Customer Reviews

Maida Heatter's Cookies (Maida Heatter Classic Library)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you love to bake cookies, there's no way around it--you must have this cookbook. I have nearly every cookbook with cookie recipes that Maida has ever written, but this one reprints the majority of her cookie recipes from over the years, so if you can buy only one (and several are now out of print), snap this one up.

Maida's recipes are wonderful, her instructions are the best, and she gives you all the information you need to succeed every time. There are lots of bad recipes out there, but you won't find any of them in this cookbook. Every Christmas, it seems like at least half the recipes I'm using (and I have a whole shelf of just baking cookbooks to choose from) are hers. She and they are the best. After reading one of her recipes, you will seriously wonder why everyone doesn't write recipes like this. But literally no one else does, so Maida remains in a class by herself.

One of my top 5 all-time favorite cookies is in this cookbook--the Austrian Wienerstube--dark chocolate-pepper cookies that are to die for. I made them again this year, and they are wonderful. But it really is hard to go wrong with any of Maida's recipes--which is what makes her indispensable.

PS Buy parchment paper already! You'll never go back. I just made 38+ dozen cookies of many different types using two pans which I never needed to wash, thanks to parchment paper. You can buy it at any grocery store, but if you're serious, order it from a baking supply company in the same size as your pans. Once I did this, the only thing I wondered was why I hadn't done it years ago.

Maida's recipes are wonderful. However, the editors did a poor job of putting the cookbook together. I was excited to see sugar cookies listed under the "Drop Cookie" chapter (Finally - an easy sugar cookie!). However, when I turned to the recipe I discovered that it was a rolled cookie. Upon further investigation I discovered about 20 recipes in the wrong sections. Since the recipes are reprints, the editors didn't really have anything to do except sort the recipes. It was disappointing that they didn't take the time to do a decent job.

First, this book is not a reprint of a previous title. It is a reprint of a selection of recipes culled from Maida Heatter's Book of Great Cookies, Maida Heatter's New Book of Great Desserts, and Maida Heatter's Book of Great American Desserts. The dust jacket claims that all the recipes have "been reviewed and updated." I compared numerous recipes to the originals and found no changes whatsoever. If you are serious about cookies and Heatter in particular, I recommend that that you search out used copies of the above cited books instead. They are very easy to find in used bookstores as they were also issued as book club selections.

Another complaint about this book and other two in the series (Cakes, Pies and Tarts) is the layout. Recipes are often placed in the wrong category and the recipes are run together, a particular pet peeve of mine. While her recipes do work, they could also benefit from an strong editor's hand. They tend to be over written and needlessly complex. Instructions are written in a long narrative, making it difficult to follow. A numbered step method would have been much better.

I am a lousy cook, and I don't really enjoy the whole process. But Maida Heatter's Cookies is like being coached by the most patient grandmother in the world. Not only are the cookies delicious, but the writing is so supportive, I feel that none of the recipes are beyond my ability. When I'm in the mood to bake, I always go here, and my only concern is whether I have the ingredients, never whether I have the expertise. One note to cooks like me: many recipes call for parchment paper, which I'm sure is wonderful but since I don't have any I don't bother and they all seem to come out just fine. In short, I highly recommend this book, and regularly give it as gifts, to rave reviews.

These cookie recipes give a detailed description of the final product, which more than makes up for no pictures. The Savannah Chewies and Oatmeal/Coconut drop cookies are some of the best cookies I've ever tasted, and they're as easy to make as chocolate chip cookies. I enjoyed just flipping through all of the recipes and had a hard time deciding where to start. I give this book two thumbs up!

I really like this book. I've done some of the recipes and they all came out great.
I'd just like to say that it's not a book for the novice baker. Doesn't have any pictures of the cookies featured here, nor general instructions on how to bake.
If it's your first time as a cookie baker, then you should buy other books like betty crocker or pillsbury, with basic cookie
recipes, great pictures and detailed instructions.

My original copy (1977) of Maida Heatter's Book of Great Cookies was just about to fall apart from all of the use it gets from me. I have yet to make a cookie from Maida's recipes that hasn't been delicious! I am thrilled to be able to purchase a new book to take over from my old tired copy! All my friends just love the cookies that come from this book and look forward to them every Christmas!

I won't be as mean-spirited about reissues of Ms. Heatter's recipes in new additions as others have been. As with many other cookbooks that are reissued, they attract new readers with each issue. Back when Ms. Heatter's books were first issued I was doing all whole grains and foods and wouldn't have dreamed of using her recipes. Now, many years later, I am delighted to have them. One of the particular attractions to Ms. Heatter's books for me is the blend of experience and technical information. I don't agree with others that she is overly verbose in her recipes. In fact, her explanations of many of the processes in cooking and baking are very helpful to the novice and experienced baker alike. I find it much easier to sift out instructions than to dream them up from an overly terse recording. Having said that, the cookies are fantastic, every one I've tried, and I'd recommend this as a standard reference on the subject.

I got this book as a gift a couple of weeks ago and let me tell you that I'm not the world's best cook. But I have tried a couple of recipes and they were great! If you like cookies,just buy it, you don't have to like cooking, but believe me, you will after this book!

I just made the brownies with peppermint patties from this cookbook--a bit involved, but describing them would be very challenging as they are TOO DELICIOUS! The recipes are all good ones, fun to make and each cookie is better than the last. You will enjoy this cookbook and it would make a great gift.