Chocorific - Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip

Several years ago, a story was circulating around the Internet about a woman who had just finished her salad at a Nieman Marcus cafe and decided to have a chocolate chip cookie for dessert. She liked the chocolate chip cookie so much that she asked for the recipe. The waiter said she couldn't have it, so she asked if she could buy it. He said she could, so she asked how much it was. "Two fifty," he replied. She had it added to her bill. Apparently she didn't pay attention to the total when she signed the credit card bill because when she got her credit card bill, she discovered she was charged $250 for the chocolate chip cookie recipe!!! Obviously she was upset, and she called Nieman Marcus's accounting department to explain the situation. Long story short, they did not remove the charge, so she gave their chocolate chip cookie recipe to anyone who would take it. She even posted it on the Internet.

Well, that's a great story, but unfortunately, that's exactly what it is. A story. This is the version of the recipe that usually accompanies the story:

Nieman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups butter

4 cups flour

2 tsp. soda

2 cups sugar

5 cups blended oatmeal**

24 oz. chocolate chips

2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated)

4 eggs

2 tsp. baking powder

3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

2 tsp. vanilla

1. Cream the butter and both sugars.

2. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda.

3. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar and nuts.

4. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.

5. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

6. Makes 112 cookies.

** measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder.

The truth is, Nieman Marcus does have awesome chocolate chip cookies. But according to their web site, the story is an urban legend. They even posted their recipe. For your convenience, we've posted it here:

The Real Nieman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

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

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.

You'll notice quite a difference in the two recipes. Of course, if you just want the cookies and you don't live near a Nieman Marcus store, they also offer a tin of them on their web site for $16.