Black and White Cookies are a New York bakery classic. Soft, cakey, cookies topped with half chocolate glaze and half vanilla glaze. They're as pretty as they are delicious, making them perfect for holidays, parties, or an everyday treat.
I remember the first time I tried these cookies in a small bakery in the city, and they instantly became a favorite. Now I loe bakign them at home, and the two tone glaze always brings back that nostalgic bakery feel.
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Why You'll Love Black and White Cookies
Bakery style treat: just like the oversied cookies from a New York deli.
Soft and cakey: tender crumb that's more like cake than a traditional cookie.
Two glazes: chocolate and vanilla for the best of both worlds.
Classic look: the half and half frosting makes them eye-catching on any dessert table.
Key Ingredients for Black and White Cookies
See the recipe card at the end of this post for a full list of ingredients and instructions.
- Cake flour: keeps the cookies light and tender.
- Butter: gives richness and helps the cookies stay soft.
- Lemon zest and extract: adds a subtle citrus note to balance the sweetness.
- Confectioner's sugar: perfect for making the smooth glazes.
- Cocoa powder: creates the chocolate glaze half.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour for a slightly denser texture.
- Swap almond extract in the glaze for vanilla if preferred.
- Replace skim milk with whole milk for. a creamier glaze.
Tips for Perfect Black and White Cookies
- Spread carefully: use a small offset spatula for neat glaze edges.
- Cool completely: let cookies cool fully before glazing to prevent melting.
- Glaze sets firm: allow plenty of time for the icing to dry before stacking or storing.
How to Store
Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze upto 3 months.
More Easy Cookie Recipes You'll Love
You may also enjoy my Soft Blueberry Cookies, Chocolate Zucchini Cookies, Italian Ricotta Cookies, and Pineapple Cookies.
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Black and White Cookies
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Ingredients
For the cookies
- 4 cups cake flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1¾ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter , room temperature
- 2 large eggs , room temperature
- ½ tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon` vanilla extract
For the chocolate glaze
- ¾ cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoon Hershey's Cocoa
- 2 Tbsp. skim milk
For the vanilla glaze
- ¾ cup confectioner's sugar
- ½ tsp. almond extract
- 1 Tbsp. skim milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix together cake flour, salt, and baking powder until well combined. Set aside.
- In another medium bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat together sugar and butter until creamy.
- Add eggs and mix until incorporated. Add lemon zest and vanilla extract and mix well.
- Gradually add the flour mixture and milk alternately, starting and ending with flour, until fully incorporated.
- Scoop cookie dough into ¼ cup portions onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes, until edges just begin to brown and center of cookie is no longer wet. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the white glaze
- In a small bowl, combine confectioner's sugar, almond extract, and milk until smooth.
To make the chocolate glaze
- In another small bowl, combine the confectioner's sugar, cocoa powder, and milk until smooth.
To glaze the cookies
- Frost ½ of the underside of each cooled cookie with white icing using an offset spatula. Let cookies set to dry for 10 minutes.
- Frost the 2nd half of the cooled cookies with an offset spatula using the chocolate icing. Let cookies rest until icing sets, 1-2 hours.
CookiePie says
WOW -- another triumph! Your cookies look fantastic!!
Bergamot says
This looks really delicious. Would like to try some 🙂
J.Danger says
I love these cookies! THere is an ice cream/bakery that makes them down by the harbor here and I crave them fiercely sometimes!
I hope you are healing up well and taking care of yourself!
Patsyk says
I love b&w cookies! Yours turned out so perfectly!
justeatfood says
Those look sooo elegant!
Gloria Chadwick says
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your B/W cookies look really delicious. I often go into la-la land, too, when something is in the oven, then get roused back to reality when I smell something burning. 🙂
Lynda says
These are so pretty! I've never made these before, but I'm really tempted now!
Robin Sue says
Look at you after surgery making cookies, talking to cows and cooking up a storm. Wow. I haven't had surgery and can't manage to get dinner on the table some nights! These are one of my favorite cookies to get when I go to the good bakeries in Boston.
Pam says
Ohhh pretty. They look really tasty - I've never had a black and white cookie before. My kids would really like these.
s. stockwell says
These are so classy! Now we need to have a black & white party to go with them? you know, "when the going gets tough, the tough have a party"? best from Santa Barbara, s
haleysuzanne says
Ooh. Black and white cookies! I am in heaven. I keep seeing beautiful recipes for these little jewels all over, but I think I am going to have to try them as soon as I get settled after moving. Might be a good way to bribe the new neighbors....
Jamie says
I discover your blog only to be greeted by the one thing that I tried making and yet failed miserably! I grew up vacationing in NY where our big treat were the black and white cookies. When I tried making them last year it was an absolute disaster!
Yours are absolutely gorgeous and perfect!
Dawn says
haven't made these yet...I'm tempted but also worried about getting that middle to stay nice and straight. I must admit yours came out great.
gail says
These look delicious Honey! I've never had the urge to make them either...but you make them look and sound so good!!!!
Maya says
I first saw these cookies 6 years ago - they were everywhere! Thanks for the recipe, now I can enjoy them at home!
Bunny says
I've seen these befroe and always wanted to make them Shelby! These look terrific!
Debbie says
I absolutely love black & white's. I used to eat them all the time when I was a child growing up on Long Island. I found them again down in here Virginia recently at Starbuck's and was thrilled. Your cookies look great...like they came right out of the bakery!!!
Bellini Valli says
I have seen these advertised as a recipe from New York, but have never tried them myself. Thanks for the inspiration:D
recipes2share says
Great fun!
Tracy says
I'll bet those cookies were a great surprise for your friends! They look great!
The Hungry Mouse says
Just beautiful! I'd like one, please. No, wait. Make that two. 😀
+Jessie
Pamela says
I love the B & W cookie!! I think it's my favorite bakery cookie, that's for sure. I have made the CL recipe before, but it's been years. Yours look simply perfect!
Delectable Dining says
These are so pretty! I'm definitely going to have to try them!
Donna-FFW says
These are the cookies I always choose at the bakery. Love them Yours look so very perfect.
Cristine says
Looks perfect! I wish I was just down the road so I could enjoy your goodies! 🙂
Coleen's Recipes says
How did you get such a clean line between the black and white frosting colors?
Elyse says
Mmmm, these cookies turned out totally great. Love the black and whites!
Tangled Noodle says
Bookmarked! We love Black and White cookies but have rarely found them anywhere near us (and when we do, they've been seriously subpar). Thanks for the AR link and the glaze recipe (the most important part, IMHO)!
ButterYum says
Mmmmm, I love black and whites. Nice photos!
Reeni♥ says
These always remind of Seinfeld. When Jerry eats one and than doesn't feel so well. For this reason I have shied away from them, ha. But I was thinking of making them, I haven't had one in so long. Yours look perfect! And so scrumptious!
Anonymous says
Shelby, I have made the AR recipe and not been happy with their glazes... I will try CL's soon, thanks for sharing. Kathye
What A Dish! says
Those look yummy- I've thought about making Black and White cookies before. Don't think I've ever seen them in real life; just online and on the Food Network!
Christy says
Another fantastic recipe from your kitchen! These look amazing!
teresa says
They're so cute! I've never even tried a black and white cookie, but it looks delicious!
duodishes.com says
B&w cookies just scream 'I love NY!'
Jennifer says
My kids love black & white cookies and I have not made them in a long time. Maybe after easter candy is gone.
Meg says
I have always been fascinated by black and white cookies too! Your cookies look fabulous! Thanks for mentioning my giveaway.
Susie says
Yes, those cookies were awesome. Hubby loved them too. I have to print out the recipe.
Thanks again and it was just as sweet meeting you. 🙂
Susie
Maria says
Your cookies are perfect. Black and white are my favorite colors, they were even our wedding colors! LOVE these!
Creative One says
Great looking cookies!!!
Barbara Bakes says
These look so good - just like at the bakery!