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    The $250 Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe

    Desserts Holiday Cuisine November 28, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 55 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    This is the AUTHENTIC recipe for the famous Neiman Marcus Cookies! These cookies are made with 3 types of chocolate, blended oats, and blended walnuts for s the BEST version of a chocolate chip cookie EVER! It is a must have Christmas cookie--but is perfect all year long!

    Made with ground oats, blended nuts, and 3 kinds of chocolate, Neiman Marcus Cookies are worth every penny of their legendary price tag!

    Neiman Marcus Cookie Being broken apart showing chocolate oozing out.


    The Legend Behind Neiman Marcus Cookies

    Have you heard the legend about the Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe?

    The story goes that a woman at a famous department store begged for a recipe for a baked good she had eaten at their cafe, only to receive a bill in the vicinity of $250. She expressed her anger for this rather large bill by sharing the recipe with anybody and everybody.

    Is the legend true? Maybe, maybe not. But after one bite of these cookies, you will believe they are worth their price.

    Reasons to Love This Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe

    • Unbelievable Flavor and Texture. Made with a combination of blended oats, blended nuts, and more chocolate than should be legal, these Neiman Marcus Cookies are soft, yet a bit chewy, and every bite oozes with chocolate. And the walnuts give the cookies an earthy, nutty taste, yet are blended to keep the cookie soft. They are absolutely perfect.
    • Crowd-Pleasing Cookie Recipe. Neiman Marcus Cookies are my all-time favorite cookie recipe and everyone I serve them to, LOVES them!
    • Holiday Worthy. While these cookies deserve to be enjoyed year-round, they also are a favorite Christmas cookie recipe.
    • Make-Ahead Friendly. You make the dough a couple of days in advance or freeze the cookie dough to enjoy warm Neiman Marcus Cookies when the craving strikes.
    • Free to You! Unlike the woman behind the legend, you won't receive an invoice after baking these delicious cookies.

    Notes on Ingredients

    Ingredients for Neiman Marcus Cookies labeled on white counter.
    • Butter: Use unsalted butter to control the sodium in the cookies.
    • Flour: Use all-purpose flour for best results.
    • Oats: Use rolled old-fashioned or quick-cook oats, not steel-cut oats.
    • Sugar: This cookie recipe uses both granulated and brown sugar. Either dark or light brown sugar works for this recipe.
    • Walnuts: This recipe works best with walnuts, not any other variety of nuts.
    • Chocolate: Not one, not two, use 3 kinds of chocolate! A combination of dark chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and grated milk chocolate is used to give these Neiman Marcus Cookies the best flavor.

    Tips for Making Neiman Marcus Cookies

    The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    • Use room-temperature butter. You can tell your butter is soft enough if you can press gently on the butter and your fingertips leave an indent, but it should not be melted. This will help the butter will cream evenly into your cookie dough and result in a lighter, fluffier cookie.
    • Measure the oats and nuts AFTER blending them. This recipe calls for blended oats and blended nuts, which helps to give the cookie its nutty flavor, yet retain a softer texture. But because baking is a science, be sure to process the oats and nuts after blending to ensure your measurements are correct.
    • Grate the chocolate bar. Using a combination of grated chocolate and chocolate chips ensures every bite of the cookie features chocolate.
    • Add the chocolate to the dry ingredients rather than folding them into the batter at the end. This will coat the chocolate in the flour mixture, which will help to keep the chocolate suspended throughout the cookie batter, instead of sinking to the bottom of the cookie.
    • Don't overmix the cookie dough. Once you add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and sugar, mix just until the flour is fully moistened. This will keep your cookies tender.
    • Chill before baking. Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes. This helps the butter get cold again, which will help prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
    • Use a cookie scoop. This will keep each cookie the same size, ensuring they bake evenly.
    • Be careful to not overbake. Bake until the edges of the cookies are just set and beginning to brown, yet the center is still soft. The Neiman Marcus cookies will harden a bit more as they cool, so you want them to be JUST set.
    Baked Neiman Marcus Cookies on cookie sheet.

    Storing Neiman Marcus Cookies

    • Room Temperature: Bake and cool the cookies completely. Transfer the cooled baked cookies to an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
    • Refrigerate: Bake and cool the cookies completely. Transfer the cooled baked cookies to an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
    • Freeze: Bake as directed and cool the cookies completely. Freeze the cooled, baked cookies for up to 1 month in an airtight container. Defrost on the counter for a few hours or in the refrigerator overnight and then enjoy.

    How to Freeze Neiman Marcus Cookie Dough

    I love having frozen Neiman Marcus Cookie dough on hand so that I can bake warm cookies to enjoy whenever the craving strikes.

    • Prepare the Neiman Marcus Cookie dough as directed up to chilling.
    • Instead of chilling the cookie dough, immediately roll the dough into balls and place them onto a rimmed cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
    • Place the tray into the freezer and freeze for 1 hour, or until solid.
    • Transfer the frozen cookie dough balls to a freezer-safe storage bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
    • When ready to enjoy, place frozen cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, 2 inches apart, and bake at 375 degrees F for 8-11 minutes.

    More Favorite Cookie Recipes

    • Cut Out Sugar Cookies
    • Snickerdoodle Cookies
    • Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
    • Shortbread Cookies
    • Peanut Butter Blossoms

    If you tried this recipe for Neiman Marcus Cookies, I would love for you to leave a review below.

    Cookie being broken open to show filled with chocolate.

    The $250 Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe

    Made with ground oats, blended nuts, and 3 kinds of chocolate, Neiman Marcus Cookies are worth every penny of their legendary price tag!
    4.85 from 20 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes
    Chilling: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 51 minutes minutes
    Servings: 72 cookies
    Calories: 122kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 3½ cups rolled oats (for exactly 2½ blended oats)
    • 2½ cups walnuts (for exactly 1½ cups walnuts
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon table salt
    • 6 oz dark chocolate chips
    • 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 4 oz milk chocolate candy bar grated
    • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup light brown sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Prepare the blended oats, by placing 3½ cups of rolled oats into a food processor and blender and process until the oats reach the consistency of flour. Measure 2 ½ cups of the blended oats and place them in a large mixing bowl.
      Oats in small blender being blended.
    • Prepare the blended nuts, by placing 2½ cups of nuts in a blender or food processor. Pulse the nuts until broken down into very small pieces, being careful to not overprocess. Measure 1½ cups of the blended nuts and place them in the same bowl as the oats.
    • Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the oats and nuts and mix until well combined. Add the chocolate chips and grated chocolate bar and toss with the dry ingredients to lightly coat with flour. Set this mixture aside.
      Flour, oats, nuts, and chocolate combined together in a large mixing bowl.
    • In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter with the granulated and brown sugar together until fluffy and light in color, about 7-8 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.
      Creamed eggs, butter, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
    • Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and fold together until the flour is fully moistened and just combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 48 hours.
      Neiman Marcus Cookie Dough in large bowl.
    • When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 375℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Use a medium cookie scoop or 1½ tablespoons for each cookie and then gently roll into even balls. Place the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
      9 rolled cookie dough balls on a parchment lined baking sheet.
    • Bake the cookies for 6-7 minutes, until the edges are lightly brown and the centers are just a bit soft.
      Baked Neiman Marcus Cookies on baking sheet.
    • Cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for a minute or two before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    Equipment Needed

    • Cookie Sheet
    • medium cookie scoop

    Notes

    Oats: Either quick cook or old-fashioned rolled oats, not steel-cut oats. 
    Grated Chocolate: To grate your chocolate, use a hand grater, box grater, or food processor and grate the chocolate bar into small shreds. It works best if your chocolate bar is cold before grating.
    Chilling Cookie Dough: Do not skip the step of refrigerating the dough for at least 30 minutes to keep the cookies from spreading too much. You can bake the cookies after 30 minutes or store the dough in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours before baking. If you find that your dough is too hard to scoop after chilling, let it set out at room temperature for 10 minutes, this can happen when chilled longer than a few hours. 
    Storing Cookies: Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They will also last in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. 
    Freezing Cookie Dough: Prepare the recipe as directed. Once the cookies have been rolled into balls, place them onto a rimmed cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Freeze for 1 hour, or until solid. Transfer the balls to a freezer-safe storage bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes directly from the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

    This post was originally published in 2016 but was updated in November 2020 and 2023 with new pictures, tips, and a video. 

    « Reindeer Cookies
    Oatmeal Raisin Cookies »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. CRoberts

      April 19, 2019 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      9 minutes, 350 degrees, 1 1/2 inch cookie scoop...... Perfect! Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 19, 2019 at 4:29 pm

        Wahoo!! So glad you enjoyed these cookies as much as we do.

        Reply
    2. Catherine

      December 03, 2015 at 7:16 am

      Dear Kristen, I love your tips for making these cookies...they sound fantastic. I love loaded chocolate chip cookies! Send some extra my way please! xo, Catherine

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 03, 2015 at 9:14 am

        Coming right up!

        Reply
    3. Holly

      December 20, 2014 at 10:59 pm

      I have never heard of the $250 cookie, or any baked good. But, these look delish! Thank you for linking up with the Online Christmas Cookie Exchange. I have pinned this to the group board.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 29, 2015 at 10:14 am

        You bet!

        Reply
    4. Erin @ The Speckled Palate

      December 13, 2014 at 8:04 am

      I'm officially drooling over these beautiful cookies, and I love the story behind them. I also love how you break down exactly what you're supposed to do in this post because I think blended oatmeal and nuts would throw me off... And that's a great tip to get butter to room temperature without using the microwave!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 13, 2014 at 9:22 am

        Thanks Erin!

        I am glad the tips helped! I hope you enjoy these. I may go have one for a morning snack!

        Reply
    5. Melissa

      December 11, 2014 at 4:25 pm

      All I can say is - thank goodness this recipe makes 6 dozen cookies. All my cookie exchanges seem to be calling for 4 dozen cookies this year, so this way I'll have plenty of these cookies FOR MYSELF. And thanks for the super-helpful tips! I never would have figured out how to do the blended oatmeal thing on my own.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 11, 2014 at 4:44 pm

        So happy to help!

        And yes, at the holidays, we need more than just 2 dozen cookies 🙂 Enjoy!!

        Reply
    6. Kimberly

      December 08, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      This looks so perfect! I wish I could take a bite right now! Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for being a part of our party. I hope to see you on tonight at 7 pm. It wouldn’t be a party without you!
      Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 08, 2014 at 7:13 pm

        Thanks Kimberly. I was had a day today so I am actually sitting here catching up on DVR, emails and eating some. Pure therapy!!

        Reply
    7. Jamie | Jamie's Recipes

      December 08, 2014 at 9:52 am

      These cookies sound wonderful! I love having frozen cookie dough on hand too. It is saved me so many times when unexpected guests have popped by.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 08, 2014 at 10:28 am

        The frozen cookie dough can help cut down on Holiday Stress levels as well!!

        Reply
    8. Tammy @ TOTS Family

      December 07, 2014 at 11:48 pm

      They sound so good! I love homemade cookies. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! I’ve pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.

      Reply
    9. Miz Helen

      December 06, 2014 at 6:43 pm

      5 stars
      These cookies look delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you have a great weekend and come back soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    10. Cathy

      December 05, 2014 at 8:57 am

      The more things in cookies, the better! These look so good, I would definitely eat more than one! 🙂 Hope thsat you are having a great week! All month long I am featuring different holiday cookie creations for my cookie countdown to Christmas! I would love it if you stopped by to check it out! 🙂
      Cathy

      Reply
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    This is the AUTHENTIC recipe for the famous Neiman Marcus Cookies! These cookies are made with 3 types of chocolate, blended oats, and blended walnuts for s the BEST version of a chocolate chip cookie EVER! It is a must have Christmas cookie--but is perfect all year long!

    Meet Kristen

    Kristen Chidsey with apron on in front of vegetables in kitchen.

    Hi! I'm Kristen. It is my honor and passion to share easy, wholesome recipes with you to in turn share your loved ones. These tried and true recipes will help you make delicious, family-friendly meals without stress! Read more

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    This is the AUTHENTIC recipe for the famous Neiman Marcus Cookies! These cookies are made with 3 types of chocolate, blended oats, and blended walnuts for s the BEST version of a chocolate chip cookie EVER! It is a must have Christmas cookie--but is perfect all year long!

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