Feeling nostalgic? Us too. On a rainy late-winter day, there’s nothing like the comfort of baking cookies…cookies that you’ve known since you were a kid. These classic oversized black and white cookies – found in just about every New York deli – fit the bill with a light, cakey body and creamy frosting on top.
We found an original black and white cookie recipe from Zabar’s in one of our favorite cookbooks of all times; The New York Cookbook from Molly O’Neill. This book is a treasure-trove of stories, pictures, anecdotes, and classic New York recipes, from five-star restaurants to neighborhood potlucks. The black and white cookie recipe is just one of a bunch of favorites we have bookmarked, from George Washington’s tea cake, to an award-winning latke recipe.
Classic Black and White Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- 4 1/2 cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 5 T. corn starch
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- FROSTING:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and butter and mix until fluffy. Add the eggs, milk, vanilla and lemon extracts, and mix until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder, and salt, and stir until mixed. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in batches, stirring well to combine.
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Using a soup spoon, drop spoonfuls of the dough two inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the cookies at 375 degrees until the edges begin to brown, about 20 to 30 minutes. Cool completely.
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For the frosting: Place the powdered sugar in a large bowl. Gradually add enough of the boiling water to the sugar, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick and spreadable.
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Remove half of the frosting to the top half of a double boiler set over simmering water and add the chocolate. Warm the mixture, stirring, until the chocolate is melted and the frosting is smooth. Remove from the heat. With a brush or spatula, coat half of each cookie with chocolate frosting and the other half with white frosting.
Let’s be real: How good would your day be if you could just hang out with a good book, a warm cup of coffee or tea, and a nice plump black and white cookie? Let us know if you grew up with one of these cookies as a classic treat… or if you have another old-time favorite.
My day is better just LOOKING at those beauties! I adore that cookbook, too.
Thanks, Dorothy! Do you know how many hours I’ve spent poring over that cookbook? ; )