This is a beloved American dessert with a rich history rooted in urban legend. According to the tale, a woman dined at Neiman Marcus and, enamored by their cookies, requested the recipe. She was told it would cost "two-fifty," which she assumed meant $2.50. However, her credit card was later charged $250. Feeling deceived, she shared the recipe widely, leading to its widespread popularity. While the tale has been debunked as an urban legend, the cookie itself, packed with oats, chocolate chips, grated Hershey bars, and nuts, became a beloved homemade treat. Its combination of chewy texture and rich, chocolatey crunch makes it one of America’s favorite myth-inspired desserts.
Equipment
- 1 cooky sheet
Ingredients
- 2 cups butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 4 ea eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 4 cups flour
- 5 cups oatmeal (blended)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 24 oz. chocolate chips
- 1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated)
- 3 cups nuts (chopped, walnuts or pecans)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Oatmeal Base
- Blend oatmeal in a blender until it forms a fine powder.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
- Cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
- Beat in eggs and vanilla extract until smooth.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, mix flour, blended oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the creamed mixture until evenly blended.
Step 6: Add Chocolate and Nuts
- Stir in chocolate chips, grated Hershey bar, and chopped nuts.
Step 7: Shape Cookies
- Roll dough into balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.
Step 8: Bake
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 6–10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Step 9: Cool and Serve
- Allow to cool on a wire rack before serving.
Tips
- Substitute half the chocolate chips with white chocolate for a creamy twist.
- Use pecans for a Southern flair or walnuts for more crunch.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking for thicker cookies.
- Swap part of the butter with shortening for a chewier texture.
- Make a smaller batch by halving the recipe.
Transcription of the Original Recipe
Read or copy the transcription
A friend of a friend had Lunch at the Hedges at Neiman's in November. For dessert she had a COOKIE. She thought it was the most wonderful Cookie she had ever tasted and asked if the Recipe were available, She was told that it was, but there was a charge of Two-Fifty. She said that was fine, and she got the Recipe and told them to just charge her account. In December when she got her bill, there was a charge of $250.00. She called and told them there was a mistake - the charge should be $2.50. She was told that there was no mistake - that the charge was correct. She has vowed to get them back and wants to get the Recipe out to EVERYONE. She asks everyone who gets a copy to send it to EVERYONE they know. So, here it is: Neiman's $250.00 Cookie Recipe. 2 cups butter 2 cups sugar 2 cups brown sugar 4 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 cups flour 5 cups blended oatmeal 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons Baking Powder 2 teaspoons Baking Soda 24 oz. chocolate chips one 8-oz. grated Hershey Bar 3 cups chopped nuts. Measure and blend in a blender the Oatmeal to a fine powder. Cream butter and both sugars, add eggs and vanilla.Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add chips, candy and nuts. Roll into balls and place 2" apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 6 minutes at 375°F. Makes 112 COOKIES. Recipe can be halved.
From Transcription to Instructions
We’re glad you’re making these famous cookies with us, you’ve got the original list and a clearer step-by-step version side by side. Ingredient-wise nothing changed except the website names the nuts as walnuts or pecans. The method is essentially the same, but the current instructions break steps into mixing the blended oatmeal, creaming, mixing dry ingredients separately, adding them gradually, a bake time listed as 6–10 minutes instead of just 6, and a cool-on-a-rack step. The 6 vs 6–10 minute bake time is uncertain from the sources.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookieCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 2.5gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.6gMonounsaturated Fat: 2.5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 90mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 120IUCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.7mg
