It started a few years ago for me. My obsession with the infamous Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie. Back before Facebook and Twitter were anything but a sorority binder for Rush and a funny noise a bird made- you remember those emails that became Chain Emails? Particularly, the one about the secret recipe for the Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie in which a lady was duped into paying $250 for the recipe? I know I gave that recipe a go, and it came out rather un-exciting. After a few years of experimenting, and finally giving up on achieving perfection, I forgot all about the cookie. Well, the other day I was eating lunch at one of my new favorite spots on the Strip, the NM Cafe inside the Neiman Marcus at the Fashion Show in Las Vegas. And, lo and behold, what did my little eye spy? The cookie! Right there on display in an adorable little Neiman Marcus miniature shopping bag, with none other than the recipe card included in the packaging!

The manager gave me the go ahead to post the recipe on my site, and I’m taking him up on it. In fact, Neiman Marcus loves sharing the cookie recipe for free. Let me tell you, this cookie is delicious. Some people are cupcake fans, other dig pies and brownies. Me? I salivate over cookies. Like really good cookies. I will dole out some pretty impressive dough on a round piece of dough baked to perfection. The Neiman Marcus cookie is no exception. Just take a look at this masterpiece!

My fondness of cookies is credited to my mother, who, in my opinion, makes the best cookies. I’m quite picky when it comes to these sweet little delicacies. They have to have the right quality ingredients, the right amount of sweetness, and the right balance of firmness. I, myself, am not the best baker in the world. My cookies never seem to come out right, which makes me the best critic, right? I might not be able to bake ’em, but I sure can tell you if you have a winner. The Neiman Marcus cookie recipe is a sure winner in my book!

Just in time for the holidays, a cookie recipe to impress your friends and relatives with!

The Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients Call For:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons of 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, shift 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 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 at the edges. Bake a little longer for a crispier cookie. Makes 2 dozen cookies.