Posted by artsycook

For more that a century, the Marshall Fields store has been a landmark in downtown Chicago, and has served as a traditional meeting place for several generations of shoppers. This muffin is a favorite with the lunch crowd at the Walnut Room inside Marshal Fields store.

7 tablespoons butter, softened
7 tablespoons margarine, softened
2 2/3 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
6 cups Cinnamon Crunch (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and margarine together. Add the sugar and cream until fluffy; blend in the eggs.

In a separate, smaller bowl, combine the sour cream and baking soda and set aside.

In medium mixing bowl, Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and nutmeg together. Add the flour mixture and sour cream mixture alternately to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Do not overmix. Fold 2 3/4 cups of the Cinnamon Crunch mixture into the batter.

Spoon the batter into paper-lined muffin tins, filling them a little over half full. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with the remaining Cinnamon Crunch. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Cinnamon Crunch
13 tablespoons butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
3 1/3 cups chopped pecans
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/4 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and blend well with a pastry blender or process lightly in a food processor. Spread mixture on a large cookie sheet and bake for 5 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand until cool and break into chunks.

Store in an airtight container.