Home » Recipes » Cookie Recipes » Baltimore’s Famous Berger Cookies Copycat Recipe
posted by TidyMomon September 7, 2014 (updated Nov 9, 2022) 28 comments »
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With this copycat recipe, you can now have Berger Cookies from your own kitchen in any city.A soft vanilla cookie, topped with a thick fudge-like frosting has long been a cultural icon of Baltimore.
Unless you have some kind of super-human willpower, you’re going to find these cake-likecookies hard to resist. Not only is the soft shortbread cookie melt in your mouth tender but then you have the fudge-like frosting……….and yes, the frosting is supposed to be as thick as the cookie. The cookie and frosting share the spotlight in Baltimore’s famous cookies!
Now, I’ve never been to Baltimore, but I recently found out they have beenhiding an oh-so-decadent little secret there for generations; Berger Cookies. 
Table of Contents
What Are Berger Cookies?
The Berger cookie’s claim to fame is a thick little soft cookie topped with agenerous helping of super sweet chocolate fudge. If you are a cookie lover who also adores fudge you are going to fall in love with the sheer girth of this fudge like frosting that commands attention!
Don’t live in or near Baltimore? No worry, thanks to the team at King Arthur Flouryou can find them in your own kitchen! They say they have come up with a Copycat Berger Cookie Recipethat is VERY close to the original.
“While the fudge icing for these cookies is missing the original Berger cookies’ signature taste (think Hostess cupcake icing), we feel its consistency is identical, and its deep chocolate flavor perfect with its vanilla cookie base.” ~King Arthur Flour
The Best Way To Frost Berger Cookies
We took some video with my phone while we were frosting these Berger cookies, so Imade a little video to show you how we did it.
Grab An Apron…..we’re going to make Berger Cookies
Baltimore's Famous Berger Cookies Copycat Recipe
Yield: 28-30 2.5-inch cookies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
A soft vanilla cookie, topped with a thick fudge-like frosting has long been a cultural icon of Baltimore.
Ingredients
For Cookies
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup milk
For Frosting
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoonvanilla extract
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
To Make Cookies
- Heat oven to 400°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a large bowl, beat butter, salt, vanilla, and baking powder until well combined. Add sugar then egg and continue beating.
- Slowly add 1/3 of the flour then 1/2 the milk. Gently beating continue adding remaining flour, and milk alternating just until combined. Do not over beat.
- Drop tablespoon size dollops of cookie dough on prepared pan, leaving about 3 inches between each cookie. Flatten each cookie with a greased or wet bottom of a glass, yielding a circle about 1-1/2 inches across.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until slightly brown on bottom (no color change on top of cookie). Do not over bake, these are soft cookies. Remove from oven, cool for 5 minutes on pan, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.
To make frostingPlace chocolate chips, corn syrup, vanilla and cream in large microwave-safe bowl. Heat mixture on high for 1 minute, stir and cook on high for another 30 seconds. Stir until well combined. This may take a bit, but as you continue to stir it will eventually all come together into a creamy chocolate ganache mixture. Add powdered sugar and beat with electric mixer on high until thick frosting consistency. Set aside to cool to warm room temperature.To assemble
- Working quickly dip the flat bottom of cooled cookies into frosting (your hands are going to get messy here). Make sure to give the cookie a good coating of frosting and set on parchment paper, frosting side up. After all cookies have been dipped, spread remaining frosting evenly atop the cookies. The frosting should be as thick as the cookie. Allow to set (we thought they were best after setting several hours)
- Store in a single layer in an airtight container.
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram
Have you ever had an original Berger Cookie?
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Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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originally published on September 7, 2014 (last updated Nov 9, 2022)
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Leave a Reply
28 comments on “Baltimore’s Famous Berger Cookies Copycat Recipe”
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Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. — Reply
love these! pinned!!
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Cindy Eikenberg — Reply
Hi Cheryl! I was born and raised in Baltimore and still live in Maryland – my husband LOVES Berger cookies! So excited to try these! Thanks for sharing the recipe (they look absolutely awesome, by the way) and pinning! Have a happy Monday!
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Kate @ Diethood — Reply
I’ve heard about these, but have never had them. I can definitely see why everyone loves them!! That frosting, though… I’d eat it by the spoonfuls!!
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Gina — Reply
I have never had one before – but they look fabulous. Can’t wait to give this recipe a try Cheryl.
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Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction — Reply
Love that thick layer of fudge frosting!
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Marly — Reply
These cookies looks delicious…and love that video too!
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Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen — Reply
These cookies look totally irresistible! I want to stop everything and bake them now!
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Lori @ RecipeGirl — Reply
My family would love these cookies! So awesome!
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Oh my goodness these look AMAZING! I want one now!
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Angie | Big Bear's Wife — Reply
You have no idea as to how much I want one of these!!
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Patty — Reply
My husband is from Baltimore but never heard of these cookies. He now lives in Connecticut and I promised to make them for him. Thank you for sharing.
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Debrah — Reply
Oh my, they look delicious!
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Shaina — Reply
I blame you for all my cookie cravings.
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Kim Layton — Reply
This got my attention! Yum…I’m saving this one! Oh, and your photos look like something in a food magazine. Great job!
~Kim
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Kat@Home. Made. Interest. — Reply
yum! I love Berger cookies!! Definitely trying this recipe. Pinned!
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Sue {munchkin munchies} — Reply
Guess what?!? I am going to Baltimore in October, to help with a new grandchild, and I am going to hunt these down…when I’m not changing diapers, haha! Great timing…and then with your recipe I can make my own. 🙂
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TidyMom — Reply
first of all CONGRATS on the new baby!! let me know how the originals compare if you make them too 😉
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Holly (2 Kids and Tired) — Reply
I’ve never heard of a Berger cookie, but these look absolutely delicious. Pinning to try!
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Cheri — Reply
OMG. I haven’t seen these cookies in years. As a little girl we had a german neighbor who used to always make these for us but would never give us the recipe. I cannot believe I found this recipe. You have a NEW follower for life!!! :):)
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Ann — Reply
We are from the Baltimore area but no longer live there. I can’t wait to try this recipe to see if it comes close. We miss Berger’s.
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Aly — Reply
Baltimore girl born and raised. I’ve made this recipe before,they are tasty
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mad sad — Reply
yummy that cookies
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Aly — Reply
Oh, I just saw my comment never submitted properly last time. I meant to say that the cookies, while tasty, are not at all close to the originals. I am still looking for that perfect match. 😀
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Victoria — Reply
Born and was raised in maryland. I made these tonight and I hate to say it they tastep nothing like berger cookies. I was sadly dissapointed 🙁 even the frosting was way off
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TidyMom — Reply
I’ve never had the original, but we loved this cookie
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Jessica — Reply
This cookie is not close to the original, it’s the frosting that is really off. I think maybe milk chocolate might have been better. My husband is from Baltimore and I had some originals here so was sad that it was not like the original but I appreciate sharing a recipe, just wouldn’t call these copycats.
