The Search for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

by Gwen Steege

The Original Nestlé Tollhouse Chocolate Chip cookie is ambrosia to most, but it's clear fans of that delectable cookie and chocolate combination just can't resist fiddling with perfection. And perfect they do! Over 100 delicious and inventive variations of that original recipe--from all-chocolate extravaganzas to tempting add-ins such as macadamia nuts, Amaretto, maple syrup, granola, and peanut butter--have been collected here from cookie chefs across the country. In this cookbook laced with sweet bits of chip history, readers will find recipes to suit every taste and be inspired to come up with their own fresh-from-the-oven chocolatey confections.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Diana Fijalkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute go-to cookie cookbook. I've tried most of the recipes and definitely have favorites, but the one I find myself making time and time again are the Creme de Menthe cookies with Andes Candies. In fact, every Memorial Day weekend I make them for our neighbor's party - and I am not allowed to NOT bring them. Yesterday I was working in the garden and he yelled over the fence "you're making my cookies, right?" YEP.

Except I'm not. I can't find my cookbook and I'm in an absolute panic. If by chance anyone out there has it PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know. :)

I love this book. My grandmother bought it for me on one of our last shopping trips together before I got married. Its a perfect gift for newlyweds or anyone else who loves cookies... going to keep tearing the house apart to find it.

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this plain looking book at my favorite bookstore ten years ago but after getting it on a whim I have been making the best chocolate chip cookies imaginable, I am forever grateful for these ideas, when one hits the cookie recipe jackpot, happiness isn't far behind. I decided to start with the best and try the first winning recipes and truthfully it has been my go to chocolate chip cookie recipe for years now ( page 34 Chocolate Chip Cookies I by Richard McDonald) all the recipes are form winning contestants and they are stunningly delectable. Some days I will add nuts or spices to the cookie dough, I find that coconut extract makes the cookies taste very buttery and that a pinch of cinnamon makes them melt into little cozy vanilla rounds of heaven. It's been my absolute favorite cookie book even though I have many cookbooks; I always have this out of its cover even though I know the main recipe by heart.

After collecting many books about sweets for years this is still my best buy, the 1998 edition I have has no real pictures but I don't mind. The first chapters that describe best tips and tricks about creaming butters and types of sugar and egg handling were a blessing as a teaching tool; I took my time to read the first chapters a few times so it sank in and made some really effortless but spectacular cookies. Whether one loves pecans or ginger, molasses or berries or recipes for fudge and cookies of complex textures and goo factor this has something for everyone. I love and treasure this book; if I had to recommend a cookie book to a best friend I would pick this over any other.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolate chip cookies are the USA favorite cookie and there are lots of variations. This book does a good job of bringing them together and although there is no universal perfect chocolate chip cookie you can indulge your craving with the variety offered.

[nosrednayduj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was disappointed that there wasn't a "low fat" recipe in the "good for you" section where it says how to hide wheat germ in your cookies to make them healthier. I've been experimenting with my own recipe (http://www.olum.org/yduj/recipe/choco...) but I'm not completely happy yet.

Still, I plan to try several of the recipes in the book. One of them is low fat because it uses a cup of milk. We'll see how that one goes, whether you end up with muffins.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a local thrift shop, and what a great find! I've tried all sorts of versions of Chocolate Chip Cookies from this book and settled on a few favorites, its a great book if you're the exploring sort.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic resource for chocolate chip cookie recipes - not all are great, but many of them are!