Tollhouse Cupcakes

Cupcakes seem to be all of the rage these days.  It is a well-deserved rage in my opinion.  Any handy bite-sized concoction made with flour, sugar and fat deserves to be paid attention to.  This recipe adds a  quintessential American twist to our friend,  the cupcake.

Tollhouse Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 6 T. sugar
• 6 T./ 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2t. / 1/2 t. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup plus 2 T. flour
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1/2 t./ 1/8 t. salt
• 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)
• mini-marshmallows (opt. if you feel like experimenting)

Cooking Directions:

1. Combine butter, sugar, 6 T. brown sugar & 1/2 t. vanilla and beat until creamy. Add 1 egg.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and 1/2 t. salt & stir into butter mixture.
3. Drop by rounded tablespoon into 16 cupcake cups in muffin tin.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.
5. Remove from oven.
6. Combine 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, remaining egg, and 1/8 t. salt in a bowl and beat until thick. Stir in chocolate morsels, optional nuts and remaining vanilla. I have added mini-marshmallow, too, for a successful variation.
7. Drop/ spread 1 tablespoonful over each cupcake.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes – keep on eye on them.
9. Yum!