What Baltimore cookie is known for thick chocolate frosting on shortbread?

The Baltimore cookie known for thick chocolate frosting on shortbread is the Berger Cookie, commonly called Berger Cookies.

Berger Cookies are made by DeBaufre Bakeries in Baltimore, Maryland. Their defining feature is an unusually thick layer of chocolate fudge frosting spread over the flat underside of a small, imperfectly shaped shortbread cookie. The frosting is so substantial that it contributes most of the cookie’s weight and gives the treat its rounded appearance.

The recipe’s history traces to George and Henry Berger, German immigrants who came to Baltimore in the 19th century. The Berger business changed hands over time, and the DeBaufre brothers—former Berger employees—eventually purchased the company and recipe in 1969.

Berger Cookies are sometimes compared with black-and-white cookies, but the resemblance is limited: a black-and-white cookie is cake-like and usually divided between two icings, while a Berger has one dominant chocolate layer over shortbread. The cookie is strongly identified with Baltimore and remains the bakery’s signature product.