Homemade Baltimore Berger Cookies Recipe: Sweet City Treasures

Sweet memories of maryland bakeries dance through my classic baltimore berger cookies recipe, promising decadent chocolate-topped delights.

Neighborhood shops once crafted these iconic treats with incredible care and local pride.

Soft, cake-like vanilla cookies provide a perfect canvas for rich chocolate fudge topping.

Baking these nostalgic sweets connects generations through simple, delightful ingredients.

Neighborhood traditions come alive when you mix, bake, and share these beloved cookies.

Chocolate lovers will absolutely adore this authentic baltimore classic that brings pure comfort to every single bite.

Whip up a batch and watch smiles spread across hungry faces.

Why Homemade Baltimore Berger Cookies Are a Sweet Tradition

• Craft Nostalgic Treats: Recreate a beloved Baltimore classic right in your kitchen, bringing hometown flavors and memories to life with each chocolatey bite.
• Master Simple Baking Skills: Navigate through straightforward steps that transform basic ingredients into decadent cookies, perfect for bakers of all experience levels.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Impress family and friends with a homemade version of the iconic Maryland cookie that delivers rich chocolate and soft cookie perfection.
• Customize Chocolate Experience: Control the thickness of chocolate coating and experiment with different chocolate types to suit personal taste preferences and make the recipe uniquely yours.

Ingredients for Homemade Baltimore Berger Cookies

• Unbleached All-Purpose Flour: The primary dry ingredient that provides structure to the soft, cake-like cookies.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor and creates a tender texture for the cookie base.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps in creating a light cookie texture.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together and contributes to the cookie's structure.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a soft cookie consistency.

• Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise and become light and fluffy.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cookie.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, classic flavor to the cookie base.

• Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Heavy Cream, Light Corn Syrup: Create a rich, smooth chocolate coating that is characteristic of Baltimore Berger Cookies.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps thicken the chocolate icing.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness of the chocolate icing.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth to the chocolate flavor.

How to Make Homemade Baltimore Berger Cookies

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up your oven to a toasty 400°F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper or give them a light grease coating.

This ensures your cookies won’t stick and bake evenly.

Step 2: Mix Cookie Base

Grab a large mixing bowl and blend butter, salt, vanilla extract, and baking powder until smooth and creamy.

Your goal is a silky, well-combined mixture that will create tender cookies.

Step 3: Build Cookie Dough

Sprinkle in granulated sugar and mix thoroughly.

Crack in an egg and integrate completely. This step adds sweetness and helps bind all ingredients together beautifully.

Step 4: Create Dough Consistency

Slowly fold in flour and milk, alternating between the two. Start with flour and end with flour to create a perfect dough texture.

Mix gently to avoid tough cookies.

Step 5: Shape Cookie Rounds

Drop dough mounds onto prepared sheets, creating circles about 1 1/2 inches wide.

Space cookies generously to allow room for spreading during baking.

Step 6: Bake Cookie Bases

Slide sheets into the oven and bake for 10-11 minutes.

Watch for subtle golden edges while keeping tops pale. Cookies should look soft and cake-like when done.

Step 7: Prepare Chocolate Coating

• Semisweet chocolate chips
• Light corn syrup
• Vanilla extract
• Heavy cream

Step 8: Create Chocolate Icing

Heat mixture until tiny bubbles form. Remove from heat and stir until completely smooth and glossy.

Step 9: Finish Icing

Blend in confectioners’ sugar and salt. Stir until reaching a luxurious, silky consistency.

Let cool to lukewarm temperature.

Step 10: Coat Cookies

Dip each cookie into chocolate icing, ensuring complete coverage.

Place back on baking sheet.

Step 11: Add Extra Chocolate Layer

If desired, apply a second chocolate layer for more decadent cookies.

Wait until icing slightly thickens if too runny.

Step 12: Store Delightful Treats

Allow cookies to set completely.

Store in single layers within airtight containers. Enjoy within a few days at room temperature or refrigerate for longer preservation.

Tips for Perfect Baltimore Berger Cookies

• Ensure butter is at room temperature for smooth, even mixing of cookie dough.
• Use parchment paper for easy cookie removal and minimal cleanup.
• Avoid overmixing the dough to maintain a tender, cake-like texture.
• Cool cookies completely before icing to prevent melting and ensure a clean, glossy finish.
• Store cookies in a single layer to preserve their delicate chocolate coating and prevent sticking.

Variations of Baltimore Berger Cookies to Try

• Gluten-Free Berger Cookies: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same texture and taste for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Vegan Chocolate Variation: Swap butter with coconut oil, use a plant-based egg substitute, and select dairy-free chocolate chips for a completely vegan version.
• Low-Sugar Baltimore Cookies: Substitute granulated sugar with monk fruit sweetener and use dark chocolate with lower sugar content to create a diabetic-friendly option.
• Nutty Chocolate Edition: Add chopped almonds or pecans to the cookie base for extra crunch and incorporate a hint of almond extract in the chocolate coating for enhanced flavor complexity.

Pairings That Complement Baltimore Berger Cookies

• Pair these rich Baltimore Berger Cookies with a sweet Moscato d'Asti, whose light bubbles and honeyed notes perfectly complement the chocolate's intensity.
• Brew a robust espresso or dark roast coffee to cut through the cookie's sweetness, creating a balanced and indulgent flavor experience.
• Serve cold whole milk alongside the cookies, allowing the creamy dairy to soften the deep chocolate icing and enhance the cookie's cake-like texture.
• Sprinkle chopped toasted almonds or pecans around the serving plate, adding a crunchy contrast to the soft, decadent cookie and providing a subtle nutty undertone.

Storage Guidelines for Baltimore Berger Cookies

• Place Berger cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Keep them chilled for up to 7 days, maintaining their soft texture and rich chocolate coating.
• Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, then store them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months without compromising taste or quality. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• Store cookies in a sealed container away from direct sunlight and heat. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness. Keep in a cool, dry spot to prevent chocolate icing from melting.

FAQs

• Are Baltimore Berger Cookies unique to Baltimore?

Yes, these cookies originated in Baltimore, Maryland, created by George and Henry Berger in the mid-19th century. They became a beloved local treat and are considered a traditional Baltimore delicacy.

• What makes the texture of these cookies special?

The cookies have a soft, cake-like base that’s different from crisp cookies. They’re more like a soft vanilla cookie topped with a thick layer of chocolate fudge icing that makes them distinctively rich and indulgent.

• Can I make these cookies if I'm not an experienced baker?

Absolutely! While the recipe requires some careful steps, it’s straightforward enough for bakers with basic skills. The key is to follow the instructions carefully, especially when mixing the dough and creating the chocolate coating.

Homemade Baltimore Berger Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 31 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Berger cookies delight Maryland dessert enthusiasts with their rich chocolate-topped shortbread base. Sweet memories of Baltimore bakeries come alive when shared with friends and family.

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Ingredients

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• 1 large egg
• 99 g (3.5 oz) granulated sugar
• 180 g (6.3 oz) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 74 g (2.6 oz) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 74 g (2.6 oz) milk
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 170 g (6 oz) confectioners’ sugar (sifted)
• 340 g (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
• 170 g (6 oz) heavy cream
• 28 g (1 oz) light corn syrup
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 0.125 tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or light grease.
2. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly blend butter, salt, vanilla extract, and baking powder until smooth and creamy.
3. Gradually add granulated sugar, then incorporate the egg, mixing until well combined.
4. Carefully fold in flour and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
5. Drop cookie dough onto prepared sheets in 1 1/4″ mounds. Use moistened fingers to gently flatten each into 1 1/2″ circles, spacing them 2″ apart to allow for spreading.
6. Bake for 10-11 minutes until bottom edges are lightly golden but tops remain pale. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet.
7. Prepare chocolate icing by combining chocolate chips, corn syrup, vanilla, and heavy cream in a heatproof bowl.
8. Heat the chocolate mixture near boiling point, stirring until smooth and bubbling. Remove from heat immediately.
9. Whisk in confectioners’ sugar and salt until the icing achieves a silky, uniform texture. Allow to cool to lukewarm temperature.
10. Dip each cookie completely into the icing, ensuring full coverage. Place back on the baking sheet.
11. If desired, apply a second icing layer for more generous coverage. Wait until icing firms slightly if it seems too runny.
12. Let cookies rest until icing sets completely. Store in a single layer within an airtight container at room temperature for several days, or refrigerate for extended preservation.

Notes

• Softening butter beforehand ensures smoother cookie dough and easier mixing, preventing lumpy textures.
• Using room temperature egg helps create a more uniform batter and improves overall cookie consistency.
• Avoid overmixing the dough to maintain a tender, delicate cookie texture that’s characteristic of Baltimore Berger Cookies.
• Chilling the dough for 15-20 minutes before baking can help prevent excessive spreading and maintain the cookie’s shape.
• For gluten-free variation, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
• When coating cookies with chocolate, use a dipping fork or offset spatula for more even and professional-looking icing coverage.
• Store cookies between layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate chocolate coating.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 11 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 235 kcal
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 92 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 42 mg