homemade cookies

The famous Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies urban myth goes like this: A customer loves the cookie she ate at the upscale department store so much that she requests a copy of the recipe. The clerk tells her that the recipe is “two fifty.” Assuming that it was $2.50, she purchases it, only to find out upon recipe of her credit card bill that it was $250. I’m sure you’ve heard of this before.

Lucky for chocolate chip cookies lovers, Neiman Marcus provides the recipe for it on its website – for free! And after testing out the recipe, I can tell you that the cookies are worth a million bucks! The recipe is so unbelievably simple with no twists or surprises (maybe adding 1-1/2 teaspoons of espresso coffee powder may surprise some) but you won’t be disappointed with the result. And that’s no myth!

Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe and instruction taken directly from the Neiman Marcus 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 (makes 2 dozens)

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

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds)

Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.

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.

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.