Tassie press. Fox Run. Pixy.org / Public Domain
A tassie press (aka tassie tamper, tart tamper) is a tool used for making for making small tart shells by pressing dough into shape rather than rolling dough and cutting it out.
Its end is shaped to fit exactly into a small tart tin cup.
It is typically made of wood, but can also be bought made of plastic.
Instead of rolling out the pie dough to cut into individual rounds to fit into the tart tins, you put a small ball of dough in the bottom of each individual tart cup, flour the tassie press, and then press down hard on the ball of dough. It forces the dough up the sides of the tart cup, lining the cup with dough.
Tart shell formed with tassie press. Fox run / pixy.org / Public Domain
It is used for small tarts such as pecan tassies, hence the name. In other parts of the U.S. where pecan tassies are not made, it may be called something like a “tart tamper.”
Tassie press. Fox Run. Pixy.org / Public Domain