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Great Cookies: Secrets to Sensational Sweets
Carole Walter’s fans know her as an award-winning author, teacher, and mentor, and her new book will keep them cheering, as she turns her attention to the most popular theme in home baking: cookies.
Packed with more than 200 delectable recipes and more than 150 tantalizing photographs, Great Cookies skillfully and joyfully answers the call for a colorful, all-inclusive cookie book. From traditional favorites like Snickerdoodles, Oatmeal Raisin, and Favorite Lemon Squares to future stars of the cookie jar like the trail mix–inspired Teton Trailers and chewy, chocolaty Midnight Macaroons, Great Cookies provides something to satisfy every taste and every occasion.
There’s even a section devoted to the quintessential American cookie—chocolate chip. With nuts or without? White chocolate or milk? Chocolate dough? Oatmeal in the dough? Carole provides a dozen chocolate chip recipes in all, plus definitive research on a crucial issue: “Not All Chocolate Chips Are Created Equal.”
Drop cookies. Bar cookies. Piped, pressed, and rolled. Great Cookies covers every conceivable method for baking these tasty confections. In the more than thirty years that she has studied and taught baking, Carole has cataloged a wealth of helpful tips and troubleshooting hints that for the first time are gathered in one collection.
With guidelines for measuring and substituting ingredients, storing and freezing, recapturing that fresh-from-the-oven flavor, decorating, even gift-wrapping and shipping, Great Cookies addresses all the basics and then some. And this ultimate guide is rounded out with authoritative information on ingredients, equipment, and the foolproof techniques for which Carole is known, including the essential “Secrets To” hints for every type of cookie.
With master baker Carole Walter by your side, you may never look at a glass of ice cold milk the same way again.
Packed with more than 200 delectable recipes and more than 150 tantalizing photographs, Great Cookies skillfully and joyfully answers the call for a colorful, all-inclusive cookie book. From traditional favorites like Snickerdoodles, Oatmeal Raisin, and Favorite Lemon Squares to future stars of the cookie jar like the trail mix–inspired Teton Trailers and chewy, chocolaty Midnight Macaroons, Great Cookies provides something to satisfy every taste and every occasion.
There’s even a section devoted to the quintessential American cookie—chocolate chip. With nuts or without? White chocolate or milk? Chocolate dough? Oatmeal in the dough? Carole provides a dozen chocolate chip recipes in all, plus definitive research on a crucial issue: “Not All Chocolate Chips Are Created Equal.”
Drop cookies. Bar cookies. Piped, pressed, and rolled. Great Cookies covers every conceivable method for baking these tasty confections. In the more than thirty years that she has studied and taught baking, Carole has cataloged a wealth of helpful tips and troubleshooting hints that for the first time are gathered in one collection.
With guidelines for measuring and substituting ingredients, storing and freezing, recapturing that fresh-from-the-oven flavor, decorating, even gift-wrapping and shipping, Great Cookies addresses all the basics and then some. And this ultimate guide is rounded out with authoritative information on ingredients, equipment, and the foolproof techniques for which Carole is known, including the essential “Secrets To” hints for every type of cookie.
With master baker Carole Walter by your side, you may never look at a glass of ice cold milk the same way again.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2003
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73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 3, 2009
"Great Cookies" is put together really well with a huge amount of recipes split into sections based on the cookie type, i.e. hand formed, international, pressed, etc. The writing is terrific and quite helpful and the photography is beautifully done.
I've had this book for about 1 year now and have used approximately 20 of the recipes from each of the sections. Some of the recipes, "giant ginger spice cookies" and "coconut crusted key lime napoleons" for example, came out wonderfully - better than I could have expected. The end product was easy to get to and SO delicious and flavorful. Other recipes however, I would say about 1/3 of the ones I've made, didn't turn out at all. The flavor was either all wrong or the texture ruined the flavor or the recipe was simply too hard to follow. The oatmeal raisin cookies were dry and utterly lacking in the usual zest needed in this type of cookie. Strange ingredients, such as corn syrup, are included in what should other wise be simple chocolate chip cookies. I've had quite a few cookies look nothing like the photo accompanying the recipe and taste nothing like was promised from the description. I'm a fairly experienced baker and have been pretty disappointed by the results on several occasions.
Overall, I would recommend this book but don't rely on a recipe for entertaining until you've tested it out.
I've had this book for about 1 year now and have used approximately 20 of the recipes from each of the sections. Some of the recipes, "giant ginger spice cookies" and "coconut crusted key lime napoleons" for example, came out wonderfully - better than I could have expected. The end product was easy to get to and SO delicious and flavorful. Other recipes however, I would say about 1/3 of the ones I've made, didn't turn out at all. The flavor was either all wrong or the texture ruined the flavor or the recipe was simply too hard to follow. The oatmeal raisin cookies were dry and utterly lacking in the usual zest needed in this type of cookie. Strange ingredients, such as corn syrup, are included in what should other wise be simple chocolate chip cookies. I've had quite a few cookies look nothing like the photo accompanying the recipe and taste nothing like was promised from the description. I'm a fairly experienced baker and have been pretty disappointed by the results on several occasions.
Overall, I would recommend this book but don't rely on a recipe for entertaining until you've tested it out.
December 14, 2011
I read a lot of cook books, so I may start to include them in my reviews (until now, it's just been the cookbooks that were heavy on text). Anyway, this is an awesome book. The recipes are great; the way they're organized is really useful. Walter is first and foremost a cooking teacher, and that really shows - she includes tips and techniques along with the recipes, and the end of the book includes a comprehensive section on ingredients (what they do, how to choose the best); equipment (same) and basic baking techniques. She also rates the recipes in terms of difficulty, which is also helpful.
The only thing I'd quibble with here is that while the recipes are good, I think there are better out there (several courtesy of Martha Stewart). For example, while the chocolate chip recipe included here is good (and she gives several creative variations), I think the one I use (doctored from the back of a chip bag) is better. But that's a matter of personal taste. If you like to bake cookies, this is a must-have.
The only thing I'd quibble with here is that while the recipes are good, I think there are better out there (several courtesy of Martha Stewart). For example, while the chocolate chip recipe included here is good (and she gives several creative variations), I think the one I use (doctored from the back of a chip bag) is better. But that's a matter of personal taste. If you like to bake cookies, this is a must-have.
November 2, 2011
This cookbook is fabulous. If you like to bake cookies this is the book to have and the only one you may really ever need. Each recipe includes the story behind the cookie creation, a great description of the cookie, a color photo of the cookie (sometimes in a group photo), clear step-by-step instructions and ingredients, tips, and cookie characteristics. There is nothing missing, nothing to be confused or wonder about before trying a recipe. I have tried a few of the recipes and the Honey Roasted Peanut Butter cookies has been the favorite and is so often requested, I have not had a chance to try even more recipes from the book. I think I would rename this book to "Sweet Success" because that is what the experience of reading the book and using it to bake with has been.
August 24, 2019
Everything I made turned out great. There are a lot of color photos but not one for each recipe. Most recipes in here are things I wouldn't make so decided to not keep the book. It's a heavy hardcover with dust jacket. The book itself has a design on it.
Please click here to see images of the things I've baked.
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December 14, 2021I agree with KG below - to me the recipes I baked were banal. I have made 6 or 7 recipes in the 10 years that I have owned this book. I have 6 other books on cookies alone. Walter’s recipes were all just “ok” in flavor and texture - nothing memorable. I had ignored this book till my husband asked for oatmeal raisin cookies three days ago. This is the first recipe in her book alongside a pretty picture of the end result. These were a disaster - not just ok like the prior recipes- these were thick, dry and BLAND. I had checked and rechecked my measurements before starting. Maybe there was a misprint? Whoever designed the book deserves applause - it is attractive. The recipes are consistently nothing exceptional. I ended up here while researching if someone else had the same result.
December 10, 2017
lots of fun choices
September 4, 2020
Cookies, one our better inventions. Scalable. This book has some excellent recipes and techniques.
April 9, 2022
Very solid recipe book including several I have not seen elsewhere. Carole Walter knows her baking!
August 7, 2008
On the hunt for a gingerbread man recipe that I could handle (as someone who's cutout cookie dough-challenged), I came to this book. Success! The gingerbread is great and other recipes look good but haven't tried any yet, but something tells me there will be a few more splatters on these pages by the time the holidays are over. My only criticism is that the instructions about preparing the pans (with butter, parchment, foil, etc.) are a little fussy. They're probably accurate, but really, who wants to spend that much time greasing a pan?
May 27, 2007
Love pictures, and pretty good cookie recipes and tips, but airs on the side of existing cookies and international cookies, but less on creative or original recipes. Would also like to see more sables - esp since sables are SO expensive in Tokyo.
November 26, 2010
Wow! Lots of yummy looking recipes in this one. I'll have to check this out again when I have more time. Some of the ones I'm dying to try: spiked apple cookies, honey-roasted peanut butter cookies, chocolate snowcaps, and triple chocolate pretzels. Might have to buy this one...
July 29, 2011
This is not my favorite cookie book, but I think having a selection of cookie books is a good idea if you are going to serve cookie platters as a dessert idea,this is a good addition to your collection--great pictures and the recipes are varied and work
March 18, 2008
I love this book. It not only gives recipes, but also hints to get certain cookies (like chocolate chip) the way YOU like them. Fun, easy, informative. Definitely one to have on hand.
March 20, 2008
OH MY YUM! I can't begin to tell you how delicious this book is. Just get it.
October 8, 2014
I love to bake cookies and I tried a few new recipes from this book. It's a great book for anyone new to baking too, with lots of tips and recipes that are simple. Beautifully done also.
November 10, 2010
Love these recipes!! If I could keep renewing it from the library and never return it I would. Derrick loves the toffee bar recipe and soo easy!
May 25, 2011
This book has every possible cookie recipe you could want.
September 11, 2012
Well written. I've made a few things and all came out well!
June 3, 2015
Best sugar cookie recipe EVER.
February 23, 2015
Great cookie Cookbook
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews