Black and White Cookie
"The Black and White Cookie is a soft, cake-like cookie (about 4 inches diameter) with a flat top covered in half chocolate icing and half vanilla icing. It's more cookie-shaped cake than actual cookie—tender and spongy. Despite the name, it's not truly a cookie (no crunch). It's sold at delis, bakeries, and bodegas across NYC and is eaten as a snack or dessert with coffee."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Sweet, nostalgic
Duration
10 minutes
Best For
Snacking
The Backstory
Created by Glaser's Bake Shop in Yorkville (German-Jewish neighborhood) in the early 1900s. Originally called 'half-moon cookies,' they became 'black and whites.' The treat gained fame from a Seinfeld episode where Jerry used it as a metaphor for racial harmony. It's uniquely New York—rarely found outside the city.
Local Secret
"Eat it by alternating bites to get both chocolate and vanilla in each bite—this is Seinfeld-approved technique. The cake should be soft and fresh, not dry. Buy from old-school Jewish bakeries or delis, not Starbucks (inferior). Best paired with black coffee. It's not a breakfast item—afternoon snack or dessert."