From Urban Legend to Baking Reality: The Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe

This week we test the internet's first viral recipe, the Neiman Marcus Cookie.
To read more about the cookie see here:
dallas.eater.com/2016/10/26/1...
www.snopes.com/fact-check/nei...
Recipe: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ki6vgk...

[@Omega21487]

Let me preface this by saying that season 1 was great. I watched it, I loved it, and it had a charm all its own. Season 2 though just feels like a quantum leap forward in terms of production value, presentation, personality, and more. You really hit it out of the park Cecil, and I look forward to many more episodes, welcome back. Edit: Also, your house is amazing.

[@sarahmcnabb]

So excited for Season 2! Off to a strong start!

[@adriancrowe2126]

He's back, baby! ❤

[@straylight2]

Excellent start to the new series, and added bonus, who can complain about anything, when the cats also get a staring role, stalking across the kitchen floor! Lovely 😋

[@striderfights]

Welcome back

[@sanschristo]

Coming back strong! This is easily my favorite video yet. I love the whole story, the skepticism aspect, seeing your personality come through more, not to mention the editing style and overall cinematography on this one are just great!

[@enkoid]

And what a return! I see you’ve stepped up your everything. After Effects, cinematography, editing, color grade, VO, and music:👌

[@lisabonnet1794]

I love the coziness of the chat before and after the cooking. And I appreciate that your recipes are simple even though you are so knowledgeable about cooking/baking. Excellent all around!!

[@WILD_HAIR]

I make these all the time! Minus the nuts and with fewer chocolate chips than called for. They are my wife's favorite cookie! Was stoked when I saw this videos title!

[@Quinn-jt6jo]

Another great video, Cecil! I like your incorporation of a little debunking in addition to the baking and your own tweaks to the recipe.

[@danielm.3832]

I really love the intro! It's a great change!

[@peterbeth9495]

I agree on the intro. Cecil has such a great presence that the intro around the table really adds a personable touch. Glad to see you back!!!

[@marciaramirez3791]

Been making these cookies for years as Christmas gifts. After the first year everyone I gave them to the previous year asked for them again, it's become a tradition that I've had to get my daughter involved to help me meet the demand as recipients kids and grand kids expect their 2 dozen at Christmas as well as my family members. The absolute best chocolate chip cookie ever.

[@emperorzarkov]

This recipe looks great. Will definitely be trying it in the future.

[@CleverUsernameHaver]

I‘ve watched since Season 1. I appreciated the feel of the show from the start. It felt like a classic cooking show on PBS: cozy, informative, endearing. Season 2 feels like a big leap forward, production-wise, but it hasn’t lost the vibe that I loved from the first season. I’m really looking forward to seeing what else is in store for the channel. Also, this vid was great! I remember running into this recipe in the wild, so it’s so much fun to see it revisited. The revised recipe sounds like something I’d absolutely try.

[@mamasaidsew4843]

I am old enough that I got this via email in the late 90s. I was a newlywed and made them for my husband and he absolutely loved them. I lost the recipe but found it again about 20 years later and he says they don't taste the same. I am going to try it again with your changes and see if he likes this version. Thanks for sharing.

[@lymb3914]

I remember when this story was circulating; the version I initially heard was about an older gentleman rather than a mother and daughter, but such was the telephone-game-esque way those early chain emails tended to be Also, really like the new format, looking forward to seeing more!

[@MatthewRobinson]

Love the changes, love the channel! Can't wait for the next one.

[@ejpw]

I'm digging the new music!

[@rehamkcirtap]

That is quite the leap in production! A always, very informative. I always learn at least several things from your stuff.

[@carolbythesea]

If you want to do a mini series on department stores’ famous cookies; please do Marshall Field’s famous chocolate chip cookie. Growing up in Chicago, it was a tradition to buy those cookies whenever we were downtown.

[@DavidRodriguezJr]

I really like this new format

[@Bziegenhagen]

Sounds like a solid cookie. Oats really add a lot. I do a pumpkin spice chocolate chip with Oatmeal. My cheat for salt is just sprinkling a little coarse kosher on top before baking. I find you can get that balance using a little less salt that way. Nicely done!

[@SeasonLiberally]

Pumpkin spice oatmeal? You have my attention!

[@keithdavies6771]

My wife is the baker in our house. I shared this with her. It's funny, that I'm precise in building, measurements, math, and I cook by eye and taste. She's an artist that makes wild stuff. But Baking she's precise, and I am not. Our son is also turning out to be a good baker.

[@Cyanmoon1]

This is so funny! I don't know where I came across _my_ Nieman Marcus cookie recipe, but it's a bit different from this one: Mine includes walnuts instead of pecans and about half a cup of melted chocolate instead of grated. Additionally, the wet:dry ratio leaves the dough so thick as to be unmixable except by pseudo-kneading by hand. Regardless, they come out chewy, more brown/chocolate-looking than the ones in your video, and absolutely the best things I've ever tasted. I never believed the far-fetched story but tried them because they sounded delicious. They've become the favourite cookie of literally everyone in my life.

[@SeasonLiberally]

Interesting!

[@blazeblue9995]

Welcome back Cecil!

[@chrystals.4376]

I swear the Urban Legend about expensive Cookie recipes has been around before the 90s.

[@SeasonLiberally]

It is. From the the article linked in the description: "Neiman Marcus traces the origins of the myth to a similar story that dates back to 1949 involving the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City."

[@chrystals.4376]

@@SeasonLiberally Figures, I heard about it first in the 80s, but I forgot which business was alleged in it, maybe Nordstrom.

[@XXXVerve]

As a beta tester for these cookies, I approve of this video. Love the new design and production upgrades.

[@Lykaon22]

Really glad you're back doing videos, Cecil. Have you tried the recipe that was going around Reddit for a while a few years ago that someone's Grandmother called "best damn cookies" or something like that. I guess they printed up the handwritten recipe and gave it to everyone at her funeral, or the story goes.

[@SeasonLiberally]

Oh I hadn't heard of that I will make a note to search for it!

[@SeasonLiberally]

This one? www.reddit.com/r/Old_Recipes/comments/karywh/while_im_on_a_roll_this_is_my_husbands_grandmas/

[@Lykaon22]

@@SeasonLiberally thats the one

[@seanahoneywell2821]

These are my favorite cookies. I can never be bothered to buy a Hershey bar so I always add 2 ounces of chocolate chips to the rolled oats before blending them. :) I will definitely try adding extra salt next time I make them.

[@user-mk3dx1rb6z]

So glad you’re back!!!

[@randomfpv22]

Yes!!!!!!!!! More cecil!!!!! I love it!!!!

[@carolbythesea]

First time watching this channel. I liked the video. After reading the comments, there seems to be an affectionate fan group out there. I’ll keeping watching and I’ll try the Cookie. Greetings from Santa Barbara.

[@SeasonLiberally]

Thanks for watching!

[@Achern4r]

WHY ARE YOU SO UNDERRATED?????? 😭😭😭

[@BryantMoeller]

Like this new format

[@MrReichennek]

Great first video back. less rambling, nicer transitions and less formal feeling in a good way.

[@robertdavidtingstrom118]

Kitty 🐈‍⬛!!! Pick up the kitty 🐈‍⬛! 😂

[@peterbeth9495]

One small comment, if I make a batch and leave it around the house I won’t have to worry about it lasting more than a couple days. That would be bad for the waistline. Instead I’m going to bring them to work with a note about Season Liberally on KZbin.

[@beet10]

Brilliant

[@SeasonLiberally]

I always bring them to a friends house! leave them somewhere with people you like and don't look back.

[@dredpirat3574]

Excited to make cookies! Please bring back the old intro song. Too iconic to get rid of!

[@SeasonLiberally]

I was having problems with that track. They kept on copyright striking my videos even though I paid for the track so I had to do extra work to get them to release it. I just gave up and found a new song.

[@ve2vfd]

Darn it! Now I have a craving for cookies! :)

[@SeasonLiberally]

I do too! They don't last long.

[@user-mg9ud2vp8s]

I need the recipe

[@helenrasmussen3157]

It’s a story like any other story.

[@N0mad1600]

I would have the salt and add some bacon grease

[@Godzilla_Jesus]

Great idea adding the intro, the extra graphics, etc. At 7:02 you make a familiar noise as you sit... If you're looking for any feedback, some background music would round things out and clean up the room reverb a ton. Also, my wife (talented baker) says "tell him not to grind/process the oats, my Grandma's recipe for virtually the same cookie uses whole oats. Also walnuts, but they had a walnut farm. Pecans are fine".

[@SeasonLiberally]

The recipe I had called for blending the oats until they are fine. I followed it. Thanks for the suggestions.

[@ejpw]

Yay!!!

[@johnlangston4108]

8:14 Kitty!!

[@bradleyl00]

So when are we getting a Season Liberally "Join" button? I'm ready for you to take my money since you're jobless :) Joking about the job, not about supporting the channel. Since you are a fulltime content creator, I want to show support.

[@angieherrera5623]

Kindly make it short your intro, it takes too long to wait

[@khatmandy]

Making cookie dough in a stand mixer seems a little blasphemous.

[@MatthewKrevat]

A little blasphemy is good for the "soul"

[@SeasonLiberally]

There isn't a better device to cream butter and sugar. What would you use?

[@khatmandy]

You're the expert and I trust your training, but generation-to-generation we make cookies in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.