"The thing about eating the Black and White cookie, Elaine, is you want to get some black and some white in each bite. Nothing mixes better than vanilla and chocolate. And yet still somehow racial harmony eludes us. If people would only look to the cookie all our problems would be solved." - Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfeld (The Dinner Party) Episode 77I never watched Seinfeld but somehow I knew there was a connection between the show and possibly New York's most famous cookie. After a little searching my thoughts were confirmed and I found the above quote and realized that the Black & White is as important to New York as the butter tart is to Canada.
Black & White cookies are sold all over the city and there are big discussions on where to find the perfect one. I don't think and self-respecting deli would be caught not selling them. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but they are definitely a New York staple. The recipe I made comes from The Good Cookie. I've been eying this recipe for a while because it sounded amazing. A big vanilla cookie topped with two glazes sounded super yummy and, as I have no plans of visiting The Big Apple anytime soon, I made them.
Well, the cookie baked up perfectly. They are big, cakey and can be described as more of a flat cake than a cookie. The glazes were easy to make and icing them was not hard although I'll have to work on making them look smoother. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how they taste because I sent them off to the local public school for a bakesale tomorrow. No matter though. Now I have a reason to make them again. If Seinfeld was right and the cookies could increase racial harmony, I'd make them every day.
Recipe: New York Black & White Cookies
Hi Marilyn - I've read that some versions have lemon but this one did not. I think, though, that it would be a very complementary addition. :)
ReplyDeleteThese look really good !
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to try these since seeing that episode of "Seinfeld"! They look delicious. Another wonderful recipe from the must-have "Good Cookie"!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of these before, they look really good!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful cookie from the best cookie book in the world.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
These are my absolute favorite cookie. I'm Jewish, born in NY and grew up in ft. lauderdale( where most jewish NYers move). I've had my share of these growing up. I introduced Robin to these and she wasnt that impressed. I love them though. I've wanted to make them forever, I have a recipe that someone mailed me but I havent gotten around to it.
ReplyDeletebtw, martha stewart has a mini-version too.
ReplyDeletebtw, martha stewart has a mini-version too.
ReplyDeleteThis is the genuine article because the cookies are glazed, not iced with a pound of confectioner sugar icing.
ReplyDeleteI've made them with lemon and without. I believe the real New York version used lemon, because the cookie is too bland without it. I don't taste the lemon, per se, but it brightens up the flavor of the cookie.
Marie
I guess I'm not so anonymous!
ReplyDelete