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Learn how to make the world famous Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies at home. Big, buttery & filled with chocolate chips—these chewy cookies are sure to become a family favorite!
Neiman Marcus is mostly known for the shopping, but they also have some famous dessert recipes! These cookies are one of the legendary recipes, but the Neiman Marcus Cake is also a winner!
the legendary Neiman Marcus Cookie
Hi there! It’s Fiona from Just So Tasty and today I’m stopping in to share this recipe for Neiman Marcus cookies. Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies are world famous. They’re big, buttery, filled with chocolate chips and definitely remind you of something you get at a fancy bakery.
For years, there was a rumor going around that a woman was enjoying one of these chocolate chip cookies at the Neiman Marcus cafe. She asked the waitress if she could have the recipe, and supposedly when she got the check, it said $250 for the recipe.
Neiman Marcus debunked that rumor and said it definitely wasn’t true. And now they post the official recipe for their world famous chocolate chip cookies on their website. So whether you live near one of their fancy department stores or not, you can still enjoy these cookies.
Where are the oats? If you do a search for the Neiman Marcus Cookie you will find hundreds of recipes to choose from, most of which contain oat flour. Apparently (according to this article I found), Neiman Marcus didn’t even serve cookies at their restaurant when the $250 recipe story began in the late 1980’s. Not only was the story fictitious, but so was the oatmeal chocolate chip recipe. Finally, in 1995 Neiman Marcus decided to create a Chocolate Chip recipe and share it with the world for Free. It’s this official Neiman Marcus oat free recipe that I’m sharing today.
what makes it so unique?
Looking at the official recipe from their website, there are a few main things about this chocolate chip cookie recipe that are a little different:
- We start with real butter. This adds tons of flavor.
- Then the majority of the sugar is light brown sugar. Brown sugar also adds flavor and more chewiness.
- You’ll notice that there’s a higher flour to butter ratio than a lot of other cookie recipes. This keeps them a little thicker.
- Lots and lots and lots of chocolate chips.
- We don’t have to chill the dough. This is partly thanks to the slightly higher percentage of flour.
- Grease the cookie sheets instead of lining with parchment paper or baking mats. This creates crispier cookie edges with a little more browning.
- And finally – they’re cooked at a lower temperature for a longer period of time.
Note: The recipe on their website also includes adding espresso powder. I left this out since it’s not an ingredient I keep in the house and I don’t think it’s really necessary in chocolate chip cookies.
Additional RECIPE Tips
Variations: You can easily switch the chocolate chips for another additive to create a different taste and even texture. Try using:
- Reese’s pieces
- Mini M&ms
- White chocolate or butterscotch chips
- Chopped nuts
Why are they baked at a lower temperature? Everything is baked at a different temperature depending on the ingredients. Baking at this lower temp for longer allows for a more controlled melt of the chocolate chips and a firmer cookie.
Freeze the dough: You can freeze this dough, but you might have to tack on some time when baking the dough afterwards. When freezing, you can either freeze the dough as a log or as individual dough balls.
- Log: form the dough into a log shoe. Tightly wrap with plastic wrap then again with aluminum foil. Label and freeze. Allow the dough to thaw in the ridge before shaping the dough balls. If your loaf is the right diameter you could even use a kitchen knife to slice dough disks instead of making dough balls.
- Balls: scoop the dough onto a baking sheet. Place the sheet into the freezer until the dough is frozen and solid. Transfer the balls to a freezer safe container. Label and freeze.
How to store cookies? Place in an airtight container on the counter. If they start to dry out, place a piece of dry white bread inside which will help keep them moist.
These Neiman Marcus cookies are perfect if you enjoy cookies with crispy edges, brown sugar and lots of chocolate chips. If you’ve ever wondered about their legendary recipe – you should definitely try making them yourself!
For more favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes, check out:
- Reese’s Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chewy Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Nestle Toll House Cookies
Neiman Marcus Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter soft
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons 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 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300F degrees and lightly grease cookie sheets*
- In a medium bowl beat together the butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Carefully mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture.
- Turn off the mixer and stir in the chocolate chips.
- Form the dough into balls about 2 tablespoons in size and place at least 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until you see the edges starting to brown.**
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These were super yummy!
Best chocolate chip cookie recipe!! These are now our favorite!
These are good but NOT the original Neiman-Marcus recipe. THE Neiman-Marcus recipe calls for oatmeal (finely ground), and 4 oz chocolate bar micro-planed into the dough. It’s a bit more labor intensive but worth every extra minute. Google NY Times $250 recipe. Also has a neat story behind it. Hands down this is the best cookie recipe on the planet. Last note, bake at 375 degrees for 10 min and not a second more. They may look a little under done but pull them off the sheet and let them set for 5-10 minutes. I freeze them in dough balls so all I have to do is pop them in on demand (same cook time).
Haven’t tried the recipe yet. I have a question before starting to make them. Will less sugar change everything? Will they still be as good? I
I haven’t tried using less sugar, so I can’t say for sure. You could always use stevia or something like that. Let me know if you try!
I just mAde these cookies and served with coffee last weekend. Everybody loves it. Thanks for sharing a wonderful recipe with us.
You are so welcome1 Glad you tried them! Thank you!
FIona, these are by far the best TASTING CHOCOLATE chip cookies i’ve tasted & maDe.
I even got coMpliments from My biggest Critic, my hubby. I’ll have to try with differeNt kinds of chocolate Chips. Thanks for sharing.
Yay!! Love hearing that!! Thank you for sharing that!
Great recipe! baked according to directions. i had less chocolate chips than required but all worked out well. will be baking these again! i have always wanted to make fluffy chewy cookies and the family loved them. thank you!
Glad you tried them! They are some of our favorite! Thank you!
Sadly mine are kind of hard aNy tip to make them softer ??
And i cooked them only for 15 min ?? PLease help ASAP thank You in advance ?
Darn, I am so sorry! I wish I knew why they are hard. Are all your ingredients fresh? Google has tons of suggestions, but you would need to check, since I am not sure which one fits you or not.
i never review rEcipes, but this is the best CHOCOLATE chip cookie recipe i’ve ever tried and i have tried so many recipes trying to find the perfect One! I have six kids and Everyone loved them! Thank you!
Oh, I just love hearing that! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
My daughters and I made these today and they’re absolutely delicious! Our new favorite chocolate chip cookie. Thank you!
Yay!! Favorite to hear! Thank you!