Berger Cookies?

[LittleNorthwest]

My friend from New York requested Berger Cookies and I am relatively new to Baltimore and have never heard of them. What are they and where do I get them?

[Foodgeek]

Rocklands BBQ in Arlington has them too....but might as well go to the Italian store and get a sub too. heh.

[e-mail]

[Stacys]

If it wasn't such a pain to get from NE DC to western Arlington in the evening, I would happily go there for a sub and some cookies!

[Stacys]

Any idea where I can get them in the DC area? Live in Brookland, work in Bethesda. I need to put them in a holiday box to send to an ex-pat in London.

[Bob W]

Not especially close to you, but the Italian Store in Arlington carries them, along with Martin's Chips (another Baltimore favorite).

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Italian Store
3123 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22201

[Smiles2008]

Just saw them a couple of days ago there. I never had a berger but I am eating one now...not bad I say! Very sweet. I think one does the job!

[Bob W]

They are good from the freezer too!

[Smiles2008]

I will have to try that. Thank you for the tip.

[Just Visiting]

You are in luck. The Chevy Chase Supermarket (on Jones Bridge Road, just off Connecticut) sells them.

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Chevy Chase
6200 Chevy Chase Dr, Laurel, MD 20707

[colhghts]

Try Giant. The one in Columbia Heights has them.

[DC_Convert]

Surprisingly, one place to get them is the Italian Store in Arlington.

[HSBSteveM]

Yes, the perfect finish after your Milano sub!

[keithlb1]

I grew up in Maryland and had a real attachment to Berger cookies, but as my tastes changed I realized that the chocolate didn't taste much like chocolate??
Go Figure.

[chowsearch]

The ingredients have changed.

[terp152]

A little late to add my 2 cents. Grew up in B'more and now live in Kentucky. I still order Berger's cookies direct. Have to have some now and then.

[RJJR]

Look in the latest Saveur magazine they have a fullpage dedicated to the Berger cookie as the Baltimore favorite cookie

[LittleNorthwest]

Thank you all for the history lesson and shopping tips. I am not sure whether these cookies will be to my taste, but my sugar junkie New Yorker friend will be excited for a care package full of them.

[Bob W]

Does he like black and white cookies? If so, he'll probably love Berger cookies.

I am not a B'more native, nor am I into really sweet things, but there is something about Berger cookies that I find strangely addictive.

Having said that, for a local dessert I'd rather have some peach cake or a big slab of smearcase (old-time cheesecake).

[Denise]

If you didn't grow up in Balmore eating these cookies, their allure will escape you.

[JonParker]

Amen to that Denise. I can't stand them. For local desserts give me Baltimore peach cake.

That said, I would think you could get them in any of the local markets. I'm sure I've seen them in Cross Street market, although exactly where escapes me right now.

[MDicecreamguy]

I DID grpw up in Baltimore and I don't see what all the hoopla is about Berger cookies. I think the cookie itself is fair at best and the topping is way too sweet( not choclatey enough) Now, that said I will go out on a limb and say that a lot of the local "knock-offs" of the Berger cookie ( AKA "Chocolate Tops" ) made by many local bakeries, which Gourmet Bakery who distributes these gems to many area bakeries and delis are FAR SUPERIOR to the Berger Cookie. They are ALMOST as good as the ones Silbers Bakery used to make.

[ryzaroo]

Count me in as another. I grew up in Baltimore and I cannot eat Berger cookies. In fact I think they are repulsive.lol. ...but I know they are a B'More " trademark".

[FoiGras]

MDicecreamguy--glad to know that someone remembers Silber's Bakery. Their butter cookies were the best. Too bad they went out of business. Muhly's also sold cookies. Long gone Baltimore traditions like Haussner's, Marconi's, Danny's and Chesapeake Restaurants. FoiGras

[chowsearch]

I saw a version of chocolate tops at Stone Mill once...there was a point where Berger's switched from butter to marg in the frosting about ten years ago and I think it changed the taste perceptibly.

[treetop tom]

By the time Silbers Bakery opened in 1908, Bergers had been making their cookies for more than 70 years. Now 100 years later, Bergers is still cranking out the cookies and Silbers is a distant memory.

[MDicecreamguy]

Too bad they haven't improved the recipe in all that time!....

Actually all kidding aside.....I'll say this....For a "PACKAGED" cookie....Berger Cookies are way above average. But for my money ( and calories !!!!) I'll take a "fresh" bakery-style chocolate top any day !

[MDicecreamguy]

ok......since the.last time I posted on Chocolate tops. was a couple of years ago....there is a new player in town which is making THE best version of this cookie yet.....SUBURBAN HOUSE restaurant in Pikesville bakes their own chocolate top cookies FRESH every day. I challenge all of you Berger Cookie fanatics to taste a real cookie

[ocpitmaster]

Silbers Bakery.............when grandma came to the beach for the summer, always with a box from Silbers. When we went to visit, first stop even before grandma's was Silber Bakery on Liberty Rd.
And, why can't we get Berger's at the beach?

[FoiGras]

ocpitmaster--unfortunately, Silber's Bakery has been out of business for more then 20 years. I, too, loved their butter cookies. A great memory from my childhood. On any special occassion, my parents would purchase a pound of the cookies for me exclusively. I savored a few each day until the pound was gone.

Bergers are really good. You can order them via the company online and they will ship them to you at the Beach. My only disappointment with the Berger's cookies, is that there are now only the chocolate frosted tops. Years ago, when they had their stall at the Lexington Market, there were strawberry, lemon and butter rum frosted tops. they were divine. Of course, chocolate is always the best. \

Just check out online how to order and have shipped those great Berger cookies. FoiGras

[albinoni]

Totally disagree. I just spent a few days in B'more in August, and discovered Berger's stand in the Lexington Market for the first time then. I bought a half pound of Berger cookies and was instantly hooked. No need to grow up in Baltimore.

[FoiGras]

The cookies are available at most local food markets. What I want to know, does anyone recall (about 30 years ago) when Berger's had a stall at Lexington Market and they had the"famous chocolate cookie". But, you could buy the cookie with a frosting of lemon, butter rum and/or strawberry. Fantastic. I suppose I should contact the company and inquire as to why they no longer produce the other varieties that I know of. But, I would like to see if anyone can respond to the memory of a long lost "delicacy." Or, if Berger's can still make the original flavors along with the famous chocolate frosting. FoiGras

[matt8313]

They may not have the other frostings, but the other cookies at the Berger stall are terrific.

[neutro410]

I know this is an old post but I remember the cookies you are talking about. My father used to bring home a pound of the mixed cookies. Another type was the jelly cookie with jelly in between two of the cake cookies. The cakes at the Lexington Market still come with the strawberry topping but no lemon or butter rum (they had a white topping). Next time I go I'll ask why they stopped making the cookies.

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Lexington Market
400 W Lexington St, Baltimore, MD 21201

[FoiGras]

Thanks for your reply. I would love to get the strawberry topped cookies and had completely forgotten about the jelly filled ones. I haven't been to the Lexington Market in over 20 years. I must go there just to get the cookies. I would love to ask why they did, indeed, stop making the lemon and butter rum flavored versions. FoiGras

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Lexington Market
400 W Lexington St, Baltimore, MD 21201

[sistereurope]

Yes, unfortunately my Giant and Safeway both carry them. Just kidding about the unfortunately...it's just that when I buy them, I HAVE to eat them (agree with everyone, they are really yummy, especially if you like chocolate frosting).

[KAZ]

The Berger bakery in the Lexington Market sells them by the pound. They were served at my wedding instead of wedding cake. Yeah, that good.

[chowsearch]

They're actually dietetic, because if you eat one, it's enough.

[charmedgirl]

Ahem. Speak for yourself. :-)

[HSBSteveM]

Oh yeah, well I love Berger cookies enough to marry one!

[baltoellen]

They are a Baltimore delicacy. In addition to Royal Farm stores, as mentioned earlier, you can get them at Safeway. (At the Canton Safeway, there are in the bread and Little Debbie aisle, and not in the packaged cookies aisle.)

[amyatkendall]

Eddie's Roland Park has them, too.

[pmody]

Eddie's Mt. Vernon has them too.

[MrsWheatie]

They are essentially a yellow cakey cookie with a thick layer of chocolate fudge on top. Only need one to send you over the moon ;-) You can get them at Lexington Market, Royal Farms stores, and probably in Giant. Search the board for more locations.
http://www.bergercookies.com/

[bmore_flavor]

Its only the best cookie ever made!
They have them in most supermarkets too. I saw them yesterday at Weiss. Almost bought some. I should go back.

[MrsWheatie]

I forgot to add the local BJ's warehouse carries them. Haven't checked out the new Costco for them.

[melpy]

Many grocery stores carry them. Ask where they are located. Although prepackaged, many times they are part of the bakery area and not the cookie aisle.