So, for Mother’s Day, my husband gave me the world’s greatest cookie jar. It’s R2D2. And not a new R2D2, but a 1977 stamped-bottom, real deal, ceramic R2D2. Not only do I feel R2D2 was the bravest of souls in the Star Wars universe, but ceramics hold a very special place in my heart. My Mammaw, Lola Ruth Martin, who just passed away a few weeks ago, owned a ceramic shop (The Lemon Tree) and was a brilliant artist. I cannot imagine a more fitting gift for my first Mother’s Day without the woman I learned so much about motherhood from.
In short, it was a tall order to come up with the perfect cookie recipe to christen this little beauty. But Davis and I finally settled on a recipe that’s not my own, but it’s my absolute favorite. The Neiman Marcus Cookie.
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder
- 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract.
In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture. Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.
Drop massive, heaping tablespoons of cookie dough onto a parchment-covered cookie sheet. Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2-inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges.
I take mine out a little earlier, when the cookie is still gooey in the center for a cookie that’s crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside.
Enjoy and Happy Mother’s Day!
A Magnolia's Culinary Chronicles 