The black and white cookie has been an NYC snack staple for many years. This iced biscuit with a cake-like texture, also sometimes referred to as a half and half cookie, makes an ideal dessert for all kinds of occasions, or even just an everyday treat. Here are 10 surprising things you didn’t know about the iconic black and white cookie:
New York's Own Gimmee Jimmy's Black and White Cookie1) The origin of the black and white cookie isn’t known, but it has a long history in New York. The popular belief is that it originated upstate, and some suggest that Hemstrought's Bakery in Utica was the first to bake it in the early 20th century. In any case, the black and white cookie is a favorite among New Yorkers, especially in New York City.
2) Black and white cookies don’t only come in one color combination- you can now get them in pink and white, and in blue and white. They have the same delicious taste, but the colors make them a perfect addition to a dessert table at a baby shower, gender reveal party, birthday parties, and more. They also make a great gift to send to someone.
3) The black and white cookie is often confused with the half-moon, a very similar baked good that has chocolate frosting on one side and vanilla on the other. The difference is that the half-moon is typically larger, with a spongier base.
4) The icing on a black and white cookie is a chocolate fondant on one half and vanilla fondant on the other. Using fondant gives a firmer texture, whereas the half-moon uses a fluffier frosting.
President Obama dubbed the black and white cookie a “unity” cookie.5) While campaigning in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in October of 2008, President Obama dubbed the black and white cookie a “unity” cookie.
6) The cookie was mentioned on Seinfeld in two different episodes, which is no surprise, as the series is set in NYC. In episode “The Dinner Party”, Jerry says to “look to the cookie”, as a way to refer to racial harmony.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlLPAIrmqvE[/embed]7) Technically, the traditional black and white is actually a drop cake, but the amount of flour used in the recipe creates the firmer consistency. With less flour, the cookie would end up more fluffy and cupcake-like.
8) While the cookies are now typically made with a vanilla base, some of the first versions were made with a chocolate base. You can still find the chocolate based ones in upstate New York, but it’s more often reserved for the half-moon style cookies.
9) Germany has a similar version of the black and white cookie, known as the Amerikaner. It was first brought to the country by US soldiers during the Second World War, but this version has one half glazed in sugar and the other with melted chocolate.
Gimmee Jimmy's Cookie Assortment10) You can actually find black and white cookies for sale all around the US, with many supermarkets carrying packaged versions. However, if you want the truly authentic cookies, it’s best to purchase them fresh baked. And if you’re ever in New York City, it’s well worth your time to find a bakery and buy a batch to snack on while exploring the Big Apple. But if your not in the city, consider a speedy delivery of these sweet treats from Gimmee Jimmy's Cookies.
