The 12 Christmas Cookies series snuck up on me, this year, mainly because the group decided to start now, and – very wisely, I might add – to post one cookie a week instead of one cookie a day.
So, I’m starting off simple, with my favorite chocolate chip cookie in the world. I’ve never made another chocolate chip cookie recipe that could beat it for flavor and texture – chocolaty, chewy, and crispy. It keeps well in an airtight container or plastic storage bag, and freezes well. Although it’s not a fancy schmancy “holiday” cookie, I don’t think any cookie platter would be complete without a really good, rich chocolate chip cookie.
The “Neiman Marcus” Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe started making the rounds of the Internet (such as it was), as an urban legend, about 15 or more years ago, back when the Internet as we all knew it, consisted mostly of e-mail and dancing babies. I’m betting that most of you have never heard the story, having been way too young to remember green screens and DOS, so a quick retelling. The story goes something like this:
A man and his young daughter were eating lunch in a Neiman Marcus restaurant, and ordered their chocolate chip cookies for dessert. They loved the cookies so much, that the man asked their waitress if they could have the recipe. She replied that they could have the recipe, but it would cost them two-fifty. The man thought that $2.50 was pretty reasonable and the waitress gave them the recipe. When he received his Neiman Marcus bill sometime later, he noticed a restaurant charge for $250. Outraged, he called customer service and was told that they could not remove the charge and he was stuck with it. Now apoplectic, the man told them that as revenge, he would e-mail the recipe to all his friends and relatives and urge them to do the same. The End.
This recipe makes an enormous quantity of cookies, so feel free to halve or even quarter the amounts. I quartered it and ended up with 30 cookies. The calculator is your friend.
“Neiman Marcus” Chocolate Chip Cookies
(makes approx. 112 cookies)
Ingredients:
2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
5 cups blended oatmeal *
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
24 oz. chocolate chips
8 oz. milk chocolate candy bar (grated) *
3 cups chopped nuts (I made these with California Walnuts)
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375º F.
Cream the butter and both sugars. On low speed, add eggs and vanilla till completely incorporated.
Add the flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, mixing till combined, then add the chocolate chips, grated milk chocolate, and nuts.
Roll into balls about the size of a ping pong ball and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool on the cookie sheet for several minutes before removing to a rack to cool completely. Or not. A cold glass of milk or hot cup of coffee at this point would be awesome.
Notes:
* To make “blended oatmeal”, measure the amount of oatmeal and run through the food processor or a blender on high, till ground to a fine meal consistency.
* The “original” recipe called for an 8 oz. Hershey Bar. Now, you and I know that Hershey Bars haven’t come in an 8 oz. size in probably 10 years. Also, this time, I didn’t have any Hershey Bars, so I used some Hershey milk chocolate Kisses. In order to grate the chocolate, put it in the freezer for about an hour, then pulse it in your food processor.
*Variation: For a delicious change of taste, substitute peanut butter or your favorite nut butter for half of the butter. You can also add up to 3 tsp. of instant coffee!
Well, of course it’s too early for Christmas, so why wait to make these fabulous cookies? Make ’em for Halloween or Chanukah, or anytime at all!
Someone did a guest post on my site once with these cookies. I just had to make them, and wow! They really were fabulous chocolate chip cookies. Can't wait to see what else you have baking!
A Christmas platter is not complete without a chocolate chip cookie on it and you've picked a great one. Beautiful texture.
Ah…I have been around the Internet that long Renee and this is also a favorite of mine. It's been published on my first recipe website for most of those years but I agree, it's really a great cookie.Neiman Marcus actually included a response on their site at one time and their own chocolate chip cookie recipe…for FREE which I include on that page too. Thought you might get a kick at just how much an urban legend comes with a wide variety of tales!http://creative-culinary.com/dessert_neiman_cookies.asp
I have always seen this recipe AND heard amazing things about it too. I love seeing yours and how yummy they look!Looking forward to baking with you for the next couple of months!Happy Weekend!~avril 🙂
I love that these have both chocolate chips and bars in them! Great cookies!
I agree, a platter is not complete without a chocolate chip cookie! This is one that I have not made, but I have heard the story. I'll have to take your word on it and try them!
My first experience with these cookies was several years ago…someone made them for a bake sale at work and oh my goodness are they the best! I was seriously thinking about making them this year for the holidays! Thanks for sharing — looking forward to baking with you!
oh these look fab love the story real or not
I remember when that recipe first came out – I didn't realize it made SO MANY cookies!But they're great and remind me that I should make them again soon.
Aaah, nothing but the classic!
so classic Renee – and exactly perfect for a holiday cookie platter!
I have never made this cookie but my SIL always makes them for her catering crew. Perfect for Christmas or anytime.
I have always wondered about these "Famous" cookies. I am glad you made them so I know they are really good.
Definitely a perfect choice for any cookie platter. Great pics!
These look lovely!!!
Luxurious cookies it will hard to ignore. Thanks for sharing !
Holy crap 112 cookies! I think you mean 12 right? :)I remember getting this e-mail and thinking oh "yum!" and I sadly do remember green screens and DOS. Ageing myself?
LOVE these! I want one now!
tempting… tempting… tempting…chocochip cookies…yum!
Renee-these look so good! I've yet to try these, but I have to at least once, right? Maybe soon…
Renee, I’ve made these excellent cookies several times and wanted to share w/ you that I added 2 C. raisins, and 3 t. instant coffee granules to the recipe, because we love both raisins and coffee ! The recipe is perfect as is, but I love baking and experimenting w/ different recipes. This is by far the best Cookie recipe I have ever found and want to thank you for posting it .
Hi, Caroline! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. I love your additions – especially the coffee! – and I’ll definitely try that the next time I make these cookies. I’m glad you like this recipe as much as I do! 🙂