If you grew up in Utica New York like I did, you sure know what kind of cookies these are, soft, and uniquely delicious.
You also know that Utica is famous for Tomato Pie, Italian Greens, Italian Lemon Ice, Pizza Fritta, Chicken Riggies, Manny's Cheesecake, Oscugnizzo Pizza, and Rosato Chocolate Cookies.
If you are looking for a recipe on how to make a copycat half-moon cookie from Upstate New York, you came to the right blog!
Upstate Utica NY is famous for these and where I grew up.
Half Moons or as some other states and areas, refer to them as (Black and Whites), but not as we call them half-moons period, in Upstate Utica, New York they are totally different.
The origin of the black-and-white cookie in New York City is commonly traced to Glaser's Bake Shop in Yorkville, founded in 1902 by Bavarian immigrants.
Half-moon cookies, however, can be traced to Hemstrought's Bakery in Utica, New York, around 1925.
The cookies have fluffy buttercream not that pasty type of thick icing and the cookies are light and delicious not dense we also have a tip to keep them shining with a glossy look.
Sure there is always a debate about something, but I can tell you after over 30 + years of making this cookie recipe, you are going to smile with a cherished memory if you live anywhere near Utica.
These half-moons are fabulous and if you're a black and white fan you're on the wrong page!
So Many Varieties in Local Bakeries
When I was growing up in Utica, New York, I remember vanilla cookie half-moons, later came chocolate cookies then all kinds of toppings and flavors came out over the year.
I have made all-white frosted with coconut, jelly and coconut, milk chocolate, and white frosting. Dark chocolate frosting white frosting and even peanut butter frosted!
Hemstrought's was the go-to bakery and the originator as it's written all over the net. Star Bakery had a version in New York Mills, and Holland Farms had the biggest variety and still does to date.
During the holidays, we just add colorful themed sprinks on the white icing for festive half moon cookies!
A Utica Bakery When it All Began
Hemstrought's is the popular pick and Holland Farms for the best half-moons in the Utica, N.Y., and Yorkville area.
If you have had the pleasure to visit this iconic area for half moons, don't miss the opportunity to try your best, you'll be back again for sure.
My trip home wouldn't be complete without stopping by those local fantastic bakeries at home and picking up Hemstrought half moons, pusties filled with pudding, and of course, the best local bakery Italian breads I grew up with.
Chocolate Moons Were The Most Popular
My recipes are all made from scratch along with the frosting, most of my tips came from local bakeries, and had to cut down the recipe because of the several pounds of flour used in their recipes.
These chocolate or vanilla come out great however the chocolate originals always remain the favorite in our home.
Decorating them for the holiday is a tradition with coordinating sprinkles that are festive, this cookies are on our Christmas trays every year.
Baking The Cookies
I have always used parchment paper to bake them on, then invested in the Silpat mat and they perfectly brown and cook evenly either way.
The cookie sheets on straight metal will provide a crispy bottom and need to be soft like a cake not crispy.
Chocolate is the Original Cake
We go back and forth in our home for chocolate or vanilla half moons for the cake, so we've included both recipes for those who prefer the originals.
I always have to make both and although most bakeries in Central N.Y. are chocolate, you can decide which you prefer and the kinds of icing recipes we provide.
Buttercream is what we grew up with in local bakeries but some of them changed to a whipped cream style icing, depending on which bakery you've enjoyed your half moons from, you will have to decide which one you like the best in flavors.
The History of Half-Moon Cookies
The icing is always fluffy buttercream and smooth with a few spread lines for half moons originating in Central N.Y.
Every area takes pride in its traditions, and Utica New York has been the home of Half Moon Cookies since 1920, Harry B. Hemstrought crafted his famous Halfmoon recipe in what began as a small bakery on Genesee St. in Utica, New York.
Store-bought as shown below with smooth icing, are what we would consider black and white and not half-moon cookies.
Many areas will have a different take on how these are made, icing, cake, and the name, but our local Central New York bakeries are always half moon, again never black and whites!
My Hometown Story in Utica, New York
There is a definite story behind these.
I actually got this recipe from a friend who had worked in the local bakery years and years ago, he cut it down after starting out with 25 lbs of flour, now long since gone and I still treasure his recipe.
I still will continue to make this recipe as it is one of the easiest and the closest to the bakery-style version.
They have been more than just a cookie in our family. Our memories shared by this cookie are numerous.
Scroll Down to Print the recipe with all Measurements for Half-Moon Cookies and Frosting Recipes
Vanilla Half Moons- sugar
- shortening
- eggs
- flour
- baking powder
- salt
- pure vanilla
- milk
- Chocolate Half Moons
- flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- sugar
- butter softened
- cocoa sifted
- salt
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- milk
Utica New York Still has the best half-moons!
Growing up in the Utica/Rome area, this was a staple cookie in most households, house parties, bridal showers, or school functions.
Through the years they have definitely become a famous Cookie Icon for those areas, it's their part of the history that is known in every household.
This recipe is tried and true, and won't disappoint you.
Half Moon Cookies Pin for later
Tips for Best Results
- Cream the sugar and shortening together with a mix and the rest by hand
- Always use homemade frosting recipes
- Bake on parchment
- Use an ice cream scoop for uniformity
- Don't overbeat the cookie dough
- Don't overbake the cookies
- Frost the flat side, not the tops!
- These freeze perfectly between wax paper up to 3 months frosted or unfrosted
- For a glistening shine in the frosting see tip below in the recipe card
half moon cookies, black and white cookies, Utica Bakery cookies, cookies from Utica, Vanilla cookies, chocolate cookies
cookies, desserts
Italian, American
Yield: 12
Half Moon Cookies
prep time: 8 min cook time: 12 min total time: 20 mins
These recipes for half-moons are my childhood favorite cookies. The cookie is soft and sweet with chocolate and vanilla icing on top.
ingredients:
- Vanilla Half Moons
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2 eggs
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla
- 1 cup milk
- For the Chocolate Lovers
- Chocolate Half Moons
- 3 3/4 cups flour
- 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 1/4 cup sugar
- 16 tablespoons butter softened
- 3/4 cup cocoa, sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- Both recipes should proceed with the same instructions just with different ingredients
- you can use these frosting recipes for both vanilla and chocolate half-moon cookies however I also will have other variations in the instructions for more frosting recipes
- Dark Chocolate Frosting
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tablespoons butter softened
- 2 tablespoons shortening
- 1/4 cup milk or more
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons softened butter
- 2 tablespoons shortening
- 7 tablespoons milk or more until you reach the desired consistency
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- Tip PLEASE READ: to make them Glossy and shine add 1 tablespoon of Corn syrup to the frosting!!!
instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees using the middle rack. Grease a cookie sheet or line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or use a Silpat mat.
- Mix sugar and the shortening with a hand mixer until they are well combined. This will look grainy using an electric mixer.
- Add the eggs mixing each one by hand.
- Then add the flour alternating with milk, add vanilla, then add all the rest of the dry ingredients in a bowl mix well. Overbeating this will result in a tough cookie and not soft and moist.
- Drop using an ice cream scoop or by heaping well-rounded tablespoons on a greased cookie sheet, (make sure these are molded to be round.) Use a floured finger if you have too to round them properly.
- Bake on 350 degrees hot oven at least 3 inches apart so they don't touch when they expand cooking. Bake until slightly browned on the bottom but not too dark.
- Around 8 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake.
- Cool and frost the FLAT side of the cookies.
- Frosting Recipe:
- Vanilla Basic Recipe mix all the ingredients together until smooth, add more milk if too thick.
- Chocolate frosting: mix all the ingredients listed for the chocolate frosting above and mix until smooth, add more milk if too thick.
- Second variation:
- Whipped Cream Frosting:
- (several bakeries make a cooked whipped frosting like this one instead this is vanilla only)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- Cook, stirring constantly, until pasty consistency. Cool. (Do not use this mixture until it is really cold).
- In a medium-sized, bowl beat the following two ingredients together
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Beat 4 minutes.
- Add
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Beat 4 minutes.
- Add
- Cooled flour mixture
- Beat 4 minutes.
Calories
225
225
Fat (grams)
15
15
Sat. Fat (grams)
6
6
Carbs (grams)
22
22
Net carbs
14
14
Sugar (grams)
20
20
Created using The Recipes Generator
Half Moon Cookies Pin for later
More Hometown Treats from Utica New York!
New York Style PustiesRosato Cookies
Tomato Pie Upstate NY Style
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2020
