THE Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie

How do we start the new year off on the right foot? Chocolate chip cookies, of course!
Is there another way???

For ages, the urban legend of the $250 Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookie recipe has been circulating. The story goes that a woman was charged $250 for the cookie recipe in their cafe. The woman (to get revenge for the high price) spreads the cookie recipe far and wide. The funny thing is, the recipe that accompanies this story is NOT the Neiman Marcus cookie recipe at all! They publish the recipe (and encourage sharing it) right on their website.

{If you're going to eat the cookie dough like I did, you might want to check out this post on pasteurized eggs...it's new at Pioneer Woman Food & Friends.}

I have a fondness for Neiman Marcus...despite the fact that the only purchases I've ever made there are chocolate-covered potato chips. ;) Don't laugh. When we lived in Dallas, I'd buy them every Christmas. SO. GOOD. I'd buy the potato chips and then walk slowly past the shoe section, gently petting the shoes on the aisle. A girl can dream. Anyway! Neiman Marcus stores are beautiful, their Christmas Book (catalog) is a thing to behold, and they're from Texas, y'all.

The recipe makes soft, buttery cookies with a kick of coffee. They're made with espresso powder. You CAN taste the coffee in these...not like when you add coffee to a chocolate cake to boost the chocolate flavor...these cookies have a definite coffee zing. You won't be hit over the head with coffee, but it's there.

THE Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie
{makes about 18, recipe from NM, method slightly modified}

1/2 cup salted butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3 TB granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder
1 1/2 cups bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (I used bittersweet.)

Preheat oven to 300. Line cookie sheets with parchment.

Cream the butter and sugars together until well-combined and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.

Sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix on low speed just until combined. Add in the espresso powder and chocolate chips. Beat just a few seconds more until incorporated.

Use a 2-tablespoon scoop to dollop the dough onto the prepared sheets, about 6 cookies per sheet. Press the dough gently to flatten the tops. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden. Remove from the oven and let the cookies stand on the sheet for 1-2 minutes, then remove to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

*post contains amazon affiliate links. thank you!*

A year that starts with chocolate chip cookies? It's destined to be a good one.