Best 3 Half Moon Cookies Hemstroughts Bakery Recipes

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Indulge in the exquisite taste of Half-Moon Cookies, a delectable treat originating from Hemstrought's Bakery. These cookies, characterized by their distinctive crescent shape and delightful filling, have captured the hearts of cookie enthusiasts for generations. Prepared with a blend of simple yet carefully selected ingredients, these cookies offer a harmonious balance of flavors and textures. The crispy exterior yields to a soft and chewy interior, while the sweet and tangy filling tantalizes the taste buds. With a detailed step-by-step guide and variations for different fillings and toppings, this article provides everything you need to recreate these delightful cookies in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

THE ORIGINAL HEMSTROUGHT BAKERY HALF-MOON COOKIE



The Original Hemstrought Bakery Half-Moon Cookie image

In NYC and elsewhere, they are known as "Black and Whites" or "half-and-half's". President Obama dubbed them "Unity Cookies". In Germany, where they are iced with either the vanilla or chocolate fondant only, they are called "Amerikaners"... Here in Central New York, we call them Half-Moon cookies and they are slightly...

Provided by Kelly Lollman

Categories     Cookies

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 27

COOKIES
3 3/4 c all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 1/4 c granulated sugar
1 c butter, cubed
3/4 c cocoa powder, sifted
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 c milk
FROSTING - CHOCOLATE
3 1/2 oz bittersweet chocolate
3 1/2 oz semi-sweet chocolate
1 Tbsp butter
4 1/3 c confectioner's sugar
2 Tbsp corn syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 pinch salt
1 c boiling water
FROSTING - VANILLA
7 c confectioners' sugar
1 c butter, cubed, room temp
1/2 c vegetable shortening
7 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

Steps:

  • 1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  • 2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside.
  • 3. Put sugar, butter, cocoa and salt in bowl of mixer and beat on medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to beat. Add half the milk, then half the flour mixture, beating after each addition until smooth; repeat with remaining milk and flour mixture.
  • 4. Spoon or pipe batter onto parchment-lined baking sheets, making 3'' rounds 2'' apart. Bake until cookies are set, about 12 minutes. Allow to cool, then remove from parchment.
  • 5. Frosting - Chocolate: Melt chocolates and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water over medium heat. Add confectioners' sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, salt and 6 tbsp. boiling water - mix to a smooth, stiff paste with a rubber spatula. Thin icing with up to 8 tbsp. more boiling water. Icing should fall from a spoon in thick ribbons. Keep warm in a double boiler over low heat.
  • 6. Frosting - Vanilla: Put sugar, butter, shortening, milk, vanilla and salt in a bowl. Beat on low speed to mix, then increase to medium and beat until light and fluffy.
  • 7. Using a metal spatula, spread about 1 tbsp. of warm fudge icing on half of the flat side of each cookie. Spread the other half of each cookie with 1 heaping tbsp. vanilla icing.

HALF-MOON COOKIES (HEMSTROUGHT'S BAKERY) RECIPE - (4.3/5)



HALF-MOON COOKIES (HEMSTROUGHT'S BAKERY) Recipe - (4.3/5) image

Provided by jbrockel

Number Of Ingredients 26

OR THE COOKIES:
3 3/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 1/4 cup sugar
16 tbsp. margarine, cut into pieces
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk
FOR THE FUDGE ICING:
3 1/2 oz. bittersweet chocolate
3 1/2 oz. semisweet chocolate
1 tbsp. butter
4 1/3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 tbsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Pinch salt
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM ICING:
7 cups confectioners' sugar
16 tbsp. room temperature butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
7 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Pinch salt

Steps:

  • Hello all. Here is the actual recipe for Hemstrought's half-moons. I used to work at Hemstrought's back in the 70s when the store was on Oriskany Circle. It's since been demolished to make way for the highway. Bob Hemstrought was a nice guy, though not sure if he's still around now. He was the head baker. So... here you go! We all know it's worth the effort! Enjoy! FOR THE COOKIES: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium bowl and set aside. Put sugar, margarine, cocoa, and salt in bowl of standing mixer and beat on medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to beat. Add half the milk, then half the flour mixture, beating after each addition until smooth; repeat with remaining milk and flour mixture. Spoon or pipe batter onto parchment-lined baking sheets, making 3-inch rounds 2-inches apart. Bake until cookies are set, about 12 minutes. Allow to cool, then remove from parchment. FOR THE FUDGE ICING: Melt bittersweet and semisweet chocolates and butter in the top of a double boiler over simmering water over medium heat. Add confectioners' sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, salt, and 6 tbsp. boiling water and mix to a smooth, stiff paste with a rubber spatula. Thin icing with up to 8 tbsp. more boiling water. Icing should fall from a spoon in thick ribbons. Keep icing warm in a double boiler over low heat. FOR THE BUTTERCREAM ICING: Put sugar, butter, shortening, milk, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of a standing mixer. Beat on low speed to mix, then increase to medium and beat until light and fluffy. TO FROST THE COOKIES: Using a metal spatula, spread about 1 tbsp. of warm fudge icing on half of the flat side of each cookie. Spread the other half of each cookie with 1 heaping tbsp. buttercream icing.

HALF-MOON COOKIES



Half-Moon Cookies image

This recipe makes 21 large or 34 small cookies, depending on the amount of dough used. Stir the leftover berry puree (used to tint the icing) into your morning yogurt or oatmeal.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Time 3h5m

Yield Makes 21 large or 34 small

Number Of Ingredients 14

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup fresh berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flours, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with 2 additions of buttermilk, beating until just combined (do not overmix). Refrigerate dough until firm, about 1 hour.
  • Roll 1- or 1 1/2-tablespoon pieces of dough into balls; place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until bottoms turn golden, rotating sheets halfway through, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored at room temperature up to 1 day.
  • Cook berries and remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring and crushing berries until soft and juices have been released. Pass mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible, and let cool completely.
  • Whisk together confectioners' sugar, honey, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Transfer half of icing to another bowl, and whisk in 1 teaspoon more water. Divide remaining portion in half again, and stir 1/2 teaspoon berry puree into one part, and cocoa powder and 3/4 teaspoon water into other. Spread white icing on half of each cookieâ??s flat side and fruit or chocolate icing on other half. Let set 30 minutes before serving.

Tips:

  • Use unsalted butter and bring it to room temperature before creaming it with the sugar. This will help the cookies spread less and keep their half-moon shape.
  • Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
  • Roll the dough out to a thickness of 1/8 inch. This will ensure that the cookies are thin and crispy.
  • Bake the cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Do not overbake, or the cookies will become dry and crumbly.
  • Let the cookies cool on a wire rack before storing them in an airtight container.

Conclusion:

Hemstrought's Bakery's half-moon cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat. With their simple ingredients and classic flavor, these cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. Whether you're a fan of traditional half-moon cookies or you're looking for something new to try, these cookies are sure to please. So next time you're in the mood for a sweet snack, give Hemstrought's Bakery's half-moon cookies a try. You won't be disappointed.

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