How to Make Cookie Jar Favorites [Hardcover]

Editors of Cook's Illustrated (Editor), John Burgoyne (Illustrator), Christopher Kimball (Introduction), Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine (Author), Jack Bishop (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1998 | Series: Cook's Illustrated How to Cook

An illustrated step-by-step guide to the simplest and best American cookies

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Cookie recipes: do we really need more? Absolutely, provided they're from How to Make Cookie Jar Favorites, a truly useful guide. In fewer than 100 pages, it presents illustrated, step-by-step instructions for preparing all-time cookie delights, definitive recipes for the likes of oatmeal, sugar, icebox, and chocolate-chip cookies, and tips and information that all cooks can use.

Beginning with an exploration of cookie ingredients, along with an investigation of baking equipment and mixing methods, the book then presents master formulas with interesting variations and related recipes. A typically concise chapter offers foolproof formulas for classic Toll House and chewy chocolate-chip cookies (an extra egg yolk and melted butter yield lasting chewiness), in addition to suggestions for coconut with toasted almonds and black-and-white chocolate-chip variations. Other exemplary recipes follow, such as those for snickerdoodles, peanut butter cookies, almond crescents, and sandies. Underlying techniques are explored and illustrated throughout (manipulating dough to achieve marbleized cookies is one) and sensible tips abound (for example, when making second and third batches, don't place the dough on hot cookie sheets or baking may be uneven).

A true primer, the book is part of the Cook's Illustrated Library, a modest yet consistently authoritative series from the editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine. Like the magazine, the books are dedicated to presenting tried-and-perfected recipes and cooking techniques in a concise, approachable way. --Arthur Boehm

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Boston Common Press (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936184272
• ISBN-13: 978-0936184272
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,028,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Delicious, May 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Make Cookie Jar Favorites (Hardcover)

This little volume is one of a collection of single topic cookbooks published by Cook's Illustrated. It quickly became my very favorite cookbook of all time because I love to make cookies for my children and their friends. Due to fanatical kitchen testing of methods and ingredients the editors have offered advice and recipes that are simple and actually work. My favorites are the chocolate chip, peanut butter and oatmeal but there are dozens of others that are equally as good. I consider it a must have for any baker and a perfect small gift also.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No really, these are seriously great recipes., May 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Make Cookie Jar Favorites (Hardcover)

When I was growing up, my mom made the BEST chocolate chip cookies. Yes, every adult thinks that his mom's recipe was the best, but I've now found a recipe that tops even my mom's. I loved hers because they came out really thick and chewy. I'm not a fan of the traditional tollhouse cookies which I find are too flat and boring. Mom said she makes hers with vegetable shortening because butter spreads too much. But butter DOES taste better, and in this book is a recipe that uses butter AND results in a thick, chewy, gorgeous cookie. Sorry Ma, but they got you beat! The book is worth it for this recipe alone. But the Sugar Cookie recipe is also a winner. I ate half the batch as soon as they were cool. YUM! My one criticism is rather ungenerous number of recipes. But I'll take quality over quantity any day.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Can not dispute the recipes ..., November 21, 2002

By 

Stephanie Manley (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Make Cookie Jar Favorites (Hardcover)

Quite honestly dessert recipes from the people at Cooks Illustrated are my flat out favorite. What ever they do, I believe they are some of the best that you will try. Their chocolate chip cookies are delicious and about as close as to a wonderful bakery as you are going to get. This series of books disappoints me. Think the size of a large postcard, that is going to be the size of this book, its not thick either. The Dessert Bible would be a better choice many more recipes than what this has at not a great increse in price. I am disappointed at the lack of content in this boo. Great recipes, but not a great price.