Black Bottom Brownie Bites
Black Bottom Brownie Bites are a mini version of the cupcakes I first made in high school. This bite-sized treat is terrific! A perfect antidote for your chocolate cravings.
These Chocolate Mini Cupcakes are a terrific size for snacking or when you just need a little something sweet! This delicious combination of flavors has stood the test of time!
Why You Must Make
- Mini Desserts are perfect when your family or guests just need a little something sweet!
- These bite-sized desserts are a cross between chocolate cupcakes, mini brownies, and cheesecake. It’s like 3 desserts in every bite.
- These Brownie Bites are so versatile, whether you use them for afterschool snacks, game day, or a dessert buffet, they’ll be well-loved.
- My recipe inspiration was from Fine Cooking, an excellent magazine for cooks.
Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Butter, Salt, Sugar, All-Purpose Flour
- Unsweetened Chocolate – I use a Ghirardelli bar
- Eggs – Bring to room temperature for easy incorporation into the batter.
- Mini Chocolate Chips – I use Ghirardelli brand chips, but Nestles works well, too.
- Real Vanilla Extract – Make sure it’s real vanilla, the word artificial should not appear on the label.
- Cream Cheese – Bring to room temperature for easy mixing.
Expert Tips
- Line your mini muffin tin with paper wrappers. The mini cupcake liners will prevent the brownie bites from sticking to the pan.
- To serve, place each mini cupcake into a second paper baking cup for the best presentation. Use festive holiday versions for special gatherings.
- Don’t overfill the tin with chocolate batter. Aim for about 2/3 full. You’ll be adding cream cheese filling and that will need space plus there is some leavening in the brownie recipe so they’ll rise a bit as they bake.
- You can make half a batch if you don’t want a full batch. Since you’ll need to split a yolk for the cream cheese filling, it’s easiest to whisk a whole egg yolk, then measure out 1/2 tablespoon which is 1 1/2 teaspoons. This amount is equivalent to half a yolk.
Frequently Asked Questions
These mini cupcakes/brownie bites are filled just by spooning or piping the filling into the middle of the brownie batter.
The filling batter is denser than the chocolate batter, so it will sink down into the cupcake as it bakes.
The baking time will vary depending on your oven, but these mini cupcakes will take about 20 minutes. Make sure to test them with a toothpick for any batter which indicates they need a little more time in the oven.
Use paper baking cups to line the mini cupcake/muffin tin. This will ensure that the brownies will not stick.
Otherwise, make sure you grease the tin well. Use an oil and flour spray like Baker’s Joy to make it easy. Let the brownie bites cool for just 5 minutes as otherwise, they might be difficult to remove if they cool completely in the pan.
These are safe to store at room temperature for 2-3 days. After that, freeze them in an airtight container, separating the layers with wax or parchment paper, for up to 3 months. Just defrost overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
The easy answer is to add a filling! Cream cheese filling is an excellent option, but you can also insert or mix in small chocolate-covered candies like Rolos or peanut butter cups. And my family loves creamy chocolate buttercream frosting on their brownies.
You May Also Like
Mini desserts are perfect for cocktail parties, dinner parties, dessert buffets, and more. Here is some more inspiration:
- Mini Pavlovas
- Raspberry Topped Mini Cheesecakes
- Mini Margarita Cheesecakes
- Pecan Tassies
- Caramel Topped Mini Cheesecakes
- Chocolate Souffles
- Individual Berry Crisps
- Plus, check out these full-sized Black Bottom Cupcakes
- More of the Best Dessert Recipes
Black Bottom Brownie Bites
Cream cheese and chocolate chip filled brownies adapted from Fine Cooking
Ingredients
Brownies:
- ½ cup butter, cut into pieces
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 4 eggs, at room temperature
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ¼ cups flour
For the Topping:
- 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips, plus more for garnishing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line mini-muffin tins with paper liners (will make approximately 5 dozen). Set aside.
- Melt butter and chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stopping and stirring at 30-second increments, till melted and smooth. Set aside.
- Beat eggs and salt till foamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar while continuing to beat till thick and a pale lemon color, about 3 minutes.
- Fold in the chocolate and vanilla until it's just incorporated.
- Fold in flour till just incorporated.
- Put batter in a gallon zip-lock bag, remove air, and seal. Set aside to make the topping.
- With a wooden spoon, mix cream cheese and sugar till smooth and creamy. Mix in the egg yolk, then chocolate chips. Put filling into a quart-sized zip-lock bag, remove air, and seal.
- Snip off a ½-inch corner of each bag. Pipe the brownie batter into muffin cups, filling ⅔ full.
- Next, pipe approximately 1 teaspoon of topping onto the center of each brownie. Sprinkle with a few mini-chocolate chips if desired.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the brownie comes out clean.
- Cool for 5 minutes before removing bites to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
- If reusing muffin tins, make sure they are cool before filling them with batter.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
30Serving Size:
2 cupcakesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 172Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 62mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 16gProtein: 3g
23 Comments on “Black Bottom Brownie Bites”
Swoon! This looks terrific — so rich, so decadent, so delicious. Thanks!
Oooo I love when brownies meet a cheesecake 🙂 These little bites look super cute, and there’s no doubt they are also scrumptious.
I have never baked black bottom brownie bites, let alone ones with cheese topping….double yum!
Perfect little party treats! I love the cream cheese middle too:@)
Knitting ?! I can’t even sew to save myself 😀 I bet some peeps from your knitting group are lurking right now ! lol Chocolate and cream cheese ?! I’m all for it ! I’m sure they taste as good as they look 😀
Lizzy , I wish you and your family all the best in 2013 ! Here’s to more decadent and gorgeous posts in the ahead – CHEERS !!!
Hah! Hah! I stink at knitting too 🙂 Those brownie bites are irresistible! Now wonder the knitting folks keep you there hee..hee..
I love brownie bites, these look delicious. Happy New Year! 🙂
I would also totally humour you to get your desserts 🙂 These look so tasty!
I love the little cups that you put these in…and that they are single-serving. We love brownies around here! Happy New Year, Liz!
Happy New Year 🙂
If cream cheese is involved, I call these a major success! I stink at knitting too, but I so wish I was good at it. They look really good (sometimes brownies are given chocolate leniency).
P.S. I eat everything I make…I’m not the size of a house, but not as skinny as you either. 😉
Lizzy, that looks wonderful!! I remember reading somewhere that you don’t eat everything you make or you’d be the size of a house! Who eats what you make? Curious me. 🙂
delicius, Happy New Year, bye SILVIA
These look like the perfect bites for after any dinner. Your knitting group is very lucky to have you as a member. I hope you and your family have a joyful New Year, Lizzy!
I’d have you come to any kind of group no matter the topic so long as you brought all your fabulous baked goods! I’d have been all over these babies – they’re the marriage of two perfect desserts (cheesecake and brownies). Who can resist? Not even your cream cheese averse son! I’ve always wanted to make brownies with cream cheese so these are on my 2013 foodie bucket list. I hope your NYE is filled with good food, booze and family. Cheers, Liz!
I just love these! I stopped making them when the kids were away – that it was up to Paul and me to eat them all! (And we did!) Happy New Year – may it bring a year of goodness.
Ooooh lucky knitting group! These look so cute and so rich and delicious!
What a way to end the year… talk about delicious! I would eat my share of bite for sure. 🙂
Happy New Year my friend. It’s been wonderful getting to know you through your blog and I appreciate all the support you have given my blog. I hope 2013 brings you all the joy, happiness, health and prosperity you deserve. You are a great human being, wife, mother, friend to your community and the blogging community. I always say I can see genuine goodness in a person’s heart and I see it there in your heart. Have a blessed year my friend. ~ Ramona 🙂
Those brownies look delicious from where I’m sitting. Can’t knit to save a jumper myself. Happy new year. Continue baking. I adore your pastry fancies;)
I don´t knit either but sell knitted things for a living, so I suppose I should learn… Wonderful bites, no wonder they were liked by everyone! Have a great beginning of 2013 Liz!
yum! Looks delicious!! I have never knitted but I want to learn and have already decided that even though I won’t be that good at it- it totally doesn’t matter. People will be getting angled scarves for presents- yes! haha
I have never made black bottom cupcakes, but I love to eat them. think this is a great idea in a brownie bite! happy new year!