The Halfmoon Cookie - The Sweet Story of an Upstate New York Food Icon
Picture this: It's the roaring 1920s in Utica, New York. Jazz is playing on the radio, Model T Fords are puttering down the streets, and in a cozy little bakery on Genesee Street, something magical is about to happen.
Meet Harry B. Hemstrought – part baker, part genius, and unknowingly, the one about to create one of upstate New York's most beloved cookies. Half chocolate, half vanilla on top. Sweet harmony in every bite. His recipe took a soft, cake-like cookie and gave it the perfect balance of half chocolate, half vanilla on top and the rest is history.
Little did Harry know that his humble creation would spread across the entire upstate region like a delicious army of perfectly balanced treats, but that's how the cookie crumbles. From Albany to Buffalo, from the Adirondacks to the Finger Lakes, the Halfmoon Cookie is beloved and widely enjoyed across upstate New York.
The Halfmoon isn't just a cookie – it's a sweet tradition passed down through generations, and proof that sometimes the simplest ideas become the most enduring part of history.
Today, you'll find Halfmoon Cookies in bakeries throughout Utica and across upstate New York, each one carrying forward Harry's legacy. Because in a world of complicated desserts and fancy pastries, sometimes all you need is a cookie that knows exactly what it is: half chocolate, half vanilla, and 100% irresistible.
Ready to learn even more, watch our short Drawn to Wonders video we created that explores the backstory of this cookie.
For more information, or to visit and try a Halfmoon in Utica for yourself, check out these links:
Do you love The Halfmoon Cookie? Check out some of our Upstate NY souvenirs and gifts featuring an original character we created to celebrate this iconic food.
Halfmoon Cookie Unisex Tee Shirt
Halfmoon Cookie Kids Tee Shirt
