The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Cookies [Hardcover]

Marie Simmons (Author), Chuck Williams (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Williams-Sonoma Collection | Publication Date: November 4, 2003

Whether it's a classic chocolate chip cookie for an afternoon snack at the kitchen table, a tangy lemon bar as a treat after lunch, or a delicate jam-filled cutout cookie shared at a special gathering of friends, we all have a favorite cookie or two that we just cannot resist.

Williams-Sonoma Collection Cookies offers over 40 delicious recipes, including time-honored favorites as well as fresh new ideas. Brighten up a rainy day with chocolate cookie sandwiches, tempt guests with light hazelnut meringues after a dinner party, or celebrate the holidays with sweet and sparkly cutout stars. Here, you will find all the classics as well as cookies for making with and enjoying with kids or for sending to faraway friends. If you are planning a party or searching for a cookie to establish new holiday tradition, you'll find plenty of recipes with style inside these pages. In addition, a chapter devoted entirely to decorating provides you with simple ideas for transforming cookies into little works of art.

Full-color photographs of each cookie recipe help make it easy to decide which one to bake, and photographic side notes throughout highlight key techniques or essential ingredients, making this book the ideal source to have on hand for making cookies. An informative basics section and glossary fill in all you need to know to create a wide array of irresistible cookies.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marie Simmons is a well-known food writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of The Good Egg and coauthor of Lighter, Quicker, Better, both of which won James Beard Awards. Ms. Simmons also writes monthly columns for Bon Appétit and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; First Edition edition (November 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743226836
• ISBN-13: 978-0743226837
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Baking > Cookies

More About the Author

Seattle-based Sur La Table has kept its finger on the pulse of America's cooks since opening its doors in 1972 at Seattle's historic Pike Place Market. Since then, chefs and home cooks with a taste for adventure have flocked to the culinary mecca. A destination for iconic chefs like Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, Martha Stewart, and Mario Batali, Sur La Table entices aficionados and curious beginners alike with its amazing selection of cookware and tools. With a successful catalog, Web site, cooking class program, and stores coast to coast, Sur La Table continues to share its passion for the traditions and tastes of the world with people who love to cook and entertain. To find out more about Sur La Table, go to www.surlatable.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Variety of Cookies, November 14, 2004

By 

Flame_926 "flame_926" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Cookies (Hardcover)

I have had excellent experiences using this book. Although some of the recipes call for non-standard kitchen equipment (like Madeleine trays or silicon baking sheet liners) most of the recipes are both easy to use and very good to eat. I particularly liked the chocolate chip cookie recipe; it never fails to turn out chewy and delicious chocolate chip cookies.

Here are the rest of the recipes included:
Scotch Shortbread, Sugar Cookies, Lemon Bars, Anise Biscotti, Madeleines, Linzer Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies, Brownies, Blondies, Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches, Black & White Cookies, Nutty Butter Balls, Crisp Chocolate Bites, Ruby Jewel Cookies, Almond Sand Cookies, Neapolitan Cookies, Chocolate Espresso Bars, Almond Crisps Drizzled with Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cookies, Brown Sugar Tuiles, Cigarettes Russes, Pistachio-Spice Cookies, Double-Ginger Snaps, Lizzies, Hazelnut & Dried Cherry Biscotti, Butterscotch Coconut Cookies, Oatmeal, Date, & Walnut Spice Cookies, Coconut-Macademia Triangles, Spritz Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Moravian Molasses Cookies, Brandy Snaps, Bourbon Balls, Rugelach with Apricot and Pistachio Filling, and Hazelnut Meringues.

The book also has an excellent section of decorating tips and every recipe features a beautiful full-page color photo.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, November 12, 2003

By 

Huntress (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Cookies (Hardcover)

As with the reviewer of "Wonderful," I had this on my wish list since I saw it on Amazon.com. Having just received it, I have made the chocolate-chip cookies (still searching for the best recipe!), blondies, butterscotch-coconut cookies, and espresso bars. Of course they all turned out wonderful! The pictures in the book are luscious, as will all William Sonoma's books. I feel the author does a good job of presenting cookies with varied flavors (espresso, fruit, chocolate, ginger, etc.) and giving a wide variety of cookies to choose from (bars, rolled, drop). I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves cookies or just simply enjoys looking at beautiful food photography.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch out, cookie monster!, November 19, 2003

By 

cplewis "cplewis" (Merrifield, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Cookies (Hardcover)

The recipes in this cookbook are very straightforward and easy-to-follow. And at this price, it's totally worth it, because you'll definitely find at least two or three recipes you'll fall in love with. I personally love the Gingersnaps, and they've been a big hit with my family as well. Give yourself a little extra time the first time you prepare any of these recipes: they're not hard, but you'll definitely get better/faster at it the more you do it. Highly recommended for anyone, whether you're a master chef or just a beginner -- the great photos and straightforward directions are perfect for any skill level!