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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or light grease.
- In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly blend butter, salt, vanilla extract, and baking powder until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add granulated sugar, then incorporate the egg, mixing until well combined.
- Carefully fold in flour and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare chocolate icing by combining chocolate chips, corn syrup, vanilla, and heavy cream in a heatproof bowl.
- Heat the chocolate mixture near boiling point, stirring until smooth and bubbling. Remove from heat immediately.
- Whisk in confectioners’ sugar and salt until the icing achieves a silky, uniform texture. Allow to cool to lukewarm temperature.
- Dip each cookie completely into the icing, ensuring full coverage. Place back on the baking sheet.
- If desired, apply a second icing layer for more generous coverage. Wait until icing firms slightly if it seems too runny.
- 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