your baking powder. Unlike baking soda, it’s likely to expire while sitting in your pantry. To check if it’s active, put a spoonful into some very hot water. If it’s active, it will bubble vigorously. If it doesn’t, purchase a new can.
PRO-Tip: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined. It’s best not to use a mixer as the beaters may incorporate air into the batter which can make cakier brownies as well as over-activating the gluten.
Make sure to use pure vanilla extract. Read the label to make sure.
PRO-Tip: Be sure to add the instant coffee to the batter. The flavor of the coffee will enhance the flavor of chocolate without imparting a coffee taste to the brownies.
The chocolate in both the brownies and fudge sauce comes from chocolate chips. Feel free to use chopped semi-sweet chocolate instead, but it’s pretty darn tasty as is.
Note that it is inevitable that the top of the tart will crack. Don’t sweat it. Once you top the slices with ice cream, no one will ever know! Especially when they are busy swooning!

Slice of brownie tart topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce pouring out from a white ceramic pitcher.

Ingredient Notes:

Butter – It’s OK to use salted butter.
Chocolate Chips – I use Ghirardelli brand. For better quality chocolate, Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate bars work well.
Eggs – Large eggs are standard in all my recipes.
Sugar – White, Granulated
Instant Coffee – Keep some on hand for baking.
Vanilla Extract – Make sure the label says “Real Vanilla Extract.”
Baking Powder – Make sure it’s still active. See above for how to test it if it’s near its expiration date.
Salt – I prefer table salt for baking as its finer grains disperse better into the batter. If you only have kosher salt, slightly more.
Whipping Cream – Should be 36% Butterfat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between a Pie and a Tart?

A tart is made in a round shallow pan that often has a removable bottom. There is no top crust. Tart crusts can be baked, then filled or filled, then baked. Plus there are crustless tarts which are made in a tart pan. Tarts, like pies, can be sweet or savory and are made in a variety of sizes.

What Makes Brownies Moist?

The addition of eggs and oil (or melted butter) helps keep brownies moist since both contribute fat to the batter. The higher fat-to-flour ratio is what makes these brownies more fudgy than cakey. Not overbaking also helps keep brownies moist.

What is the Difference Between Fudgy and Cakey Brownies?

Cakey brownies have a lighter, airy texture which is similar to cake. Fudgy brownies are dense, moist, and even gooey depending on the recipe. Their texture is more similar to fudge.