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    Home » healthy cookies recipes

    Half Moon Cookies from Upstate New York!

    Published: May 19, 2022 · Modified: May 9, 2025

    authentic half moon cookie recipe
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    The best half moon cookie recipe! I am bringing back my childhood memories from Upstate New York with my mom's half moon cookie recipe. This is the best and most authentic half moon cookie recipe out there and is sure to be a hit!

    It's a super rainy cold spring day here in New York today and I was feeling nostalgic so I went through my old recipe cards and stumbled across my most favorite childhood cookie.. the half moon cookie! Just look at this cute handwritten recipe card. 🙂

    old fashioned half moon cookie hand written recipe card
    half moon cookie hand written recipe card

    I grew up in a tiny little town about an hour north of Syracuse and I used to make half moon cookies all the time! Back then I didn't know that Half moon cookies were famous to upstate New York, and you couldn't find them down south back then!

    If you've never tried a half moon cookie and are visiting I highly recommend trying them from Harrison street bakery on the west side of Syracuse! Make sure to get them early in the day as they taste super fresh and fluffy in the morning and tend to get stale as the day goes on.

    Love baking and want to truly take your healthy baking up a notch? Read my full No Discard Sourdough Starter Guide for Beginners! You can use sourdough starter in everything from cookies to cakes, breads, and so much more!

    WHAT ARE HALF MOON COOKIES?

    Whether you know them as half moons, or black and white cookies, the concept is the same: a soft fluffy cake-like cookie topped with half vanilla and half chocolate frosting. My old fashioned half moon cookie recipe below is surprisingly easy and taste just like the authentic bakery style cookies we all love!

    If you are here looking for a healthy cookie instead, check out my healthy cookies page!

    WHAT ARE HALF MOON COOKIES MADE OF?

    My vanilla half moon cookie recipe consists of a fluffy cake like vanilla cookie topped with egg yolk vanilla and chocolate frosting.

    Vanilla half moon cookie dough ingredients:

    • 1 cup soft room temperature butter (not melted!)
    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs at room temperature
    • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 cup sour milk 1 cup whole milk + 2 tablespoons vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Half moon cookie egg yolk frosting (authentic recipe!):

    • 1 large egg yolk
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 4 tablespoons melted butter
    • 3 tablespoons hot milk
    • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • 2-4 tablespoons cacao powder or cocoa powder

    WHO INVENTED THE HALF MOON COOKIE?

    Half moon cookies are suspect to be invented in the early 20th century in Utica, New York by Hemstrought's Bakery. Today, they are made all over upstate New York and iconic to this area!

    WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HALF MOON COOKIE AND A BLACK AND WHITE COOKIE?

    I once believed they were one in the same, but actually they are two different cookies. Black and white cookies are more common down state in the New York metropolitan area, they are flat and have royal icing on top.

    Old fashioned half moon cookies are more common in Upstate and Central New York, they are fluffier with a slight dome-shape with fluffier frosting.

    TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST HALF MOON COOKIES EVER

    USE ROOM TEMPERATURE BUTTER. Your butter will mix into the half moon cookie batter so much better if you wait for it to get perfectly soft at room temperature.

    CREAM BUTTER, SUGAR & EGGS COMPLETELY. Keep beating butter into the sugar and eggs until you no longer see any little pieces of butter. If the butter isn't totally incorporated, you could end up with flat oily cookies.

    DON'T OVER MIX. For light, fluffy and cake-like half moon cookies, don't over mix your batter. Over mixing this cookie batter will result in more chewy cookies. Half moon cookies are meant to be very light and fluffy- like cake in cookie form!

    DO NOT GREASE COOKIE SHEET. If you're worried about sticking, use parchment paper. But don't use any grease or oil spray, or you could end up with flat oily cookies.

    DROP BY 1 TABLESPOON SCOOPS ONLY. Half moon cookies are a super fluffy cookie that puffs up a lot when baking! So only use 1 tablespoon per cookie and leave about 1 ½ to 2 inches between each one to give them room to spread and bake evenly.

    COOL COMPLETELY BEFORE FROSTING. Make sure to cool the cookies completely before adding black and white frosting! If they are even warm at all, you will end up with a mess of frosting all over your counter.

    light and fluffy half moon cookie recipe

    HOW TO MAKE HALF MOON COOKIES

    I made my authentic upstate New York half moon cookie recipe with sour milk to give them that perfect fluffy, cake like texture! Sour milk for your cookies is so easy to make with just whole milk and vinegar and is the secret to perfect fluffy half moon cookies!

    You can use a standing mixer or beat them in the bowl with a wooden spoon like I used to do back in the day before I owned a standing mixer. Let's get started!

    STEP 1: CREAM BUTTER WITH SUGAR AND EGGS

    Get your vanilla half moon cookie recipe started by heating your oven up so once your batter is done you can slide them right into your oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    First, in a medium sized mixing bowl, add:

    • 1 cup of soft butter
    • 1 ½ cups sugar
    • 2 eggs (at room temperature)

    Beat with the paddle attachment until completely smooth and no chunks of butter remain. Or, if you are not using a standing mixer beat the butter into the sugar the old fashioned way with just a wooden spoon!

    Scrape down the bowl once or twice while beating to ensure everything is perfectly combined.

    STEP 2: ADD DRY INGREDIENTS AND SOUR MILK

    Next, add 3 ½ cups sifted flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup of sour milk, and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to the mixing bowl.

    Mix again, scraping down the sides once or twice, until the vanilla half moon cookie batter is just combined. Be sure not to over mix your cookie batter!

    HOW TO MAKE SOUR MILK FOR YOUR COOKIES

    Sour milk is a necessity for my fluffy vanilla half moon cookie recipe.

    For homemade sour milk: 1 cup of whole milk + 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Mix and let it curdle for about 10 minutes.

    mixing butter eggs and sugar
    adding dry ingredients and sour milk
    half moon cookie batter

    STEP 3: BAKE

    Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop cookie batter by 1 tablespoon scoops. Leave 1 ½-2 inches space between them.

    Bake cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Cool cookies completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting.

    STEP 4: MAKE FROSTING

    A lot of half moon cookie recipes are made with thick fluffy buttercream frosting. However, the classic half moon cookie is made with just a little bit of frosting spread on top, not too thick.

    In a bowl, add 1 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Get your whisk ready as we are whisking hot milk and butter into the yolk. Start whisking as you pour in the 4 tablespoons melted butter and then the 3 tablespoons hot milk.

    Start whisking in the 2 ½ cups of powdered sugar. Keep whisking until the frosting is completely smooth.

    Pour half of the vanilla frosting into a separate bowl. Whisk in 2-4 tablespoons cacao powder, using more if you want a dark chocolate flavor.

    egg yolk half moon cookie frosting
    Half moon cookies recipe easy
    simple half moon cookie recipe

    STEP 5: HALF MOON COOKIE FROSTING EASY!

    Update December 2022, I just realized that I have been frosting my half moon cookies upside down my whole life! For the most authentic upstate half moon cookie make sure to frost the BOTTOM, and not the top like I do!

    Spread half the chocolate frosting on the cooled cookies. You do not need very much! Maybe 1-2 teaspoons of frosting per cookie.

    Finally, spread on the vanilla half of the frosting.

    Enjoy!

    Hope you love my most favorite half moon cookie recipe!

    authentic vanilla half moon cookie recipe

    STORAGE

    Half moon cookies do not need to be stored in the fridge, keep them in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

    You're going to love these Healthy Cookie Recipes next!

    • Lemon Zucchini Cookies with Lemon Glaze
    • Healthy Molasses Cookies
    • Healthy Macaroons
    • Healthy Meringue Cookies
    • Matcha Macarons with Mango Buttercream
    • Almond Pulp Cookies Chocolate Dipped
    • Healthy Lofthouse Cookies
    • Healthy Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Coconut Flour Cutouts
    • Healthy Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Authentic Half moon cookies recipe

    If you try my Authentic Upstate New York Half Moon Cookies Recipe, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube!

    Half moon cookies recipe cover photo

    Old Fashioned Half Moon Cookies Upstate New York!

    Authentic Upstate New York Half Moon Cookies! My old fashioned half moon cookie recipe is my most favorite childhood cookie recipe. My light and fluffy half moon's are made with sour milk for a delicious cake like cookie. Topped with half vanilla and half chocolate frosting for the best of both worlds!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 34 cookies
    Calories 168 kcal

    Equipment

    • Standing mixer or mixing bowl + wooden spoon
    • large cookie sheet
    • Parchment paper

    Ingredients
      

    For the vanilla half moon cookie dough:

    • 1 cup butter, soft
    • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
    • 2 lg eggs, room temperature
    • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 cup sour milk 1 cup whole milk + 2 tablespoons vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    For the half moon cookie frosting:

    • 1 lg egg yolk
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 4 tablespoon melted butter
    • 3 tablespoon hot milk
    • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • 2-4 tablespoon cacao powder or cocoa powder

    Instructions
     

    STEP 1: CREAM BUTTER WITH SUGAR AND EGGS

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
      Add 1 cup of butter, 1 ½ cups sugar and 2 eggs to the bowl of a standing mixer. Beat with the paddle attachment until completely smooth and no chunks of butter remain. Scrape down the bowl once or twice while beating.
      1 cup butter, soft, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 2 lg eggs, room temperature
      mixing butter eggs and sugar

    STEP 2: ADD DRY INGREDIENTS AND SOUR MILK

    • Next, add 3 ½ cups sifted flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup of sour milk, and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to the mixing bowl.
      3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup sour milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
      adding dry ingredients and sour milk
    • Mix again, scraping down the sides once or twice, until the cookie batter is just combined. Be sure not to over mix your cookie batter!
      half moon cookie batter

    STEP 3: BAKE

    • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop cookie batter by 1 tablespoon scoops. Leave 1 ½-2 inches space between them.
      Bake cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Cool cookies completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting.
      vanilla half moon cookies before frosting

    STEP 4: MAKE FROSTING

    • In a bowl, add 1 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Get your whisk ready as we are whisking hot milk and butter into the yolk. Start whisking as you pour in the 4 tablespoons melted butter and then the 3 tablespoons hot milk.
      Start whisking in the 2 ½ cups of powdered sugar. Keep whisking until the frosting is completely smooth.
      1 lg egg yolk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 4 tablespoon melted butter, 3 tablespoon hot milk, 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
      half moon cookie frosting
    • Pour half of the vanilla frosting into a separate bowl. Whisk in 2-4 tablespoons cacao powder, using more if you want a dark chocolate flavor.
      2-4 tablespoon cacao powder
      Half moon cookies recipe 11
    • Frost half of the cooled cookies with vanilla, and half with chocolate.
      Enjoy!
      how to frost half moon cookies

    Video

    Notes

    Nutrition facts for any recipe on thehintofrosemary is only an estimate and not guaranteed. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1half moon cookieCalories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 25.4mgSodium: 3mgPotassium: 34mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 179IUCalcium: 18mgIron: 0.2mg
    Keyword besthalfmooncookierecipe, fluffyhalfmooncookie, halfmooncookie, halfmooncookierecipe, halfmooncookierecipeeasy, halfmooncookierecipewithsourmilk, halfmooncookiesourmilk, halfmooncookiesyracuse, halfmooncookieupstatenewyork, halfmooncookieutica, harrisonbakeryhalfmooncookierecipe, healthychristmascookierecipes, oldfashionedhalfmooncookie, oldfashionedhalfmooncookierecipe, simplehalfmooncookierecipe, vanillahalfmooncookie, vanillahalfmooncookierecipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Anne

      May 19, 2022 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      Ahhh I’m so excited for these! I love half moons!! Going to surprise my family with home made ones this weekend thank you!!

    2. Amelia

      May 19, 2022 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      We’re from down south and you can’t find them where we live! I’m definitely making your recipe !

    3. Em

      May 25, 2022 at 9:20 pm

      I grew up just outside of Syracuse and bought half-moon cookies from Green Hills Farms on Salina Street. I've never seen the rounded side frosted though; it's always the flat side that is frosted. I'll have to try your recipe!

    4. Rosemary

      May 26, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      What a small world- I'll have to try their half moons too! I hope you like it this way- an old habit of mine to frost the wrong side haha! 🙂

    5. Anna

      April 27, 2024 at 3:01 am

      5 stars
      These are just like the half moon cookies we always buy when we come back upstate !! Definitely making these cookies when I’m missing home

    6. Rosemary

      June 14, 2024 at 3:35 pm

      awe I'm so happy you found the recipe!

    7. Gretchen

      September 05, 2024 at 2:56 pm

      Do you have a recipe for a chocolate cookie Halfmoon?

    8. Rosemary

      October 05, 2024 at 5:17 pm

      Not yet!! But I love that idea 🙂

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    Rosemary Squires registered dietitian of the hint of rosemary blog

    Hi, I'm Rosemary, a registered dietitian and proud mom to a lively toddler. Back in 2015, I launched Hint of Rosemary to share my genuine passion for delicious and enjoyable healthy eating.

    In our home, I celebrate the delightful fusion of American and Jordanian cuisines, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of Arabic cuisine, and striving to create a harmonious blend of cultures. My hope is that you'll find inspiration here and, above all, savor every bite.

    More about me →

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