Guest Author - Jenny Derden

There is a myth that has floated around the Internet for years about the Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. The myth boasts that a woman was having coffee and cookies in the bakery/sandwich shop at Neimans in downtown Dallas. She asked the chef for the recipe of the delicious cookies. After handing her the recipe, he handed her a bill for $250.00 for his exclusive cookie recipe. The story says she paid the bill, but went right out and put it on the Internet for the world to see. Ok...the myth is totally false. Neiman Marcus does not sell their cookie recipe. In fact, they hope you copy it, print it and by all means make cookies with it.
Below is that recipe, taken straight from Neimans, with their blessing!

Ingredients
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


Directions

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.
   
Yield:   2 dozen cookies