Directions

1. Line twenty 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with foil or paper baking cups. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until combined. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat just till combined, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Stir in syrup. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring just till combined. Stir in walnuts.
3. Fill each of the muffin cups half full (about 1/4 cup each) with batter. Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 16 to 18 minutes or till a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Remove from muffin cups and cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Add food coloring to 1/2 of the vanilla frosting to make purple (use remaining frosting for Cat Cookies). Frost cupcakes with purple frosting. Top cupcakes with Cat Cookies. Makes 20 cupcakes.
5. Cat Cookies: On a well-floured surface, roll 1/2 of an 18-ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough 1/8-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2- to 3-inch Halloween cat cutter, cut out dough shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove and cool on wire racks. Frost cookies with remaining vanilla frosting. Sprinkle generously with black decorating sugar. Add small red candies for eyes. Let stand until frosting is set. Makes about 20 cat cookies.