Baking cookies can bring joy and comfort to any day. Berger cookies are a delightful treat that pairs soft chocolate cake with creamy frosting. They are perfect for gatherings, weekend baking, or satisfying a sweet tooth. Don’t worry if you’re new to baking; this recipe is friendly for beginners and breaks down each part clearly.
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Treat
Berger cookies shine for their simple yet delicious flavor combination. The soft cookie base and rich frosting create a satisfying dessert that many people love. You don’t need fancy tools or expert skills to make them. With easy steps and approachable ingredients, you will feel proud when you create these cookies that taste as good as they look!
Easy Way to Make Berger Cookies
Making Berger cookies involves mixing a few key ingredients, baking them, and then adding a rich chocolate frosting on top. First, you’ll prepare the cookie dough and bake the cookies until they turn golden. After cooling, whip the frosting and spread it generously over each cookie. It’s a straightforward process that results in beautifully tasty cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature preferred
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/2 teaspoon imitation vanilla extract
- 1 and 2/3 cups cake flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 6 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2/3 cup natural cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons imitation vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175 °C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, then beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, milk, and vanilla extract, stirring until completely combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until combined.
- Scoop dough onto a baking sheet, spacing at least 2 inches apart. Flatten each cookie lightly.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown. Cool cookies.
- For frosting, combine butter and corn syrup in a bowl and beat until creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until combined.
- Add cocoa powders, stirring until smooth. Skim over low-speed, drizzle in heavy cream and vanilla until combined.
- Melt frosting over a double boiler until smooth.
- Frost cooled cookies, allowing them to set before serving.
Best Way to Serve Berger Cookies
You can serve Berger cookies at room temperature. They are delicious on their own, or you could add a glass of milk or a cup of coffee for a wonderful treat. These cookies make great snacks for parties, gatherings, or afternoon delights. They also fit perfectly in lunchboxes for a sweet surprise!
How to Keep Berger Cookies Fresh
To store your cookies, place them in an airtight container at room temperature. They can stay fresh for about 5 to 7 days. If you want them to last longer, you can freeze them. Wrap the cookies tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a sealed bag. When you want to enjoy them, let them thaw at room temperature for a bit before serving.
Helpful Tips for Making Berger Cookies
- Make sure your butter is softened. This means it should be at room temperature and firm but easily indented with your finger.
- When mixing the butter and sugar, beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Don’t overbake the cookies! They should look golden at the edges while still soft in the center. They will firm up as they cool.
- Use a spatula to spread the frosting smoothly over the cookies once they are completely cooled.
Variations
- Add chocolate chips to the cookie dough for extra chocolate flavor.
- Experiment with different extracts, like almond or peppermint, for the frosting.
- Swap out the heavy cream for milk to achieve a lighter frosting texture.
FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake the cookies a day in advance and add the frosting right before serving.
Can I freeze this recipe?
Absolutely! You can freeze the baked cookies without frosting. Just thaw and frost them before serving.
What can I use instead of cake flour?
You can substitute with all-purpose flour. For every cup of cake flour, use 1 cup of all-purpose flour minus two tablespoons.
Conclusion
Berger cookies are a delightful mix of soft cookies and rich frosting that anyone can make. This recipe is perfect for beginners, as it lays out easy steps. You will create delicious cookies that can brighten any day while building your baking confidence.
I would love to hear how your Berger cookies turned out! Please leave a comment about your baking experience. If you know someone who is learning to bake, share this recipe with them, too. Don’t forget to check out more beginner-friendly dessert recipes to try your hand at!
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Berger Cookies
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 30 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Berger cookies are a delightful treat that pair soft chocolate cake with creamy frosting, perfect for gatherings or satisfying a sweet tooth.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature preferred
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/2 teaspoon imitation vanilla extract
- 1 and 2/3 cups cake flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 6 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2/3 cup natural cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons imitation vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine unsalted butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
- Add the egg, milk, and imitation vanilla extract, stirring until completely combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until combined.
- Scoop dough onto baking sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart. Flatten each cookie lightly.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown. Cool cookies.
- For frosting, combine salted butter and corn syrup in a bowl and beat until creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until combined.
- Add natural cocoa powder, Dutch-process cocoa powder, stirring until smooth.
- Skim over low-speed, drizzle in heavy cream and imitation vanilla until combined.
- Melt frosting over a double boiler until smooth.
- Frost cooled cookies, allowing to set before serving.
Notes
- Unsalted and salted butter: Using both gave the best flavor in testing. If you only have salted butter, reduce the salt in the cookie dough to 1/4 teaspoon. If you only have unsalted butter, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the frosting (stir it in after the cocoa).
- Vanilla extract: Berger cookies have a distinctly artificial flavor; imitation vanilla extract helps mimic the classic taste. You can use pure vanilla if you prefer, but the flavor will be less like the original.
- Cake flour: Strongly recommended for the closest imitation of the classic Berger cookie crumb. All-purpose flour does not behave the same here.
- Storing: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
