Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Cookie Book (Better Homes & Gardens Ultimate)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Better Homes and Gardens cookbooks are always exceptional, and so is the Ultimate Cookie Book. There's a great selection of standards, exotic and fancy cookies, and even some candy recipes like fudge and peanut brittle.

I especially liked the special baking tips and tools guide in the front. They even tell you where to get unusual ingredients like edible cookie glitter.

The instructions were quite detailed, and at least half the recipes had nice color photos so you could see the effects of their cookie decorating.

There were a couple of specific cookie recipes I was looking for that were not in the book, but they're not in any other cookbook I have seen, either. I wanted a recipe for those gourmet brownie cookies that you can buy in the shopping malls, and a recipe for chocolate cookies with creamy crushed peppermint candy filling for Christmas. Although these were missing, there were still recipes in there that were close. So I could probably improvise and figure out a recipe eventually.

Overall, I would say this book is a very good buy.

Basically this book is just an updated version of "Biggest Book of Cookies: 475 All-Time Favorites (Better Homes & Gardens) by Better Homes and Gardens (Plastic Comb - Aug 15, 2003)" which I already had. There are a few new recipes and the color pictures are wonderful but I am glad I just borrowed it from the library. Don't get me wrong, the recipes are great and scrumptious, and a great purchase if you don't own the other. Either book is a very nice gift for your baking friends.

This book has become my bible for new cookies. There are so many to choose from and one is better than the next. Great pictures, easy directions.

This looks like a nice cookie cookbook--lots of color photos, lots of recipes. The problem is that many of the recipes call for using hydrogenated shortening (Crisco, e.g.), which we're supposed to be avoiding for health reasons. I realize, of course, that eating lots of cookies isn't exactly healthy, but as long as I'm going to bake them at home, I'd just as soon avoid using partially hydrogenated fat. Most store-bought cookies have at least a small amount of this
stuff. So I'll have to pick and choose carefully.

This book has all sorts of cookie recipies and even candies, bars, and cupcakes! It's my ultimate dessert bible. The recipies are easy to understand, and there is a guide at the front for those who need to brush up on their kitchen lingo. One of my favorite recipies in the book is for "Chocolate Dream" cookies. They're delicious, and, believe me, you'll get quite a caffeine-boost out of them. They've saved me on long study-nights! A must-buy.

This book is a treat to look through and a delight to bake from. There are simple-to-make cookies and fancier ones for special occasions in many flavours and shapes, using all kinds of ingredients (chocolate, nuts, fruits, peanut butter, oatmeal, coconut, jams). There are drop cookies, shaped cookies, refrigerator cookies, bars, rolled cookies, etc. If you are in the mood to make cookies, this book will certainly inspire you to start baking. There is a full colour illustration for at least half the recipes showing the finished cookie and lots of helpful hints throughout the book. The print is easy to read and the recipes are clear but not over-wordy. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that the book is so heavy!

I bought this book for a gift for a family member and decided to try out a few of the recipes myself. I tried the giant triple chocolate recipe and was skeptical when there was absolutely no liquid in the recipe. Turns out I was right, the cookies came out terrible! I also tried the snickerdoodles, and they came out good but I feel like I can make better ones by tweaking our family's recipe for sugar cookies by adding walnuts. The pictures look amazing, but sadly my cookies did not live up to expectations. My advice: avoid the book and stick to your proven family favorites.

Informative book with great recipes. Has tips on baking, storing and ingredients. Delicious recipes a must have for the new & experienced baker.

All the favorites and so many more, everything is easily understood and most have photos. This is a great book, buy one for all your girls!

I got this book for Christmas last year, and the photographs are beautiful and the book has wonderful little tips and tricks in the beginning and detailed substitution tables and other informationals in the back of the book. I love the international cookies section!

I made around 20 of these recipes since last year and over the holidays this year, and I have the following to say: most of the recipes needed an additional 1/2 cup to full cup of flour for the dough to stand up and bake as it was supposed to. I also think there are too many variations on shortbread, without a terrific thumbprints recipe. Also, I question the recipe writer/chef's reluctance to prescribe baking powder instead of the parts soda and cream of tartar she often uses.

But the recipes that have been good have ROCKED. I especially like the slices section for its ingenuity and flavors. Sandwich cookies are my new favorite thing to make!

I like this book, but I'm not sure it's the huge cookies book I would have chosen for myself.