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    Home » Recipes » Dessert » healthy cookies recipes

    Half Moon Cookies from Upstate New York!

    May 19, 2022 by Rosemary 4 Comments

    Half moon cookies recipe cover photo
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Half moon cookies! I am bringing back my childhood memories from Upstate New York with my mom's half moon cookie recipe.

    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. 🙂

    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 moons 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.

    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.

    Looking for a healthy cookie instead, check out my healthy cookies page!

    WHAT ARE HALF MOON COOKIES MADE OF?

    in the cookie itself:

    • butter
    • granulated sugar
    • eggs
    • all-purpose flour
    • baking soda
    • baking powder
    • sour milk
    • pure vanilla extract

    in the half moon cookie frosting:

    • egg yolk
    • pure vanilla extract
    • butter
    • hot milk
    • powdered sugar
    • cacao 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.

    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.

    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 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.

    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

    WATCH HOW I MADE THEM!

    HOW TO MAKE HALF MOON COOKIES

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

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

    First, add 1 cup of soft butter, 1 ½ cups sugar and 2 eggs (at room temperature) 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.

    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 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 cookies.

    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.

    half moon cookie frosting
    Half moon cookies recipe 11

    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!

    STORAGE

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

    More cookie recipes you might like:

    • Caramel thumbprint cookies with almond pulp
    • Healthy peanut butter cookies
    • Healthy chocolate chip cookies
    • Lofthouse style frosted sugar cookies
    • Coconut flour cutouts
    • Pink mini meringue cookies
    • Matcha macarons with mango buttercream
    • Egg white macaroons with passionfruit
    • Molasses cookies
    • Lemon zucchini cookies
    Half moon cookies recipe cover photo

    If you try my 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

    Half Moon Cookies Upstate New York!

    Upstate New York Half Moon Cookies! Half moon cookies are 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 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 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 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.
      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.
      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.
      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.
      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 blackandwhitecookierecipe, blackandwhitecookies, fluffyhalfmooncookie, halfmooncookie, halfmooncookierecipe, halfmooncookierecipewithsourmilk, halfmooncookiesourmilk, halfmooncookiesyracuse, halfmooncookieupstatenewyork, halfmooncookieutica, healthychristmascookierecipes, oldfashionedhalfmooncookie, vanillahalfmooncookie, vanillahalfmooncookierecipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    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! 🙂

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    Hi, I'm Rosemary the registered dietitian behind The Hint of Rosemary! I created the Hint of Rosemary back in 2015 because I wanted to share my healthy recipes and teach that healthy eating is fun and delicious. I make your favorite desserts, drinks, and smoothie recipes with healthy ingredients that make you feel good while advocating mindful eating. Mindful eating is about not depriving yourself of the food you love!

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