Go Back
+ servings
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 4 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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:

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!