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Maple Walnut Tassies: A Classic Bite-Sized Treat Packed with Flavor
Everything You Need to Know to Make, Master, and Enjoy These Buttery Mini Tarts That Taste Like a Maple Pecan Pie’s Cozier Cousin
If you love the idea of a bite-sized dessert that’s rich, buttery, nutty, and kissed with maple, maple walnut tassies are the treat for you. Often described as a cross between pecan pie and a cookie tart, these mini treasures pack big flavor into small packages.
Whether you’re baking for the holidays, hosting a cozy brunch, or simply want to impress with an old-fashioned treat, this complete guide to maple walnut tassies will take you from beginner to baking expert. You’ll learn the history, ingredients, step-by-step methods, variations, storage tips, and even troubleshooting solutions.
🍬 What Are Tassies?
“Tassies” is a Southern term for mini tarts or pastries, typically made in mini muffin pans. They’re popular at holidays because of their festive appearance, manageable portion size, and decadent fillings.
Think of them as:
- A tart in a cookie’s body
- A pie you can eat in two bites
- A nostalgic, handheld dessert
While pecan tassies are the most well-known version, maple walnut tassies bring a fresh twist with bold maple syrup and buttery walnuts.
🧁 Why Maple Walnut Tassies?
Here’s why these little tarts deserve a place in your kitchen:
✅ Perfect for fall and winter baking
✅ Easy to make in batches
✅ Portable and freezer-friendly
✅ Deep flavor with minimal effort
✅ Customizable with variations
They’re ideal for:
- Cookie swaps
- Thanksgiving desserts
- Hostess gifts
- Tea parties or brunches
- Everyday snacking
🍁 Key Ingredients (and Why They Matter)
To master tassies, you need to understand the role of each ingredient. Quality counts here!
🧈 For the Dough (Cream Cheese Pastry):
- Cream cheese: Adds tenderness and a tangy balance to the sweet filling.
- Butter: The base fat for richness and structure.
- All-purpose flour: The bulk of the dough—don’t overmix!
- Salt: A pinch helps enhance flavor.
🍯 For the Maple Walnut Filling:
- Real maple syrup: The star ingredient. Use Grade A Dark or Amber for stronger maple flavor.
- Brown sugar: Adds depth with molasses notes.
- Eggs: Bind the filling and create a custard-like texture.
- Chopped walnuts: Earthy, slightly bitter flavor to balance the sweetness.
- Vanilla extract: Adds aroma and richness.
- Salt: Balances sweetness.
Optional extras:
- A splash of bourbon
- A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg
- Maple extract (for extra oomph)
🍳 Step-by-Step Recipe: How to Make Maple Walnut Tassies
This recipe yields 24 tassies.
🧈 Part 1: Make the Cream Cheese Pastry Dough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
- Add flour and salt; mix until just combined. Do not overwork the dough.
- Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30–60 minutes.
🥧 Part 2: Prepare the Maple Walnut Filling
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
Instructions:
- In a bowl, whisk together maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt.
- Stir in the chopped walnuts. Set aside.
🧁 Part 3: Assemble and Bake the Tassies
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and press into the wells of a mini muffin tin to form a small cup.
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon of filling into each shell—do not overfill.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until filling is puffed and golden.
- Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
🍽️ Tips for Tassie Success
✅ 1. Chill the Dough
Cold dough is easier to handle and helps avoid shrinking during baking.
✅ 2. Grease Your Mini Muffin Pan
Even if it’s nonstick—better safe than sorry!
✅ 3. Use a Tart Tamper
Or the back of a spoon to press dough evenly into the cups.
✅ 4. Don’t Overfill
Filling should not overflow the dough. It will bubble and stick.
✅ 5. Let Them Cool Before Removing
They set as they cool and are easier to remove without breaking.
🍨 Maple Walnut Tassie Variations
Make this recipe your own with these delicious twists:
🥃 Bourbon Maple Tassies
Add 1 tablespoon of bourbon to the filling for a warm, boozy depth.
🍫 Chocolate Chip Walnut Tassies
Add mini chocolate chips to the filling or drizzle melted chocolate over cooled tassies.
🥥 Coconut Maple Tassies
Add 1/4 cup shredded coconut to the filling for texture and flavor.
🧂 Salted Maple Tassies
Top with flaky sea salt just before serving for a sweet-salty contrast.
🧊 Mini Frozen Tassie Cheesecakes
Press the dough into mini cups and fill with a no-bake maple cheesecake filling instead.
🧊 Storage, Freezing & Make-Ahead Tips
🧁 How to Store:
- Store tassies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate to extend freshness up to 7 days.
❄️ How to Freeze:
- Freeze baked tassies in a single layer on a tray, then transfer to bags or containers.
- Freeze up to 3 months.
- Thaw at room temperature before serving.
🍥 Make-Ahead:
- Dough can be made 3 days in advance and refrigerated.
- Filling can be mixed a day ahead.
- Assemble and bake when ready for fresh flavor.
🧾 Nutritional Info (per tassie, approx.)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | ~160 |
| Fat | 10g |
| Carbs | 17g |
| Sugar | 11g |
| Protein | 2g |
Note: Can vary based on exact ingredients and size.
🧠 Fun Facts About Tassies
- The word “tassie” comes from the Scottish word for “small cup” or “cupful.”
- Tassies gained popularity in the American South in the early 20th century.
- Maple syrup is a natural sweetener made by boiling the sap of sugar maple trees—mostly produced in Canada and the Northeastern U.S.
- Walnuts are one of the oldest tree foods known to man, dating back to 7000 B.C.
❓ FAQs: Maple Walnut Tassies
Q: Can I use pecans instead of walnuts?
Absolutely! Pecans work great and create a more traditional “pecan tassie.” You can even mix the two nuts.
Q: Can I use maple-flavored syrup instead of real maple syrup?
It’s possible, but not recommended. Fake syrup is made with corn syrup and lacks the depth and natural sweetness of pure maple syrup.
Q: My tassies stuck to the pan—what did I do wrong?
Common reasons:
- Not greasing the pan well.
- Overfilling, which causes sugary overflow.
- Removing them before cooling.
Use a thin knife or offset spatula to help loosen stubborn tassies.
Q: Can I double or triple the recipe?
Yes! Tassies scale up beautifully. Just use multiple mini muffin pans or bake in batches.
Q: Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes—use a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend for the dough. Keep everything else the same.
Q: Can kids help make tassies?
Definitely! Kids can:
- Roll dough balls
- Press dough into tins
- Spoon in the filling
Just supervise the oven and hot sugar!
🌟 Final Thoughts: Maple Walnut Tassies Are Small but Mighty
Maple walnut tassies are the perfect blend of comfort, tradition, and indulgence—ideal for any celebration or cozy weekend bake. With their buttery crust, toasty walnuts, and maple-kissed filling, these mini treats deliver big satisfaction in a small bite.
Master the base, play with the flavors, and soon these tassies will become your signature dessert—one that your guests will request again and again.