Cookie Swap!

by Lauren Chattman

Cookie swaps are joyful. Cookie swaps are social. Cookie swaps are hip yet old-school, trendy yet traditional. Cookie swaps are creative, inexpensive, DIY, and a great way to entertain. Cookie swaps are baking meets Stitch ’n Bitch , with newspapers, magazines, and websites―including The New York Times , The Washington Post , Better Homes and Gardens , Real Simple , Family Fun , Southern Living , Kraft.com, and Ed Levine’s Serious Eats―all writing about the trend. Cookie Swap! captures all of this and more in an idea-packed, slightly sassy guide.

On the one hand, it’s all about the when to swap (Christmas, of course, and other holidays, but also birthdays, bridal showers, graduation parties, PTA meetings, and fund-raisers―or just at your next book club meeting). And how to swap―with a planner, cookie swap math guide (so everyone gets the same number of cookies), ideas for invitations, decorations, containers, and then, when the crumbs have settled, how to make a keepsake.

On the other hand, it’s all about the cookies. Lauren Chattman is a former professional pastry chef and baking writer who’s put together a knockout collection of more than 60 delectable, easy-to-make, simple-to-sophisticated recipes covering every kind of cookie―from crowd-pleasing favorites like Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies and Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies to unexpected treats like Flaky Cardamom Palmiers and Green Tea Sandwich Cookies with Almond Cream. Finally, the book ends with a chapter of drink recipes―such as Iced Irish Coffee, Mini Strawberry Milk Shakes and Juicy Sangria―because not every cookie wants milk.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2010

Reviews

[Susan Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the concept for this book! I organize a cookie swap every year for by neighbors at Holiday time. Each year people want to bake chocolate cookies and the rules (my rules) say that only one participant can bake chocolate chip cookies. Then some people ask, what should I make? This book is absolutely perfect for ideas and recipes. It even tells you how to organize a swap and the recipe yields are all divisible by 12. The author has thought of everything, including advice on a "bag of tricks," which includes discussions of chocolate, types of butter, equipment, and types of cookies.

There are some traditional recipes and there are some that are more recently in demand - like gluten-free or sugar free.

There are 12 recipes for drop cookies. This is the type that my group most commonly likes to make. Some are very traditional and some are a bit more creative. I'm sure every one is delicious. Photographs are provided to make your mouth water.

Nine bar recipes - which includes brownies and blondies. (Ganache-glazed brownie bites anyone?) But I have my eye on the pecan bars and the cherry-almond shortbread cookies.

Four pastry type cookies are very attractive and not all that difficult to make. Seven types of refrigerator cookies allow you to make the dough ahead and bake when you're ready. There are five types of sandwich cookies. The recipes sound great, but there's more than twice the work so for me, I only would consider making these for special occasions, for just family. But the Walnut Sandwich cookies with Fig Filling sound delightful. There are 9 recipes for shaped cookies, including a recipe for royal icing - for those beautiful cookie cutter cookies that beg to be decorated.

There are also biscotti recipes and recipes for crackers/savory cookies. And several recipes that allow the baker to take some short cuts by incorporating ingredients that save time and effort. And a chapter that provides recipes for beverages that go well with cookies, Iced Irish Coffee, Mulled Cider, Mini Strawberry Milk Shakes are examples.

I would recommend this book for any cookie baker and especially for people who are planning/participating in a cookie exchange.

[Anne Mulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go to cookie cookbook. The Cayenne Dusted Cheddar Coins and Chocolate Walnut Mandelbrots are always a hit. I use different spice combinations on the Cheese Coins because my friends don't do hot. And the Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe has some good variations.
But I just use it for baking, not exchanging.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies with some nice variations. I also like the classic oatmeal raisin recipe.

[Claire Sylvestre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! I’m a huge cookbook fan and cookies are at the top of my list.

I found many interesting variations on biscotti that I still have to try as well as many others.

This would be a great book to bring as a hostess gift!

Thank youNetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for the ARC of COOKIE SWAP! by Lauren Chattman.

[Alexia561 · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm not much of a cook due to lack of interest, I've always loved baking and my all-time favorite project has always been cookies! Cookies can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, and are always welcome no matter what the occasion!

I was pleasantly surprised when this book showed up in my mailbox, as I had forgotten I'd left my card with the publisher at BEA. I had left my card with several publishers, but Workman Publishing is the only one to have kept their promise of sending me a review copy. Yea Workman!

This title arrived at a perfect time, as I was able to try some of the recipes in time for Thanksgiving. Received nothing but rave reviews, and the recipes I tried were all easy to make! I'm a big fan of drop cookies, but this book also offers recipes for sandwich cookies, bar cookies, pastry cookies, biscotti, and shaped cookies. There's even a section on cookies for special diets (nut-free, wheat-free, sugar-free), which is a great addition.

Each recipe has a picture of the finished product, a list of ingredients, simple to follow directions, and some even offer variations. For instance, I've been making chocolate chip cookies for years, but never thought to add cinnamon and cayenne pepper to spice things up! Can't wait to see the reactions to that cookie!

All in all I think this is a great book for the cookie-lover! Loads of great recipes as well as helpful advice for hosting a cookie swap of your very own. There's even a countdown checklist to help you prepare for the cookie swap. Very helpful! So if you love to bake cookies, I think you'll love this book! Think I'll try the molasses raisin recipe next....

[Tara Nash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book more helpful with setting up a cookie swap then for the recipes it contained. They were all perfectly reasonable, with one or two I might try, but the poor editing and use of corn syrup really turned me off.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

excellent oatmeal raisin cookie recipe!

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good recipes. Some of them take a lot of work. There are also some recipes for squares and drinks.