Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups (192g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120ml) milk
  • ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ⅓ cup (67g) packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ cups (160g) all-purpose flour, heat-treated
  • ½ cup (85g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Cream together softened butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla extract and salt. Gradually add heat-treated flour, mixing until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  3. Fill each cupcake liner about halfway with cupcake batter. Scoop out a small ball of chilled cookie dough (about 1 tablespoon). Gently press the cookie dough ball into the center of each cupcake. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cupcake comes out clean (avoiding the cookie dough center).
  4. Let cupcakes cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream frosting (if using) by creaming together butter and powdered sugar. Add milk and vanilla until the desired consistency is achieved. Frost cooled cupcakes and decorate as desired!