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Delish Insane Sweets: Bake Yourself a Little Crazy: 100+ Cookies, Bars, Bites, and Treats
The first dessert recipe collection from the editors of the wildly popular site and magazine, Delish
The editors of Delish.com know one thing for ANYONE can bake an amazing dessert. Crammed with surprising ideas for treats that are both fun and easy, the wildly popular brand’s second cookbook features 100 new classics and reader favorites that have been shared hundreds of thousands of times. You’ll find all the essentials (Snickerdoodles, Death By Chocolate Brownies, and Extra-Fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes), but also the crazy twists Delish is known for, like Crème Brûlée Cookies, Samoa Cheesecake Bars, and Moscow Mule Cupcakes—plus an entire chapter dedicated to over-the-top cookie cakes and skillet desserts. This indulgent book will appeal to food lovers who bake the way most of us do—sometimes with a boxed mix, sometimes from scratch; as therapy for a bad day; or to impress friends on Girls’ Night.
The editors of Delish.com know one thing for ANYONE can bake an amazing dessert. Crammed with surprising ideas for treats that are both fun and easy, the wildly popular brand’s second cookbook features 100 new classics and reader favorites that have been shared hundreds of thousands of times. You’ll find all the essentials (Snickerdoodles, Death By Chocolate Brownies, and Extra-Fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes), but also the crazy twists Delish is known for, like Crème Brûlée Cookies, Samoa Cheesecake Bars, and Moscow Mule Cupcakes—plus an entire chapter dedicated to over-the-top cookie cakes and skillet desserts. This indulgent book will appeal to food lovers who bake the way most of us do—sometimes with a boxed mix, sometimes from scratch; as therapy for a bad day; or to impress friends on Girls’ Night.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2019
3 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 13, 2021
january 2021 update:
i made snickerdoodle cheesecake bars
december 2020 update:
i made millionaire shortbread!
i made peanut butter cookie-stuffed brownies!
november 2020 update:
i made loaded peanut butter blondies
they were spectacular.
i made peanut butter stuffed cookies!
peanut butter cookies stuffed with...peanut butter. best day ever.
i made ultimate snickerdoodles!
however, the recipe was meant to make 13 GIANT snickerdoodles, but i had many mouths to feed, so instead i made 4 1/2 dozen normal-sized snickerdoodles, and lemme tell you, i've never had any kind of feelings about snickerdoodles before, but these were amazing. and it's a good thing i made so many, because everyone who tried them came back for more and more and more.
october 2020 update:
i made strawberry shortcake cookies!
check out this goldilocks shit; i followed the directions, yet half were overdone and half were underdone.
i kept waiting for them to brown, and they kept refusing, so the first batch overbaked. they were also supposed to have a filling, but it got absorbed into the cookie somehow, so i intentionally underbaked the second batch to see what would happen.
still no filling. i guess i broke these cookies. i will try again another day.
i made samoa cheesecake bars!
i made flourless fudge cookies!
i made cookie dough brownies!
i made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!
i made santa's trash cookies!
since it's not xmas quite yet, i didn't just use red and green sprinkles, so these became ANYONE/ANYTIME trash cookies!
september 2020 update:
i made caramel apple bars:
the nutless corner was in deference to michael's dislike of (NOT allergy to) pecans. this method will not work for someone with a legit allergy.
these were, more precisely, apple pie bars, with apologies to michelle. it said "top with caramel," at the end, but the making of the caramel wasn't part of the recipe and even though i know several ways to make (and one way to buy) caramel, i skipped it in part because i didn't think it would transport well to work and they were already so delicious i didn't need to gild the lily.
course, then i went and gilded the lily with ice cream
and whipped cream
even though i left out the caramel (and sprinkled the pecans on top instead of incorporating them into the topping because of michael's aforementioned aversion), my cookbook philosophy is to make the recipe the first time exactly as written and then modify to my own tastes when i make it again. the recipe didn't specify apple breed, so i used a combination of ginger golds and honeycrisps, straying once more by using 7 instead of 6 apples because the ginger golds were on the small side. i was a real rebel this time, folks.
i made cherry chip cookies:
this batter is VIVID
fun fact—when i was little, i thought the lyrics to the song maniac:
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
meant she was a really shitty dancer. and that is the story of me and these cookies; i baked like i'd never baked before and made the rookie mistake of grabbing baking powder instead of baking soda, with a complete disregard for kitchen science. also, i knew i had chocolate chips in the larder, so i didn't stop to buy any on my way home, but i'd forgotten they were MINI chips. next time i will use regular chips and also the correct ingredients.
the garbagemouths at work didn't complain but i felt embarrassed about these poofy, tiny-chipped cookies.
i made molasses cookies:
and i ALSO made oatmeal fudge bars! again! these were by special request and for no mouths other than cassandra's.
i made death by chocolate cookies!
noods
all dressed up in ganache-finery.
beautiful salty cookies
or monocles for funerals!
i made best-ever brownies. twice.
the first was a lesson in why it's important to use the correct pan size
oops. i salvaged some, and they were delicious
and they made kickass brownie sundaes
where its ooey-gooeyness was perfect
take 2
BEST
EVER
BROWNIES!!
i made blackberry cheesecake brownies!
i made chocolate-covered strawberry brownies!
august 2020 update:
i made oatmeal fudge bars!
i made salted caramel brownies!
i made fluffernutter blondies!!
************************************
october 2019 update: i bought it! i am going to go through and post-it the crap out of it—there are so many things i want to make from this. hoo and ray!
************************************
september 2019:
NEEEEEEEEEED. IN TUMMMMMMMMMY.
come to my blog!
i made snickerdoodle cheesecake bars
december 2020 update:
i made millionaire shortbread!
i made peanut butter cookie-stuffed brownies!
november 2020 update:
i made loaded peanut butter blondies
they were spectacular.
i made peanut butter stuffed cookies!
peanut butter cookies stuffed with...peanut butter. best day ever.
i made ultimate snickerdoodles!
however, the recipe was meant to make 13 GIANT snickerdoodles, but i had many mouths to feed, so instead i made 4 1/2 dozen normal-sized snickerdoodles, and lemme tell you, i've never had any kind of feelings about snickerdoodles before, but these were amazing. and it's a good thing i made so many, because everyone who tried them came back for more and more and more.
october 2020 update:
i made strawberry shortcake cookies!
check out this goldilocks shit; i followed the directions, yet half were overdone and half were underdone.
i kept waiting for them to brown, and they kept refusing, so the first batch overbaked. they were also supposed to have a filling, but it got absorbed into the cookie somehow, so i intentionally underbaked the second batch to see what would happen.
still no filling. i guess i broke these cookies. i will try again another day.
i made samoa cheesecake bars!
i made flourless fudge cookies!
i made cookie dough brownies!
i made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!
i made santa's trash cookies!
since it's not xmas quite yet, i didn't just use red and green sprinkles, so these became ANYONE/ANYTIME trash cookies!
september 2020 update:
i made caramel apple bars:
the nutless corner was in deference to michael's dislike of (NOT allergy to) pecans. this method will not work for someone with a legit allergy.
these were, more precisely, apple pie bars, with apologies to michelle. it said "top with caramel," at the end, but the making of the caramel wasn't part of the recipe and even though i know several ways to make (and one way to buy) caramel, i skipped it in part because i didn't think it would transport well to work and they were already so delicious i didn't need to gild the lily.
course, then i went and gilded the lily with ice cream
and whipped cream
even though i left out the caramel (and sprinkled the pecans on top instead of incorporating them into the topping because of michael's aforementioned aversion), my cookbook philosophy is to make the recipe the first time exactly as written and then modify to my own tastes when i make it again. the recipe didn't specify apple breed, so i used a combination of ginger golds and honeycrisps, straying once more by using 7 instead of 6 apples because the ginger golds were on the small side. i was a real rebel this time, folks.
i made cherry chip cookies:
this batter is VIVID
fun fact—when i was little, i thought the lyrics to the song maniac:
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
meant she was a really shitty dancer. and that is the story of me and these cookies; i baked like i'd never baked before and made the rookie mistake of grabbing baking powder instead of baking soda, with a complete disregard for kitchen science. also, i knew i had chocolate chips in the larder, so i didn't stop to buy any on my way home, but i'd forgotten they were MINI chips. next time i will use regular chips and also the correct ingredients.
the garbagemouths at work didn't complain but i felt embarrassed about these poofy, tiny-chipped cookies.
i made molasses cookies:
and i ALSO made oatmeal fudge bars! again! these were by special request and for no mouths other than cassandra's.
i made death by chocolate cookies!
noods
all dressed up in ganache-finery.
beautiful salty cookies
or monocles for funerals!
i made best-ever brownies. twice.
the first was a lesson in why it's important to use the correct pan size
oops. i salvaged some, and they were delicious
and they made kickass brownie sundaes
where its ooey-gooeyness was perfect
take 2
BEST
EVER
BROWNIES!!
i made blackberry cheesecake brownies!
i made chocolate-covered strawberry brownies!
august 2020 update:
i made oatmeal fudge bars!
i made salted caramel brownies!
i made fluffernutter blondies!!
************************************
october 2019 update: i bought it! i am going to go through and post-it the crap out of it—there are so many things i want to make from this. hoo and ray!
************************************
september 2019:
NEEEEEEEEEED. IN TUMMMMMMMMMY.
come to my blog!
November 20, 2021
I love watching June cook these on YouTube!! So I had to give this a try. All these recipes looked absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to bring some of these recipes out for Turkey day next week. 🦃 I hope you all have a lovely day 🥰🥰!! Happy reading everyone !!
Wish me luck !!
The best recipe I saw was
Cherry chip cookies 🍪!!
Here’s the link if you’d like to give it a try too !!
https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe...
Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
2 c. chocolate chips
3/4 c. chopped maraschino cherries
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350° and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir into wet ingredients then fold in chocolate chips and cherries.
Using a large cookie scoop, scoop cookies onto prepared baking sheets and bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes.
Wish me luck !!
The best recipe I saw was
Cherry chip cookies 🍪!!
Here’s the link if you’d like to give it a try too !!
https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe...
Recipe
INGREDIENTS
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
2 c. chocolate chips
3/4 c. chopped maraschino cherries
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350° and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir into wet ingredients then fold in chocolate chips and cherries.
Using a large cookie scoop, scoop cookies onto prepared baking sheets and bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes.
June 14, 2020
Delicious, easy baked goods - this book made me purchase my own copy! Lots of full color pictures on one side and recipe on the other. S'more skillet cookies, S'mores poke brownies, Cinnamon roll cookies, Snickers-stuffed cookies, Cherry chip cookies, Death by chocolate skillet brownies are only a few of over 100 recipes to make you drool!
August 5, 2021
Absolutely one of my favorite dessert books! I haven't come across anything I've made that was bad. Also, love how most of these are pretty beginner-friendly!
January 18, 2021
I love this cookbook! I've already bookmarked at least 10 recipes to make, and the pictures are a amazing!
October 2, 2020
Picked Delish Insane Sweets up from our New Book Shelf so I'd have something to browse during break, and I totally need to go home and make something yummy. Like NOW!! Because dude!!
Gotta say it... This book has everything to satisfy even the most refined sweet tooth! Cookies, Cupcakes, brownies... You're craving it, it's probably in here! Along with some tasty noms you didn't even know existed. Guaranteed! While some treats are borderline obnoxious (the cupcakes filled with sprinkles seem a bit much for anyone over age 6), the majority sound fantastic.
My one and only complaint and the thing that caused this book to lose not one, but TWO stars is many of the cake recipes call for pre-packaged cake mix. I feel that's cheating and, quite honestly, a little lazy. And, ok, totally lame and bogus. For treats as beautiful and elaborate as these, shouldn't one bake a cake from scratch? I mean, if you're going to go to the trouble... Maybe that's just me being nit-picky, but making a scratch cake isn't hard. I'm no baker by any stretch of the imagination, and I can still bake a cake using all scratch ingredients. I can even bake you a yummy vegan version, if that's what you want. In fact, my vegan chocolate cake kicks the ass of most of the crap you'd get in a fancy bakery when it comes to flavor and moistness. My cake would make Bobby Flay weep with jealousy. Straight-up!
Boxed cake mix?!? Might as well take your happy bum to the nearest Dollar General and get yourself some Hostess Cupcakes for all the yum you'll get out of that.
Overall: I definitely plan to try some of these cookies! But I'm going to make my own cakes, thankyouverymuch. I promise the end result will be better than anything you can get from a box.
Gotta say it... This book has everything to satisfy even the most refined sweet tooth! Cookies, Cupcakes, brownies... You're craving it, it's probably in here! Along with some tasty noms you didn't even know existed. Guaranteed! While some treats are borderline obnoxious (the cupcakes filled with sprinkles seem a bit much for anyone over age 6), the majority sound fantastic.
My one and only complaint and the thing that caused this book to lose not one, but TWO stars is many of the cake recipes call for pre-packaged cake mix. I feel that's cheating and, quite honestly, a little lazy. And, ok, totally lame and bogus. For treats as beautiful and elaborate as these, shouldn't one bake a cake from scratch? I mean, if you're going to go to the trouble... Maybe that's just me being nit-picky, but making a scratch cake isn't hard. I'm no baker by any stretch of the imagination, and I can still bake a cake using all scratch ingredients. I can even bake you a yummy vegan version, if that's what you want. In fact, my vegan chocolate cake kicks the ass of most of the crap you'd get in a fancy bakery when it comes to flavor and moistness. My cake would make Bobby Flay weep with jealousy. Straight-up!
Boxed cake mix?!? Might as well take your happy bum to the nearest Dollar General and get yourself some Hostess Cupcakes for all the yum you'll get out of that.
Overall: I definitely plan to try some of these cookies! But I'm going to make my own cakes, thankyouverymuch. I promise the end result will be better than anything you can get from a box.
December 17, 2019
I have made two recipes from this book so far: Death By Chocolate Cookies (the first recipe in the book) and the peppermint frosted brownes with Andes mints (I forget the actual name of the recipe). Both were delicious, and lots of the other recipes look great, too. I got this book out of the library, but I might have to buy it!
March 19, 2020
We've loved the multiple desserts we've made from this book! Wish it didn't include using boxes of cake mix etc. and was all homemade 🤷🏻♀️ (We just made our own mixes and included it in the recipes).
November 4, 2019
Great photos and directions
October 3, 2020
really good recipes but disappointed that quite a few of them rely on box cake mixes as a base
March 18, 2025
This is my favorite cookbook it has so many good recipes definitely recommend to bakers.
March 31, 2025
Great book, I use it all the time when I’m baking. Would definently recommend to other bakers.
October 28, 2019
YUMMO! I think I gained 10 pounds just looking [and possibly drooling] over all of these recipes!
There are recipes for cookies, bars, cookie cups, cupcakes, a cake, skillet cookies / brownies, brownies, and more!
For each recipe, there is a color photograph, and full recipe with step-by-step instructions. There is a box that provides "Total Time" and "Makes" (how many). The recipes are all easy to follow (I ended up photocopying a few things, because I borrowed this from my local public library), and scattered throughout are tips to make your recipe better or to fix something if you, for example make too much cookie dough (p.158).
I swear there's a little bit of something for everyone!
Happy Reading and Eating!
There are recipes for cookies, bars, cookie cups, cupcakes, a cake, skillet cookies / brownies, brownies, and more!
For each recipe, there is a color photograph, and full recipe with step-by-step instructions. There is a box that provides "Total Time" and "Makes" (how many). The recipes are all easy to follow (I ended up photocopying a few things, because I borrowed this from my local public library), and scattered throughout are tips to make your recipe better or to fix something if you, for example make too much cookie dough (p.158).
I swear there's a little bit of something for everyone!
Happy Reading and Eating!
November 22, 2019
This is an awesome desert cookbook! The recipes are unique; there is a good mix of super easy to mid-level skill recipes. There is a photo for every recipe and each recipe is on one page.
My faves are the cookies and brownies. There’s a good mix of from scratch and from mix recipes in both sections. Highlights are strawberry brownies, cookie and milk shots and Moscow mule cupcakes (yep, they even do some boozy baking!). The recipes are clear, the tone is light and a little snarky, and there are several variations included for basic recipes.
This is a really fun baking book. If you live to bake, you’ve got to check this out.
My faves are the cookies and brownies. There’s a good mix of from scratch and from mix recipes in both sections. Highlights are strawberry brownies, cookie and milk shots and Moscow mule cupcakes (yep, they even do some boozy baking!). The recipes are clear, the tone is light and a little snarky, and there are several variations included for basic recipes.
This is a really fun baking book. If you live to bake, you’ve got to check this out.
January 17, 2020
I immediately want to go bake all the carmelly, chocolatey, cheesecakey recipes in this book. The recipes are easy to follow, well laid-out, and best yet, all of them have a close up picture of tasty treat. Cookies, bars, cupcakes, skillet, and even crockpot bakes. Some recipes include box mixes in the ingredients list and others do everything from scratch. It’s a book for all levels of baking expertise!
October 18, 2022
This is a great cookbook for decadent desserts. Some of these recipes are really creative, like those cocktail-inspired cupcakes. One thing that I appreciate is that most of them are easy to make with easy-to-acquire ingredients. As someone who lives in the Balkans, sometimes when you read American cookbooks they have these mystical ingredients that are either way too expensive to buy or unattainable in your country. One thing that I don't appreciate is having to use a cup-to-gram converter every time I bake something. I am begging everyone who is thinking of writing a cookbook to please include both imperial and metric measurements. Also, for America to convert to the imperial system.
January 19, 2023
I LOVE this book! About a year ago, I got really into baking, and this was one of the first cookbooks I purchased. Many moons later, stained but well-loved, this book still holds the place of honor on my shelf! No matter what, I love returning to the creative, tasty recipes from this book. The snickerdoodle cheesecake bars are a particular favorite of my family’s and me. If you are considering buying this book, I would encourage you to give it a chance. I’ve looked at hundreds of cookbooks, traversed the depths of my library, and yet cannot find another that measures up.
October 6, 2023
Carrot Cake Cookies
Banana Pudding Cookies
Flourless Fudge Cookies
Creme Brulee Cookies
Buckeye Cookies
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies (finicky)
Butter Pecan Cookies
Levain Knockoff Chocolate Chip Cookies
Michael Strahan & Sara Haine's Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookie
Mimosa Cupcakes
Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies
Best-Ever Blondies
Cowboy Blondies
Cookies'N' Cream Blondies
Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars
Samoa Cheesecake Bars
Banana Pudding Bars
Death by Chocolate Skillet Brownie
Pumpkin Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars
Shortbread Bites
Pecan Pie Brownies
Mini Eggnog Cheesecakes
Banana Pudding Cookies
Flourless Fudge Cookies
Creme Brulee Cookies
Buckeye Cookies
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies (finicky)
Butter Pecan Cookies
Levain Knockoff Chocolate Chip Cookies
Michael Strahan & Sara Haine's Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookie
Mimosa Cupcakes
Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies
Best-Ever Blondies
Cowboy Blondies
Cookies'N' Cream Blondies
Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars
Samoa Cheesecake Bars
Banana Pudding Bars
Death by Chocolate Skillet Brownie
Pumpkin Creme Brulee Cheesecake Bars
Shortbread Bites
Pecan Pie Brownies
Mini Eggnog Cheesecakes
November 20, 2019
Pictures of recipes? Yes.
Commentary on recipes? Yes.
Nutrition facts? No.
Recipe Style? American desserts, of all types.
Any keepers? Yes.
I really love how short and simple Delish recipes usually are. I didn't like how some of the recipes relied on boxed mixes, but that's just my personal issue. Same reason why I don't make recipes that call for canned cream of whatever soup. Still, this was an enjoyable book that is certainly worth a look.
Commentary on recipes? Yes.
Nutrition facts? No.
Recipe Style? American desserts, of all types.
Any keepers? Yes.
I really love how short and simple Delish recipes usually are. I didn't like how some of the recipes relied on boxed mixes, but that's just my personal issue. Same reason why I don't make recipes that call for canned cream of whatever soup. Still, this was an enjoyable book that is certainly worth a look.
January 5, 2020
These aren't recipes meant to hone any fancy pastry skills, but they are the ones you'll want around for parties, potlucks, and Wednesday night cravings. As with the other offerings from Delish, I personally appreciate the simplicity and shortcuts - it makes even the more over-the-top desserts feel within reach.
August 25, 2020
Wow-what a great cookbook. It covers only 3 of the essential great desserts or snacks: cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. Each recipe is well written and easy to follow, and has an accompanying picture. There are also helpful hints to make these delicious desserts even more delectable. Guaranteed to pack the pounds on!
March 16, 2021
Quite a few repeats to include a gimmicky option. Some where cute, but I wouldn’t use most of those.
Lots of pictures which was good, I saved only a couple as most of the recipes were pretty basic and I already have a go-to version (ie. shortbread, chocolate chip, ginger snap ect. I’m not looking for a new tried and true)
Lots of pictures which was good, I saved only a couple as most of the recipes were pretty basic and I already have a go-to version (ie. shortbread, chocolate chip, ginger snap ect. I’m not looking for a new tried and true)
November 15, 2019
I loved the other Delish cookbook so I couldn’t wait to see their dessert book. I checked it from the library so I will have to buy a copy. I made the cherry chocolate chip cookies and they were a big hit with family and friends.
January 28, 2020
This book gave me sweet cravings that I didn’t know I had before the moment I turned the page. Like Fluffernutter Blondies?! Um, yes please and thank you! So many sweet recipes, all with enticing photos, and very doable looking recipes. This girl will be making a few of these for sure!
Read
March 15, 2020Insane is right-every recipe is over the top, but simple enough in execution that I don't feel intimidated in making each pretty. You don't need much frosting skill, just hours and hours to assemble every later.
I'm assuming, since I still need to try a recipe...
I'm assuming, since I still need to try a recipe...
January 4, 2021
This is a good church potluck book for those who don’t have the time or interest to make something that takes much effort. Using processed unhealthy mixes often as shortcuts.
If you like The Cake Doctor books, you’ll Probably like this one too.
If you like The Cake Doctor books, you’ll Probably like this one too.
August 15, 2021
I do Love Delish most of the time, but I was a bit disappointed with this cookbook. Maybe it's just my tastes aren't the same as the masses, but I only liked a few of the recipes. The chocolate chip cookie dippers,butter pecan cookies and the bed ever blondies to name a few.
October 10, 2021
Glorious cookies and bars
Great picture on the cover. Beautiful photos of every cookie and bar. Many that are very tempting to make. With your variety you know you will have fun creating these cookies and bars.
Great picture on the cover. Beautiful photos of every cookie and bar. Many that are very tempting to make. With your variety you know you will have fun creating these cookies and bars.
November 17, 2019
Such yummy recipes! If you are a baker then this cookbook is definitely for you! Yum!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews