Berger Cookies Recipe

Berger Cookies are iconic, cake-like cookies topped generously with rich chocolate frosting.

These beloved treats originated in Baltimore and are famous for their thick, decadent icing.

Ingredients

For the Cookies

• ⅓ cup salted butter, softened
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup milk

For the Frosting

• 3 cups (540 g) milk chocolate chips
• 1¼ cups (297.5 ml) heavy cream
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1⅔ cups (143.33 g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1¼ cups (150 g) powdered sugar
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Recipe Instructions

1. Prepare the Cookies:
   Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients:
   In a mixing bowl, beat together salted butter, salt, vanilla extract, and baking powder until smooth. Add sugar and continue beating until creamy. Beat in the egg until fully incorporated.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients and Milk:
   Add flour and milk alternately to the mixture in two or three additions. Mix gently after each addition until just combined. Do not overmix.
4. Shape and Bake:
   Portion dough onto prepared baking sheets using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon each). Space cookies 2–3 inches apart. Slightly wet your fingers or use the bottom of a glass to press each cookie into a circle about 1½ inches wide.
   Bake 9–11 minutes until lightly golden on the bottom, pale on top, and just slightly browned around edges. Avoid overbaking.
5. Prepare the Frosting:
   Combine all frosting ingredients in a double boiler, stirring occasionally until smooth and fully combined.
6. Frost Cookies:
   Flip cooled cookies upside down on baking sheets. Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of frosting onto the flat side of each cookie, forming a mound. Allow cookies to sit at room temperature until the frosting fully sets (about 3 hours).

Storage Instructions

• Room Temperature:
  Store Berger Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Are Berger Cookies a Baltimore thing?

Yes, Berger Cookies are famously associated with Baltimore, Maryland. They have become a staple treat in the area, beloved for their distinctive cake-like cookie base and thick chocolate frosting.

Do Berger Cookies go bad?

Yes, Berger Cookies can spoil or become stale if not stored properly. They are best consumed within 3 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness and texture.

Berger Cookies Recipe

Author: Maddy & JD – Them Bites

Berger Cookies are a staple in Baltimore, and it's easy to see why! They're soft in a good way, and LOADED with delicious chocolate icing. What's not to love?

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16 people

Calories 71 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For The Cookies

• 1/3 cup salted butter softened
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup milk

For the Frosting

• 3 cups 540 g milk chocolate chips
• 1¼ cups 297.5 ml heavy cream
• ¼ teaspoon 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 1⅔ cups 143.33 g Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1¼ cups 150 g powdered sugar
• 1½ teaspoons 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

Recipe Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 375°F. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, salt, vanilla extract, and baking powder until the mixture is smooth. Add sugar and continue beating until creamy. Next, beat in the egg until fully incorporated.
• (Ingredients: ⅓ cup salted butter, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg)
• Add flour and milk alternately to the mixture, doing so in two or three additions, mixing gently after each addition just until combined. Avoid overmixing the dough.
• (Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup milk)
• Use a small cookie scoop (approximately 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie) to portion out the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Space cookies 2-3 inches apart to allow spreading during baking. Slightly wet your fingers or use the bottom of a glass to gently press each cookie into a circle about 1½ inches wide.
• Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes. They’re ready when lightly golden on the bottoms, still pale on top, with just a slight browning around the edges. Take care not to overbake.
• Prepare the Frosting: Combine all frosting ingredients in a double boiler, stirring occasionally until smooth and combined.
• Flip the cookies upside down on the baking sheets. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of frosting onto the flat side of each cookie, forming a mound. Allow the cookies to sit at room temperature until the frosting fully sets, approximately 3 hours. Once set, store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 71kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 101mgPotassium: 21mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 8IUCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Cookies

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