The black and white. Who doesn’t love it? It’s one of the first things Kramer and I have to get when we go to New York. And who could ever forget that episode of Seinfeld? Look to the cookie, Elaine. Look to the cookie. I was excited to make these because of that specific episode (I’m a big Seinfeld fan). These were the perfect consistency and the frosting dried nicely; it wasn’t too hard nor too runny and soft. Black and white cookies are generally more cake-like than traditional cookie, and it makes them a special treat. I think I would definitely use almond extract next time instead of using lemon juice, but other than that, these were a huge hit and reminded me of being in New York. I can’t wait to make them again! Recipe after the jump.
The ingredients for the cookies.
Combine your flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
If you don’t have buttermilk (like me), just put 1 tablespoon of vinegar in a measuring cup and fill it with milk to the 1 cup point and let sit for five minutes.
Beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy (at least 3-5 minutes).
Beat in the egg and vanilla.
Then beat in the flour and buttermilk alternatively, starting and ending with the flour.
Line and/or grease a baking sheet and scoop a little less than 1/4 cup of dough onto the sheets. Try to flatten them a bit as they will puff up considerably. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 17 minutes. You can make these smaller if you like, but mind the baking time.
While the cookies bake, make the icing.
Beat or whisk together the confectioners sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl until smooth. Transfer half of icing to another bowl and stir in cocoa for your chocolate icing.
When the cookies have cooled completely, frost half of the flat bottoms of the cookies with the vanilla icing.
And finish up the other half with the chocolate.
Enjoy these as they won’t last long!
- 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup well-shaken buttermilk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2¼ cups confectioners sugar
- 1½ tablespoons light corn syrup
- 3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (I would also recommend using ½ to 1 teaspoon of almond extract instead of the lemon juice)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 to 3 tablespoons water
- ⅓ cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Beat together the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes, then add in the vanilla and the egg, beating until combined well.
- Mix in flour mixture and buttermilk mixture alternately in batches at low speed (scraping down side of bowl occasionally), beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until smooth.
- Spoon a bit less than ¼ cup of batter about 2 inches apart onto a greased and/or lined baking sheet (make sure that they aren't too rounded because they puff up quite a bit).
- Bake until the tops are puffed and pale golden, and cookies spring back when touched; about 15 to 17 minutes. Allow to cool completely before icing. Makes about 8 large cookies, or 16 if you decide to make smaller cookies (I doubled the recipe).
- Whisk or beat together the confectioners sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl until smooth.
- Transfer half of icing to another bowl and stir in cocoa, adding more water, ½ teaspoon at a time, to thin to same consistency as white icing.
- Turn cookies flat sides up, then spread white icing over half of each and chocolate over other half.
OMG I love black and white cookies! Every recipe I’ve seen (ok, only the one in Gourmet Magazine 2 or 3 years ago) has seemed super complicated, but these look manageable! Thanks!
ughhh. my favorite. sooo good.
Oh, this certainly brings back good memories of Seinfeld
Definitely bookmarked!
I have not made black and white cookies since before I started my blog. It looks like it it time to whip up a batch. Yours looks so delicious!
Very beautiful pics of the Black & Whites!
i love cookies !
and this recipe is so helpful !
you’ve a nice blog.
They turned out great, Sydney!
Funny but I didn’t think these were anything special until I started reading blogs. I grew up in NY and took for granted all these great foods that many bloggers talk about.
Btw, how’s the wedding plans coming along? Hopefully well.
~ingrid
A little piece of trivia for you: up in central NY, some folks call these “half moon” cookies.
I lived in CNY for about 7 years and LOVED eating these tasty treats. Now that I’m in Houston, I’ll have to make my own. Thanks for posting the recipe!
Hhm….How delicious it…
Hi there,
I’m just a fellow food blogger who really appreciates your site! I love the variety of recipes you post, as well as the step-by-step instructions. I’ll have to try these B&W cookies as soon as I can manage it; I usually buy them because I’ve thought they were a bit too time-intensive.
Happy baking!
– Allie Demet
Oh my gosh! I love black and whites. They’re one of the first things I get in NY, too! Have you ever had Wegman’s black and whites?! They’re super good…Wegman’s has to be the most amazing grocery. Annnyway, these look incredible!! So glad you and Kramer enjoyed them.
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I just wanted to say I am so happy I found your blog!! Your pictures are great and make the recipes very approachable even to a new cook like me! I am sooo excited to try out the recipes you have posted. I really love how you have a mix of things to make for dinner and treats like these awesome cookies.
My god, I loathe black and white cookies, however – my fiancee is obsessed with them.
We’re here in Brooklyn, NY and there is quite the hot debate over the “proper” black and white – should the icing be gooey like cake icing, or be hardened – have a ‘snap’ when you bite into it.
Serious business black and whites are. He’ll be thrilled when I surprise him with these.
Oh!! these cookies look very yummy!!!!
I got a sweet tooth and i’m searching for new dessert recipes. thanks
I made these today and they were wonderful! Thanks!
Dena: Thank you!
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