Neiman Marcus Cookies
These Neiman Marcus Cookies are rich, chewy, and packed with everything you want in a truly indulgent homemade cookie. A combination of finely processed oats, buttery brown sugar cookie dough, chocolate chips, grated chocolate, and crunchy nuts gives these cookies an incredible texture and plenty of chocolate flavor in every bite.
Unlike a basic chocolate chip cookie, this recipe uses a generous amount of oats and nuts, giving the cookies a satisfying chew and slightly hearty texture while still keeping them wonderfully soft in the center. The grated chocolate bar melts into the dough as the cookies bake, adding even more chocolate flavor.
They’re perfect for cookie exchanges, bake sales, holiday dessert trays, family gatherings, afternoon snacks, or simply enjoying warm with a cold glass of milk.
Why Everyone Loves Neiman Marcus Cookies
- Loaded with chocolate: Chocolate chips and grated chocolate create plenty of chocolate flavor in every bite.
- Chewy and satisfying: Finely processed oats give these cookies a deliciously chewy texture.
- Rich and buttery: Two cups of softened butter create a tender, flavorful cookie.
- Packed with nuts: Three cups of nuts add crunch and contrast to the soft cookie dough.
- Great for sharing: This recipe makes a large batch, making it ideal for parties and gatherings.
- Easy to prepare: Despite the impressive flavor, the cookie dough comes together with straightforward ingredients and simple steps.
Ingredients Overview
- Oats – Add chewiness and texture to the cookies. Processing them into a coarse powder helps incorporate them smoothly into the dough.
- All-purpose flour – Provides structure and helps the cookies hold their shape.
- Baking soda – Helps the cookies spread and brown while contributing to a lighter texture.
- Baking powder – Provides additional lift for the cookie dough.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate and buttery flavors.
- Butter – Provides richness and creates a tender, flavorful cookie.
- Granulated sugar – Adds sweetness and contributes to the cookies’ texture.
- Brown sugar – Adds moisture, chewiness, and a deeper caramel-like flavor.
- Eggs – Bind the ingredients together and provide structure.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the buttery and chocolate flavors.
- Chocolate chips – Provide pockets of melted chocolate throughout the cookies.
- Grated chocolate bar – Adds extra chocolate flavor that melts into the cookie dough as it bakes.
- Nuts – Add a satisfying crunch and complement the chocolate beautifully.
Variations
- Chocolate Chunk Cookies – Replace some of the chocolate chips with chopped chocolate for larger pockets of melted chocolate.
- Walnut Cookies – Use chopped walnuts for a classic combination of chocolate, oats, and nuts.
- Pecan Chocolate Cookies – Substitute pecans for the nuts for a buttery, slightly sweet crunch.
- Dark Chocolate Cookies – Use dark chocolate chips and a dark chocolate bar for a richer chocolate flavor.
- Extra Chocolate Cookies – Add a little more chocolate chips if you want the cookies to be especially chocolate-packed.
- Nut-Free Cookies – Leave out the nuts and replace them with additional chocolate chips if desired.
How to Make Neiman Marcus Cookies
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Prepare your cookie sheets so they’re ready when the dough is mixed.
2. Process the Oats
Place the oats into a food processor or blender.
Pulse them until they become a coarse powder. Avoid processing them into an ultra-fine flour because a little texture from the oats helps give these cookies their characteristic chew.
Transfer the processed oats to a large bowl.
3. Combine the Dry Ingredients
Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to the processed oats.
Sift or whisk everything together until the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
Set the bowl aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.
4. Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar.
Beat with an electric mixer for approximately 5–7 minutes, until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
Properly creaming the butter and sugars helps create a better texture in the finished cookies.
5. Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.
Then add the vanilla extract.
Beat briefly after each addition until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
6. Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the oat and flour mixture to the butter mixture.
Mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
Avoid overmixing once the flour has been added, as excessive mixing can make the cookies less tender.
7. Add the Chocolate and Nuts
Add the chocolate chips, grated chocolate bar, and chopped nuts.
Use a rubber spatula to gently fold everything into the dough until evenly distributed.
Try not to overwork the dough during this step.
8. Shape the Cookies
Roll the dough into approximately 1-inch balls.
Place them onto a cookie sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow them to spread during baking.
9. Bake the Cookies
Place the cookie sheet into the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
Be careful not to overbake them. The centers may still look slightly soft when you remove them from the oven, but they will continue setting as they cool.
10. Cool and Serve
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for approximately 10 minutes.
This gives the cookies time to firm up while remaining soft and chewy inside.
Serve them warm with a glass of cold milk for the classic combination.
Pro Tips and Cooking Secrets
Use softened butter. Room-temperature butter creams much more effectively with the sugars, helping create a lighter and better-textured cookie dough.
Don’t over-process the oats. Pulse them into a coarse powder rather than turning them completely into a fine flour. The texture helps make these cookies distinctive.
Don’t overmix after adding flour. Mix only until the dry ingredients disappear, then gently fold in the chocolate and nuts to keep the cookies tender.
Watch the baking time carefully. Ten minutes is enough to produce lightly golden cookies while keeping the centers soft. They will continue to firm up as they cool on the baking sheet.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with a cold glass of milk for a classic cookie-and-milk combination.
- Add the cookies to a holiday or dessert platter alongside brownies and other homemade treats.
- Serve with coffee or tea for an afternoon snack.
- Warm individual cookies briefly before serving for extra-soft centers and melted chocolate.
How to Store Neiman Marcus Cookies
Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing them.
Place them in an airtight container at room temperature. Keeping them properly covered helps prevent them from drying out and keeps the texture soft and chewy.
For longer storage, the baked cookies can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container.
Can You Freeze Neiman Marcus Cookie Dough?
Yes. Shape the cookie dough into individual balls and arrange them on a baking sheet.
Freeze until firm, then transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container.
When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen dough balls onto a cookie sheet and bake, adding a little extra baking time as needed.
Make-Ahead Tips
The cookie dough can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated until you’re ready to bake.
If the dough becomes very firm after chilling, allow it to sit at room temperature briefly before shaping.
For the freshest cookies, bake them shortly before serving.
Neiman Marcus Cookies FAQs
Why do I need to process the oats?
Processing the oats into a coarse powder makes them easier to incorporate into the dough while still retaining some texture. This contributes to the chewy texture of the cookies.
Can I use different nuts?
Yes. Walnuts and pecans are particularly good choices, but you can use your preferred chopped nuts.
Can I use only chocolate chips instead of grated chocolate?
Yes. The recipe specifically includes both chocolate chips and a grated chocolate bar, but you can adapt the chocolate according to what you have available. Using both provides different types of chocolate throughout the cookies.
Why are my cookies spreading too much?
Make sure the butter is softened rather than melted. Also, avoid placing the dough on a hot baking sheet, as this can cause the butter to melt too quickly.
Can I make smaller cookies?
Yes. You can make smaller dough balls, but reduce the baking time and begin checking them earlier so they don’t overbake.
How do I keep the cookies soft?
Avoid overbaking them. Removing the cookies when the edges are lightly golden while the centers are still slightly soft helps maintain a chewy texture as they cool.
Neiman Marcus Cookies (Easy Recipe)
Equipment
- Food Processor or Blender
- large bowl
- electric mixer
- rubber spatula
- cookie sheet
Ingredients
- 5 cups steel-cut or whole oats
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 24 ounces chocolate chips
- 1 8-ounce bar Hershey’s Bar, grated
- 3 cups nuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place oats in a food processor or blender and blitz to a coarse powder. Place in a large bowl and sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, add softened butter and granulated and brown sugars. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the eggs, 1 by 1, followed by the vanilla. Beat for 10-15 seconds after every addition.
- Gradually pour the dry ingredients and beat just until well-combined. Gently mix in the chocolate chips, grated chocolate bar, and nuts with a rubber spatula.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Serve warm with a glass of milk. Enjoy!
