Chocolate Chip Fudgie Cups

This cookie has something for everyone. The crust is chocolate chip cookie dough; the filling is a rich brownie. They are a little more involved to make, but well worth the effort.

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE CHIP DOUGH:
1/3 cup stick butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup Equal® Spoonful or Granulated*
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

FUDGE NUT FILLING:
1 cup Equal® Spoonful or Granulated**
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
6 tablespoons stick butter, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

*May substitute 8 packets Equal sweetener
**May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Preparation

For Chocolate Chip Dough, beat 1/3 cup butter with electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla until blended. Mix in 1/3 cup Equal®* and brown sugar until combined. Combine 1 cup flour, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix into butter mixture.
Stir in chocolate chips. Form dough into circle about 1/2-inch thick. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze while preparing Fudge Nut Filling.
For Fudge Nut Filling, combine 1 cup Equal®**, 3/4 cup flour, cocoa, nuts, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat applesauce, 6 tablespoons butter, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour mixture until well blended.
Remove Chocolate Chip Dough from freezer. Spread approximately 1 rounded tablespoonful of dough in each of 24 mini-muffin pans. Fill each with Fudge Nut Filling to top of cup.
Bake in preheated 350° F oven 15 to 18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in muffin pans about 5 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.