Fudgy Blintz Brownie Bites With Lemon Zest
A sophisticated Jewish-American fusion dessert featuring a rich brown-butter brownie base topped with a tangy, soufflé-style lemon cheese blintz filling in a perfect bite-sized portion.
Equipment
- 24-cup mini muffin pan
- Fine-Mesh Sieve
- Small mixing bowl
- #40 cookie scoop
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup small curd cottage cheese, strained
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 18 oz brownie mix, plus package ingredients
Instructions
Preheat and get your pan ready
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, ensuring it is fully preheated before baking.
- Prepare a 24-cup mini muffin pan by lining and greasing the cups thoroughly, particularly the edges.
Mix the blintz-style topping
- In a small bowl, combine the strained cottage cheese, room temperature cream cheese, honey, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth, thick, and glossy. Set it aside to firm up slightly while preparing the base.
Build a fudgy brownie base with the brown butter twist
- Prepare the brownie mix according to the package instructions, but substitute the oil with an equal amount of browned butter that has been cooled slightly.
- Stir the batter until just uniform and shiny, taking care not to overmix to maintain a fudgy texture.
Fill, dollop, and bake
- Spoon the brownie batter into each muffin cup until they are approximately 3/4 full.
- Place a small dollop of the blintz mixture directly into the center of each brownie portion, without spreading it to the edges.
- Bake for about 25 minutes until the topping is set with a slight jiggle and a toothpick inserted into the brownie comes out clean.
- Allow the bites to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing to ensure they hold their shape.
Notes
Storage Tip: Refrigerate any leftover bites in an airtight container for up to 5 days to keep the dairy topping fresh and stable.
Moisture Control: Straining the cottage cheese for at least 15 minutes is a non-negotiable step to prevent the cheese from weeping and making the brownies gummy.
Freezing Advice: For long-term storage, flash-freeze the bites in a single layer on a tray before moving them to a freezer bag to prevent sticking.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.
Nutrition
Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 160mgPotassium: 42mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 135IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 0.9mg
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