The internet revealed its full potential to me many years ago when this recipe arrived in my inbox. The title of the email read “$250.00 cookie recipe” or something similar and the body of the email told the story of a mother and daughter who had enjoyed a cookie at Neiman Marcus.
The cookie must have been delicious as the mother asked for the recipe and was told that it would cost “two fifty.” Only later, upon receipt of that credit card bill in the mail, did she realize that she was charged two hundred and fifty dollars for the recipe. Seeking justice, she promptly typed up the recipe, emailed it to all of her friends, and instructed everyone to get back at Neiman Marcus by forwarding this pricey cookie recipe to everyone they knew.
A classic email forward, but instead of puppies with inspirational messages or instructions about how to avoid being held-up at gunpoint at the mall, this little email actually contained a darn good recipe.
Being in middle school at the time and having a monthly allowance that didn’t hold a candle to $250.00, I automatically jumped to the conclusion that these must be the most delicious cookies ever. (Full disclosure: Despite my frugal tendencies I’ve always been a bit swayed by big price tags).
And from what I remembered they were. The recipe made a huge batch, but the cookies disappeared quickly and I made them multiple times always telling the story to the recipient so they would understand the value of the cookies they were getting free.
Over Christmas I stumbled across the computer print-out with the recipe and became intrigued. Would the $250.00 cookie recipe still taste just as good over 15 years later?
I have to admit that I almost didn’t make the cookies. A Google search and a quick trip to the internet truth-teller Snopes resulted in the earth-shattering discovery that the email was a hoax and that no one ever paid $250.00 for the recipe. Should I have expected this? Probably. But it still led to my faith in the recipe being a little shaken.
Fortunately I gave it another chance. And I’m glad I did. With nuts, chocolate and oatmeal these cookies are worth every penny.
Makes 5 dozen cookies (the recipe can be doubled)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats, processed in a food processor
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 ounces Hershey chocolate bar, grated
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (or another nut)
Cream the butter and both sugars. Add the eggs and vanilla.
In a small bowl, mix together the flour, processed oats, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, Hershey bar, and nuts.
Roll the dough into balls (about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter) and place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes or until just set.
Remove from the oven and cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Enjoy with a big glass of milk.
Minced 
Nikki, I am copying the Nieman recipe. Glad that you cleared Neiman’s name. I do not think that ever made them but will do them soon. Be fun to share in The Home! Love to you and North, Grannie1
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Thank you for sharing! I made these last night for a little get-together and they were gone by the end of the night! Amazing 🙂
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Thanks for your comment and I’m so glad the cookies were popular. They are ridiculously good cookies!
Happy cooking!
Nikki
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I have made this recipe for years, I do mean years. They are soooo goooood, and yes the receipe does make a huge amount. I have recently changed up the recipe a bit. I used white chocolate chips…just put them in the food processor and you will get something similar to the grated chocolate bar. Anyway, use white chocolate chips, walnuts, and dried cranberries. Mix the recipe as written just change these few ingredients. Bake as usual, wow another wonderful cookie!!!
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