Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ed’s post last week got me thinking about how hard it is to find a really great chocolate chip cookie; the issue is that no one cookie can be the chocolate chip cookie for all people. Some prefer crisp cookies, while others insist on gooey, doughy ones. These cookies tread the happy middle ground between the two.
This is one of the great urban myth recipes—supposedly, years ago, a woman dining at Neiman Marcus asked for their cookie recipe, was told it would cost $2.50, and was later shocked to find a $250 charge on her credit card. For revenge, she shared the recipe with as many people as possible. Even if the story is a fabrication, the cookies are great, and the addition of ground oats adds to their wholesome appeal. This version is from Nancy Baggett’s The All-American Cookie Book.
Related Recipes You Might Enjoy
Butterscotch Chocolate Chunk Cookies
World Peace Cookies
Alexis's Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips, or 12 ounces top-quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped into small chunks
3-1/2 to 4 ounces top-quality milk chocolate, finely chopped or coarsely grated
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted (optional)
Directions
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking mats.
In a food processor or blender, grind the oats to a very fine powder. (If using a blender, stop the motor and stir the oats several times.) In a large bowl, thoroughly stir together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In another large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the brown sugar, sugar, and corn syrup and beat until well blended and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until evenly incorporated. Beat in about half of the flour mixture. Beat or stir in the chocolate morsels, chopped milk chocolate, walnuts or pecans (if using), and remaining flour mixture until evenly incorporated. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the dough firms up just slightly.
Divide the dough into quarters. Divide each quarter into 5 or 6 equal portions. Shape them into balls with lightly greased hands. Place on the baking sheets, spacing about 3 inches apart. Using your hands, pat down the balls to 1 inch thick.
Bake the cookies, one sheet at time, in the upper third of the oven for 9 to 12 minutes, or until tinged with brown and just beginning to firm up in the centers; for very moist cookies, be careful not to overbake. Reverse the sheet front to back halfway through baking to ensure even browning. Transfer the sheet to a wire rack and let stand until the cookies firm up slightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to wire racks. Let stand until completely cooled.
Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.
Note: Sometimes I leave out the milk chocolate and add more dark chocolate instead. And when I make these cookies, I refrigerate the dough overnight and then shape rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. This makes smaller, more compact cookies, which I prefer. For thinner, slightly crisper cookies, follow the directions above.
Related Recipes You Might Enjoy
Butterscotch Chocolate Chunk Cookies
World Peace Cookies
Alexis's Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
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29 Comments:
The recipe posted should have matched the title of the article. I remember getting that email many years ago with a similar recipe as the one posted...they were not very good cookies at all. Anyway, here is the REAL Neiman Marcus Cookie recipe straight from the NM website:
----
An urban myth is a modern folk tale, its origins unknown, its believability enhanced
simply by the frequency with which it is repeated. Our signature chocolate chip cookie
is the subject of one such myth. If you haven't heard the story, we won't perpetuate it
here. If you have, the recipe below should serve to refute it. Copy it, print it out, pass it along to friends and family. It's a terrific recipe. And it's absolutely free.
Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds)
2. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.
3. In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.
4. Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 tablespoon measure, drop cookie dough onto a greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie.
Yield: 2 dozen cookies
foody1 at 12:58AM on 09/08/08
Just made these cookies using the recipe posted by foody1. I have never tried a Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookie before this evening and they were delicious. Other tasters agreed that they are some of the best chocolate chip cookies they've had. Thanks for posting the recipe!
nolafoodie at 12:33AM on 09/20/08
I disagree with foody1 about the "fake" NM recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I received this recipe with the same story from a girlfriend, but it was in the mid 80's before the internet was in every household . I have been making them ever since. The only difference was the size of the recipe. It was for a huge batch, which I cut in half, then I altered it and didn't use as much baking soda because it made the cookies more crunchy and I prefer mine softer. But Sarabir's recipe makes for great cookies. The rolled oats and crushed milk chocolate candy bar (I use a large Hershey bar) gives the cookies a wonderful texture and flavor. The NM cookies are a basic chocolate chip cookie dough with instant espresso added. I Have not tried the "real" NM recipe yet, but intend to the next time I bake cookies to see if they really are better. Personally I think NM changed the recipe to save face.
totallyras at 2:57AM on 09/29/08
The first time I ever heard of this NM cookie debacle, I was merely 18 years old...that was in 1970!! I received a chain letter in the snail mail. Not only was it being sent to me to "offset" the $250.00 the originator had supposedly shelled out, she was chainlettering it to really get her revenge!!
Image my surprise when I got an email with the same story...30 odd years later! I never did make them, but the original mail had the same recipe as the original post here..with chips, nuts and chocolate chunks, not the one from the site...although they both sound awesome. Maybe it is time I actually made them!!
soapy at 12:46PM on 09/30/08
This urban myth has been around forever! Can't believe it's still alive and kicking. I tried this recipe and though it's okay, it's certainly not worth all the hype. Louis Kestenbaum just put out a new cookbook that has a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe that's to die for!
bigolecookingmama at 10:25PM on 09/30/08
this is a true story.
Now i know a woman who this happened to. I dont know if its the same one as the legend but she did in turn give the recipe to EVERYONE she knew!!! the cookies are just okie also.
linz2882 at 6:01PM on 10/07/08
Well, I have also received the chain letter more than once over the years. I never made them , but yes I forwarded as so many others did. However, Over the last 2 years I have became addicted to Snopes.com ! So I looked it up and it is False. Here is the link: http://www.snopes.com/business/consumer/cookie.asp You'd be surpised to know this myth has been around for 50 years. But it does give a link to the real cookie receipe!
molly14 at 10:03AM on 10/13/08
Ooh, I love anything pumpkin and never heard of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! Where can I get this cookbook by Louis Kestenbaum? I found a Louis Kestenbaum that has gluten free recipes, is this the same person?
MagillaGorilla at 10:48AM on 10/16/08
I disagree with foody1, too. I received a copy of the recipe probably 18 to 20 years ago; definitely before e-mail. I made the cookies and although they were hard they were very tasty.
I do agree with the poster totallyras; the first time I made them I realized I could half the recipe as the original made a LOT of cookies and I agree that you should cut the baking soda as I, too like a little softer cookie.
Now I'm sure many of you now about this tip but I'll pass it along just case; a friend told me to add a fresh slice of bread to the cookie container to make the cookies that came out too hard soft. It worked like a charm. In fact, my aunt didn't believe I used the NM recipe because she said hers came out too hard.
I have seen the quote original Neiman Marcus cookie recipe on their web site and I swear they've changed it over the years. I really think that years ago the recipe on their web site was similar to the one I have a copy of with oatmeal and heath bars. And I don't think the original recipe contained instant expresso powder.
amremlap at 2:40PM on 10/19/08
Excuse me...I mean a Hershey bar, not a Heath Bar. :) Getting my recipe's mixed up.
amremlap at 2:52PM on 10/19/08
Hey there, Magilla! Yes, that's probably the same Louis Kestenbaum that I'm speaking about. Is it Louis Kestenbaum's gluten free goodies blog or something similar? You can get his cookbook in healthfood stores - at least that's where I saw one.
bigolecookingmama at 1:40PM on 10/23/08
I received this recipe about 20 years ago. But I was told it was a it was for Mrs. Fields cookies. Everytime I make this cookies everyone goes crazy for them.
deedeedumplings at 1:32PM on 10/25/08
I live in Indianapolis and was first exposed to this recipe in 1986. At that time, it was linked to and named after a local department store called Lazarus. Same exact story! The recipe I have is slightly different in that it calls for a melted Hershey Bar. Good cookies, and pretty addictive!
lcshock at 6:38AM on 10/26/08
I to received this reciepe years ago under the same pretence. I have been making it now for several years and get nothing but rave reviews. Everyone that has had them thinks they are the best cookies they've ever had. I to have to admit that they are a little more work but well worth it.
dandm8cats at 1:44AM on 10/28/08
This post says that the recipe is directly from the NM webpage...but here's the webpage and it is not the same recipe. http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/service/nm_cookie_recipe.jhtml
poor researching serious eats
donut at 3:17AM on 11/12/08
I found out about this recipe a few years ago, and I've made them quite a number of times, and they are deliciouussss!! Everyone loves them. They aren't your typical choc chip cookies, that are fast to make, they take a bit more time, but well worth it. I have this exact recipe, not the one from the NM website... I don't use espresso powder. I'd actually rather make that big batch, that way I freeze them and they are good for 3 months, instead of making 1/2 the batch and then making it again.
Just a tip, I've used different types of chocolate, even toblerone, gives it a nice taste.
Smiley at 11:03AM on 11/18/08
I made this once - it broke my hand mixer - it was so thick - tasty - but not worth the price of a new mixer!
LadyDi at 4:54PM on 12/04/08
Hi Magilla,
Ralph's in CA bakes Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies and they're awesome!!! In some states the market is called Kroger's, but I can't remember if they also make them or not. Check it out if you can!
Todd
XanaJew at 12:31AM on 01/11/09
Here's that Louis Kestenbaum blog, though I don't see pumpkin choc chip cookies there: linkhttp://louiskestenbaums.blogspot.com/
GFGreedy at 2:13PM on 01/12/09
Louis Kestenbaum & Joel Kestenbaum/Fortis Property Group close sale of Galleria Towers I, II & III in Dallas
One of the Largest U.S. Investment Transactions to Date in 2008
Jones Lang LaSalle announced the firm’s capital markets experts have completed the sale of Galleria Towers I, II & III on behalf of Brooklyn, New York-based Fortis Property Group, LLC to Los-Angeles-based Cannon Commercial. Financial terms were not disclosed but sources close to the transaction estimate the closing price was in excess of $300 million.
The Jones Lang LaSalle team of Managing Directors John Alvarado, Jack Crews and Evan Stone represented the seller during negotiations.
“This portfolio retained consistent investor interest right through the credit crunch and its closing should send a strong signal about the existing strength of the Dallas investment market for high quality office product,” said Mr. Alvarado. “This was an attractive offering given the Galleria towers are irreplaceable, trophy assets and came with affordable and assumable long-term debt. This transaction also allows Cannon Commercial to enhance its Dallas-area presence, while leveraging the tax benefits of a partial 1031-exchange. This was a beneficial transaction to both parties who remained focused on completing a timely transaction.”
“We acquired the Galleria Towers from Blackstone (which acquired them from Trizec Properties) in November 2006, and maximized value by aggressively pushing rental rates while at the same time increasing the occupancy from around 90% to 98%,” said Fortis Chairman Louis Kestenbaum. Louis Kestenbaum is the father of Joel Kestenbaum, also of Fortis Property. “The disposition of this asset furthers our goals of maximizing investor returns and geographically diversifying the holdings within our portfolio. We achieved close to 100% profit on our equity investment in the Galleria Towers over a one and a half year holding period, and attained similar returns on our recent sale of International Plaza Tower III across the Tollaway.”
Built in the 1980s and early 1990s, the Galleria towers range from 24 to 26 stories tall and adjoin the Galleria shopping mall, as well as the four-star, four-diamond Westin Galleria Hotel. Amenities include on-site banking with ATM, security card-key access, conference facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a leasing and management office and an independently-operated day care. The buildings are currently 98% leased.
Fortis Property Group, LLC is a real estate investment, operating and development company. Its real estate projects include the ownership and management of Class A office and industrial properties located throughout the United States. Fortis currently owns two other Class A office buildings and an industrial property in the Dallas, Texas area. Nationwide, Fortis currently owns more than 20 properties, which contain over six million rentable square feet. Fortis Property Group CEO Jonathan Landau further indicated that Fortis anticipates raising a value-add real estate fund that will invest in Class A office properties in prime office markets throughout the United States.
Jake99 at 10:35AM on 03/24/09
Sorry, but big thumbs-down to foody1 and donut. Everyone knows that Neiman Marcus cookies are all about the urban myth, and have nothing to do with official sanctioning. Besides, the urban myth recipe is awesome, and it has strong enough bones to support all kinds of experimenting. My favorite results have been cornbread-praline-chocolate-chip cookies (swap out the oatmeal for cornmeal, and add candied pecans).
skizziks at 6:54PM on 04/29/09
Chocolate chip cookies are one of my favorite foods and my best recipe is the one one for Toll House cookies on the back of the chip bag. Just add have again as many chips and add in some chunks of dark chocolate and your good. You can make crispy or chewy just by using different amounts of dough per cookie. My mom always put a couple slices of whitebread into the tupperware to keep cookies moist. I remember either Ann Landers or Dear Abby printing the NM legend in their column while I was in high school in the 70s.
beersnob at 10:51PM on 05/07/09
I first heard a version of this myth over 50 years ago. The only difference was that it was a recipe for Red Velvet Cake from the Waldorf Astoria.
grampart at 9:14PM on 05/16/09
The correct temp is 300 degrees. Also - when you mix the dough, it will appear very dry - do NOT add additional liquid.
I make up a mix of this recipe and present it as a gift at holiday time along with a recipe card with directions and the necessary fresh ingredients. My BF's sister is a "beginner" cook and she made these cookies from my mix with no trouble. Sometimes it's better when a novice cook makes something because she didn't trust her own judgment that the dough looked dry and baked it off "as is." Another friend to whom I gave the mix admittedly "ruined it" by adding extra egg and/or milk.
These cookies are excellent - great flavor and texture. But the recipe STILL would not have been worth $250.
therealchiffonade at 12:11PM on 05/19/09
@grampart: I'd also heard the Waldorf and Red Velvet Cake.
I use the Toll House recipe and will add different types of chocolate ~ sometimes semi-sweet, sometimes milk chocolate and macadamia nuts, sometimes instant coffee or sometimes a tablespoon of ground cumin. I've been told that's the secret ingredient in Sutton Place Gourmet's CC cookies.
Oh, and sometimes I add dried cranberries or dried cherries.
duncan1205 at 4:18PM on 07/19/09
The Neiman Marcus cookie recipe is a huge hoax, go to snopes. Neiman Marcus has their own cookbook. The cookie recipe is in it. It is not what is posted here. Look to see if your library has it. It's made with espresso powder. I ordered the powder from an online flour company and made the cookies. They were just terrible, the espresso powder smelled up my kitchen for days and I ended up throwing out the cookies. Neiman Marcus talks about the recipe in the book, and the hoax, there never was a woman that paid that money etc. Talk about gullible people.
food for life at 1:13PM on 08/02/09
These famous cookies are also known as "Millionaire Cookies." I work at Cookies By Design (www.cookiesbydesign.com) and we make this cookie at our shop. It is DELICIOUS! Definitely my fave! I usually eat one a week!
KelllyCakes at 10:58PM on 08/19/09
Here is the NM Chocolate Chip recipe directly from their website. As you can see, there is no oatmeal in it. What I think happened was when this recipe was making its rounds way back when (via xerox copies), Mrs. Field's Cookies were also popular and I know they used ground oatmeal. The oatmeal recipe may be a bastardized version of both recipes. I was very surprised to go to the NM website and find this oatmeal-less recipe.
In any case, these cookies rock. They are a tiny bit strange as they call for instant espresso and bake at only 300 degrees. Be careful if you make them - the dough will appear very dry do not add additional moisture. I make these cookies all the time.
therealchiffonade at 12:41PM on 09/01/09
Okay but even if the original recipe doesn't call for oatmeal, the oatmeal version is still delicious! I have a version with oatmeal, chocolate chips, hershey bar, cocoa powder and nuts - no espresso powder but that might be a good addition. Keep the oatmeal!
sshokie at 9:22AM on 10/07/09