Neiman Marcus Cookies

December 4: National Cookie Day

It is very rare that we eat at fancy-shmancy places like Mariposa, an upscale café in Neiman Marcus department stores for the rich to rest after a shopping spree. Islander earned a gift card for a freelance project she did with a well-off generous friend, so we spent it at Mariposa in the Galleria mall in Houston, Texas. The other time was when Islander’s former boss treated her to an appreciation lunch at Mariposa in Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

We have heard of the urban legend associated with the cookies (debunked on Snopes.com). Yet she was excited when her boss ordered them for dessert after such a luxurious lunch. We were too full to eat all the cookies in the presentation box but her boss let her take home the rest so Highlander could taste them, too. 

The cookies are just another delicious chocolate chip version—made exotic with the story behind them and a marketing strategy genius. We made and shared them with family and friends who enjoyed the cookies as well as the legend. Box them up really pretty and give them away on National Cookie Day or as holiday treats with a tale!

Recipe
(Adapted from Neiman Marcus)

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons granulated white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla 
  • 1 3/4 cups flour, all purpose
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown and white sugars, egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and beat until well blended. Sprinkle the espresso powder and continue to mix well. Fold in the chocolate chips. Scoop around 2 tablespoons of dough onto a parchment paper- or greased foil-lined baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. 

Press down to flatten slightly with the base of the hand. Bake in a preheated oven at 300 degrees F for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Stack between small cut squares of wax or parchment paper to prevent the chocolate chips from sticking to the other cookie. Store in airtight containers. 

Notes

  • Islander kept the black box embossed with the Neiman Marcus logo for the final food photo above. It held four cookies from the Mariposa restaurant—and the price was still probably more than enough to cover the entire ingredient list to make these cookies at home. Her other baking friend calls these Neiman MarkUP cookies! 
  • For another rich cookie inspired by a luxury brand, try our Tiffany blue macarons.