Before we dig in: a true New York black and white is a round, flat, frosted bakery classic with one vanilla half and one chocolate half. It’s especially associated with old-school NYC delis and bakeries, and versions of it show up all over the Northeast and even in Germany.
1. A black and white cookie is technically… cake
Old school bakers and food writers will tell you the truth nobody wants to hear: a black and white “cookie” is basically a little frosted cake. The batter is closer to cupcake batter (but a little thicker so it doesn’t spread all over the pan), and the base bakes up soft and cakelike instead of crisp like a normal cookie. Some food historians even call them “drop cakes.” Untapped New York…