Black and white cookies are created by covering a cake-like cookie with one-half white (vanilla) frosting and the other half black chocolate) frosting. The cookies are fairly easy to prepare, just take a bit of time and patience. To find out more about these treats, read on to learn how to make black and white cookies.

Also known as half-moons, the cookies are believed to have originated in New York City in the early 20th Century. The cookies have somewhat of a cult following, with entire blogs and even a portion of a Seinfeld episode devoted to them. Jerry Seinfeld touched on the racial aspect of the cookies, stating "If people would only look to the cookie, all our problems would be solved."http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098904/quotes

Unlike other cookies, there are few variations to black and white cookie recipes. Some recipes use general sugar cookies as the base, while traditional versions use more of a cake-like cookie, giving the taste of a cupcake.

While very common in New York City bakeries, if a trip to the Big Apple is not in your future, preparing the cookies at home is an option. To prepare these treats at home, you will need to gather your ingredients, prepare, bake and frost.

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Grease two cookie sheets and set aside.
3. Combine the sugar and butter in a medium mixing bowl and mix until smooth and creamy.
4. Add in the eggs, stirring well, then the milk, vanilla extract and lemon extract.
5. Combine the all-purpose flour, bread flour and baking powder in a large bowl.
6. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, stirring well between each addition.
7. Spoon rounded tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared cookie sheets, leaving two inches between each cookie.
8. Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the edges just begin to brown.
9. Allow to cool briefly on the cookie sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

1. Add the boiling water to a medium bowl.
2. Stir in three cups of the powdered sugar, then additional powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time until the mixture thickens. Leave it thin enough that you can easily spread it, but thick enough that it's not runny.
3. Pour one half of the icing to a separate medium bowl and stir in the melted chocolate.
4. Spread the plain icing over one half of the bottom of each cookie, then add the chocolate icing to the other half.
5. Place on wax paper to allow the icing to set up.
6. Serve and enjoy!