Big Fat Cookies [Paperback]

Elinor Klivans (Author), Antonis Achilleos (photographer) (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2004

Nobody's ever made baking history with a scrawny cookie. No matter what the occasion, nothing beats the big, fat, homemade kind. With this deliciously fun cookbook and a few simple ingredients, anyone can whip up a quick batch of one of 50 different gigantic crispy, chewy, or fancy-pants sandwich cookies. From classic Super Chocolate Chip to colossal Mocha Mud Mountains, Jumbo Coconut Macaroons to Lemon Whoopie Pies, this is total cookie satisfaction. Introductory material includes tips on buying the best ingredients, techniques such as mixing and forming the perfect round, baking ahead and storing, andfor those who actually like to share their cookieshow to pack them up safely so they won't break on the way to the party. So, get that sweet tooth ready and bite into a Big Fat Cookie.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cookies don't always get much credit for being desserts, partly because of their small size. Klivans's creations, however, give cookies the size they need to hold their own at the end of a meal (or anytime). Though she is a former pastry chef and a second-generation cookie fanatic, her recipes are wonderfully clear and appropriate for bakers of all skill levels; in the opening section, she gives basic advice about ingredients, utensils and techniques and offers tips on storage and ingredient substitution. The cookies come in all varieties, supersized, and few are difficult when following the detailed, step-by-step directions. Some are classics or variations thereof (Chocolate Chip-Stuffed Cookies, Big City Black-and-Whites); others, like the Cornmeal Currant Crunch Cookies and the Pineapple and Macadamia Islands, are less traditional; but all look divine, especially as depicted in Antonis Achilleos's luscious photographs. Klivans's writing is friendly and enthusiastic ("This cookie is ready to party") and filled with anecdotes about her family, friends and recipes. The cookies are divided into three categories-chewy, crispy and sandwich-with something to please everyone. Even those who spend very little time in the kitchen will be inspired to break out their baking sheets after thumbing through this enticing book.
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Review

"Elinor Klivans's Big Fat Cookies opens up a whole universe of giants, including chocolate chip whoppers and king-sized raisin pillows. If you're going to go blow 400 calories on a cookie, do it here." -Boston Globe

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (November 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811842169
• ISBN-13: 978-0811842167
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Baking > Cookies

More About the Author

Elinor Klivans is a notable cookbook author and food writer who has published articles for Bon Appetit, Fine Cooking, Cooking Pleasures, and the Washington Post, among others. A former pastry chef, she is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and lives in Camden, Maine.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Big, soft, and delicious. May 17, 2005

By J. Yoon

Format:Paperback

What I love about this book is it creates big, soft, and delicious cookies. The sweetness is just right, so that it never feels like you're being overpowered by sweetness. If you bake it right, it turns out quite chewy on the outside and very soft and gooey in the middle. Surprisingly enough, I have baked ALL her recipes, from natural cookies to sandwich cookies to dipped cookies and they were all delicious! I have tried cooking with The All-American Cookie Book and BIG FAT COOKIES book had far less fats and oils and more pure ingredients - butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. The other recipes from different cookbooks were more complicated and seemed to detach from the home-made style of fresh ingredients.
I started out as a beginning cook with absolutely no experience in baking cookies, and a month later using her cookbook, I am able to make awesome cookies that have been a hit between my friends, family, and relatives.
This is a great book!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to its name! May 15, 2006

By Tina M. Mancuso

Format:Paperback

Every cookie I've made from this book has been incredibly yummy and gotten rave reviews. I have only two complaints that caused me to give 4 stars rather than 5. First, though the pictures are very good, not every cookie is shown -- and I like to have some idea of what they're supposed to look like, especially with unfamiliar recipes. And second, some of the cookies are supposed to be like sandwiches -- two cookies with a filling between -- and these are not nearly so easy to achieve as the book seems to imply. It's really hard (at least for me!) to get two cookies to be exactly the same size and shape! However, those two small things aside, the recipes are excellent, and the book also has a couple things many cookbooks don't, such as summaries of prep and cooking time at the bottom of each page, and storage instructions for every recipe.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and easy cookie recipies December 30, 2004

By J. Siewers

Format:Paperback

Elinor Kivans's new cookie book is filled with new ideas and variations on old favorites. Check out the Celebration Sugar Cookies on page 76 -- the snowman decorations are wonderfully fanciful. The book has crisp graphics and great photos, which are always a motivation to try something new. I also like how easy the recipies are. The recipies don't require any fancy equipment or a lot of time. This book is great for both the novice and experienced baker.