Customer Reviews

Sweet Maria's Italian Cookie Tray: A Cookbook

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was thrilled to find this book. There's something special about an Italian cookie bakery with the variety of designs and flavors. I tried four recipes. Two were good but were similar to recipes I already had: Coconut Macaroons and Anise cookies. The other two were failures: the Florentines were so thin that they separated from the almonds and the Sesame cookies were inedibly bitter. Many of the recipes use the same base ingredients which makes for easy preparation but somewhat redundant taste. I wished for the more elaborate cookies. My biggest issue was the lack of photos for visual guidance. Also appearance is a huge part of Italian cookies. I'm sure that the absence of photos kept the cost of printing down but it was a false economy. I will try more recipes in this book but will also look for others with more instruction.

These recipes are for cookies just like my Itlain grandmother use to make. They are authentic, accurate, and great.

THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF THE EASIEST BAKING COOKBOOKS THAT I'VE EVER COME ACROSS. IT WAS VERY SIMPLISTIC. I TRIED ALMOST EVERY RECIPE IN THE BOOK AND WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS AS WAS MY STEP-FATHER WHO IS FROM ITALY. THE BISCOTTI WAS THE BEST!!!!!

This is probably the best and most frequently used cookie cookbook in my collection. The recipes are authentic Italian style cookies similar to what you would find in a good Italian bakery or coming out of grandma's oven. Maria gives interesting little anecdotes with almost every cookie recipe. I have tried almost every cookie in the book and have not been disappointed yet. With the holidays approaching, this is definitely a cookbook worth owning.

Well written, nice selection of traditional Italian cookies, just what I was looking for. So far, I've made the biscotti and the sesame cookies and both were delicious.

My only complaint is that the ingredients list is printed in a tiny font that is very hard to read and makes it easy to make a mistake on measuring - so read the measurements carefully. If not for that I'd have given it 5 stars.

I was very excited to get baking once I got this book. It includes a nice variety of cookies. I think it would a helpful aid if pictures were included. For example, the Almond Crescents recipe calls for the dough to be shaped like a horseshoe - not quite a crescent. I was just curious what's the author's cookie looked like.
I do think the recipes are wonderful and can easily be adapted for your personal taste. I think this book will make a delightful addition to any baker's repertoire.

This little cookie book is simply wonderful! I just borrowed this book from the library last week for the first time! I made the cinnamon nutmeg cookies and everyone who ate them thought they were very good! This is one cookbook I am definately adding to my collection!

If there was a rating higher than 5 stars, this book would get it! Every cookie recipe I have tried has been a hit at family and work functions. And easy!! Simple instruction, readily available everyday ingredients make this cookbook a GREAT stocking stuffer for the holidays. I've owned this book for several years and LOVE IT. Recently purchased another copy for a relative. You will be able to toss the bulky 500+ page cookie book that is probably stored away in a cabinet collecting dust and keep this one right on your counter because I promise - it is all you will need!! I have all of her books and they are ALL worth getting.

I purchased this book for my Grandmother. She liked the recipes in the book, but she wished it had more photographs of the actual cookies. There are a few, undetailed illustrations, but no reference photos.

This is a fantastic cookbook. I am Italian and did not write down all the recipes I should have and have been looking for a simple book. I read all the reviews and the biggest objection is the lack of pictures. Well I appreciate the price of the book and believe pictures would push it up. If the cookie looks fine to you and your family then rejoice. I have other books that put extra gourmet ingredients that do not improve the taste enough to warrant their infusion. One cookie we always baked at Christmas is the Cherry x-mas cookie. We have added other ingredients to make them even more festive such as chocolate chips, pineapple chunks and cocoanut. Love this book!