Customer Reviews

Biggest Book of Cookies: 475 All-Time Favorites (Better Homes & Gardens)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I like this book very much, and recommend it highly. It is a rare combination of 2 things that I enjoy every much: rich and fattening cookies, and recipes that work.

This book has 475 cookie recipes that have all been thoroughly tested by the test kitchens at Better Homes and Gardens. As such, every recipe I have ever done from this book has worked the first time through. With this many cookies, you are sure to find a recipe that fills the bill, and you will find rarities such as rosettes, cookie gun recipes, and pizzelle. There were some that I did not like, but that is not because the recipe was faulty, but because I just didn't like the cookie (this is especially true of the some of the bar cookies). This is also a handy book if you have youngsters who want to help you make cookies: the recipes won't fail you, and there are several "smiley face" sort of cookies that will appeal to children, and also many bars that are easy to do, even for children.

Also commendable is the format. The book is plastic spiral bound, which means that the book lies flat on the table when you are trying to do a recipe from it. Each recipe has a full page devoted to it, meaning that the text is nice and large and easy to read, and the recipe is nicely spread out over the printed page and not just jammed into a corner of it.

There are a few problems:
1) the most aggravating of which is side-bar mania, that is the placing of important information about techniques, ingredients, and equipment in random places throughout the book where you will never find them when you need them.
2) The actual introductory material on how to bake cookies in general in the first chapter is rather scanty. If all the above mentioned side-bars where collected and put into the first chapter, it might make for a decent primer on cookie making.
3) at one point, the authors suggest that you boil dried fruits in brandy on the stove. This sounds like a good recipe for a kitchen fire.
4) the chapter on bar cookies, in a side bar, admonishes you to always use the correct size pan. By my count, however, the chapter uses 5 different pan sizes, and you are unlikely to have all of them. Would it have been that much trouble to standardize all the bar recipes to one or two pan sizes?
5) this book had its share of marginal recipes: those that used mixes or store-bought cookie doughs, plus all those that have oats and/or dried fruit in them.
6) The flour measurement is spoon-and-sweep, but this important information is buried in a section titled "What makes cookies too dry?"

It has the following chapters (the chapter titles were too cute by half): Cookie Basics, Sweet Spoonfuls, Heavenly Hand-Shaped Cookies, Mold and Pressed Shapes, Slices of Delight, Rolling Pin Favorites, Fabulous Filled Cookies, Simple Shortcuts, Best Bars and Brownies.

This is THE book, you will need no other. I have been buying the grocery checkout seasonal cookie books for years and now I can give them away. All of my tried and true favorites are in one place now. I bake a lot of cookies and I have been pleased with every recipe I have tried. I look forward to new discoveries. I especially like the separate indexes; holiday suggestions are featured separately. The index also features listings by ingredient, so if you are looking for apricot, or pecan, or oatmeal, you can bake a treat based on what you have at hand. I have bought three of these as gifts already--bridal shower season is here. I collect cookie cookbooks and lately this is the one that I reach for most often. It is underpriced for the value. If it is not in here, there is probably not a recipe for it. I highly recommend this as an investment purchase... You deserve it.

Enhanced with more than one hundred mouth-watering color photographs; a comprehensive index and an separate index listing cooky recipes especially appropriate for the holidays; eighty tips for making homemade cookies better than any that can be bought in even the more upscale bakeries; and easy-to-follow methods for making, baking, and decorating cookies, bars, and brownies; the Better Homes & Gardens' Biggest Book Of Cookies is a spiral bound compendium of cookies that will make you hungry just to browse through! From Pecan Crispies; Spiced Apple Drops; Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies; and Peppermint Candy Cookies; to Scandinavian Almond Bars; Watermelon Cookies; Gingerbread Cookies; and Mascarpone Creams, every recipe comprising the Biggest Book Of Cookies will turn even the most novice kitchen cook into a world class cookie baking chef!

I bought this book based on the other reviews, and because over the years I have enjoyed baking with the holiday season baking magazines put out by Better Homes & Gardens. I have had this book about two weeks and have made the Pecan Bars and the Banana Bars. I took the Pecan Bars to a party and within 2 minutes of putting the cookie platter down I had three people ask for the recipe. I made the banana bars yesterday, and thought that I had died and gone to heaven. They are so rich and wonderful especially with the browned butter frosting. I know that I am going to find all kinds of favorites in this book, and that I will have lots of fun baking new things!

This is a fantastic book and I have already made 2 of the recipes with great and yummy results. I highly recommend this to anyone with children who is interested in cooking delicious snacks.

Wow! Although I would have liked that it'd had much more pictures, it's
excellent.

The Snickerdoodle Pinwheels recipe (p. 174) is one of our favorites. It's better than the traditional Snickerdoodles.

There's something for everyone. Nut lovers, nut haters. Chocolate lovers. etc.

This is the only cookie cook book you will need. There is a wide variety of recipes for every taste. Recipes range from simple to complex (for the more experienced cook). Every recipe I have made is delicious! Full of color photos and clear baking instructions and tips.

This is an amazing book. I own Martha Stewarts cookie book which has amazing recipes, but I needed a book just for the kids. This book is it. It has festive cookie recipes, classic cookie recipes and so much more.

Not wanting to make those fancy cookies for the little ones, who just want something yummy and eye appealing, this book has it all. Totally happy with it, the recipes, the easy to follow directions and the clear format. It is a win, win, win situation. I too use this book when I just want cookies to snack on without the kind of long list of ingredients other cookie books provide.

Although this book is out of print, there is an updated version of it, right here on amazon for a swell price. Enjoy!

The Ultimate Cookie Book (Better Homes & Gardens Cooking)

I have owned this cookie cookbook for many years and every christmas I always try a couple of new ones. I have never been disappointed. Every recipe WORKS. Not one has failed yet. This is my first "go to" cookie book when I am looking for a great cookie recipe. So many recipes! Wonderful for gift giving, holiday parties and cookie exchanges. You will not be disappointed. A GREAT book. Highly recommened.