Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp molasses
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1¼ cups bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• For the Salted Caramel:
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 3 tbs unsalted butter, cubed
• 1½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup plus 2 tbs heavy cream

Brown Butter Cupcakes:

• ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ cup mini-chocolate chips

For the Vanilla Frosting:

• 3 sticks of unsalted butter at room temperature
• 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp whole milk
• pinch of salt
• ¼ cup homemade salted caramel (From this post on my blog)

For the Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1. Take 8 tbs (or ½ cup) of butter and place it in a small, heavy bottomed sauce pan.
2. Melt the butter over medium heat. After it melts and continues to cook, it will bubble and pop. Once the popping stops, start to swirl the pan. Continue to cook until the butter smells nutty and the milk solids (which will sink to the bottom) begin to turn a deep amber brown. It will take about 3 minutes.
3. Remove the brown butter (along with the brown solid bits in the bottom of the pan) to a bowl. Allow it too cool for about 20 minutes.
4. While the brown butter cools, make the rest of the cookie batter.
5. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
6. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the remaining butter with the brown sugar until it’s light and fluffy.
7. Beat in the vanilla and molasses.
8. Add the cooled brown butter and the granulated sugar. Beat for about 3 minutes until fluffy.
9. Add the egg and egg yolk. Mix until just combined.
10. Add the flour mixture. Beat at low speed until the ingredients are just combined.
11. Mix in the chopped chocolate.
12. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes.
13. While the dough chills, make the caramel.
14. Allow the caramel to cool and thicken for a few hours.
15. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
16. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat. Using about 1 tsp at a time, roll the dough out. Slightly flatten each dough ball before placing them in the oven.
17. Bake for about 8 minutes.
18. Remove the cookies from the oven, and allow them to sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack to cool completely.

For the Cupcakes:

1. Start by lining a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Place about 1 ½ tsp of the reserved brown butter cookie dough in the bottom of each muffin tin. Press down dough to fill the bottom of the cupcake liners.
4. Bake for about 5 minutes.
5. Allow the cookie crust to cool while making the cupcakes.
6. In a small sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue to cook the butter until it begins to brown and turn golden. It will take about 4 to 5 minutes.
7. Once the butter is browned, transfer the butter and the brown bits at the bottom to a bowl to cool.
8. While the brown butter cools, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
9. In a large bowl, beat together the cooled brown butter and sugar until combined.
10. Beat in the eggs, one at a time until combined.
11. Add the vanilla.
12. Add the flour mixture alternating with the milk in three batches, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
13. Mix in the chocolate chips.
14. Fill the prepared muffin tin 2/3 full.
15. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean, with a few moist crumbs attached.
16. While the cupcakes cool completely, make the salted caramel frosting.

For the Frosting:

1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until fluffy.
2. Add the confectioner’s sugar. Beat until fluffy.
3. Add the salt, vanilla, and milk. Mix until creamy.
4. Add the salted caramel, and mix until combined.

Assembly:

1. To assemble the cupcakes: Using a pairing knife, cut a ½ inch circle in the middle of each
2. cupcake.
3. Remove the top, and fill each cupcake with about 1 tsp of salted caramel.
4. Replace the top of the hole you cut with the cut out piece.
5. Using a pastry bag fitted with a large round opening, pipe the frosting on the cake.
6. While the frosting is still freshly piped, sprinkle with mini-chocolate chips.
7. Fill a zip-top bag with the salted caramel. Drizzle the caramel over the cupcakes.
8. Top each cupcake with a brown butter chocolate chip cookie.