The Cookie Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum

The Cookie Bible

by Rose Levy Beranbaum

The ultimate cookie cookbook, from the bestselling author of The Baking Bible Rose Levy Beranbaum.

This is your must-have cookie book, featuring nearly every cookie imaginable, from rustic Cranberry Chocolate Chippers to elegant French macarons, and everything in between—simple drop cookies, rolled-and-cut holiday cookies, brownies and other bars, pretty sandwich cookies, luxurious frosted or chocolate-dipped treats, and much more. With legendary baker Rose Levy Beranbaum’s foolproof recipes—which feature detail-oriented instructions that eliminate guesswork, notes for planning ahead, ingenious tips, and other golden rules for success—it’s easy to whip up a batch of irresistible, crowd-pleasing cookies anytime, for any occasion. Standout classics and new favorites include:

  • Rose’s Dream Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Lemon Lumpies
  • Black Tahini Crisps
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly Buttons
  • Double Ginger Molasses Cookies
  • Caramel Surprise Snickerdoodles
  • Mom’s Coconut Snowball Kisses
  • Chocolate Sablés
  • Gingerbread Folks (with a special sturdy variation for gingerbread houses)
  • Pecan Freezer Squares
  • Brownie Doughnuts
  • Brandy Snap Rolls
  • Plus “extra special” details including homemade Dulce de Leche, Wicked Good Ganache, Lemon Curd, and more

Reviewed by annieb123 on

5 of 5 stars

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Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader

The Cookie Bible is a really comprehensive collection of cookies and small bakes by baking maven Rose Levy Beranbaum. Due out 9th Nov 2021 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it's 448 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

There are a number of truly perennial cookbooks like The Joy of Cooking, Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, The Cake Bible (also by Beranbaum) and Fannie Farmer's classic to name just a few. This is one for *every* lover of small bakes and cookies.

This book really does have it all. There are cookies which are familiar and beloved of everyone - so it gets an A+ on completeness (a whopping huge book). There are classics both easy and challenging for all occasions. There are also beautifully presented exotic cookies with unexpected twists: soft or fruity centers, candied peel, unexpected pairing of sweet and savory and more. There are many (many!) with an international background including lebkuchen, macarons, pizelles, pepparkakor (Scandinavian gingerbreads), and so many more. I am a huge cookie/cake fanatic and I couldn't think of a single cookie which isn't represented here in one form or another.

The recipes are grouped roughly thematically: hand rolled, dropped/piped, shaped by hand, rolled & cut, holiday cookie cutouts, bars & cake cookies, meringues & candies, and extras including the author's own recipe for candied citrus peels includes enough thorough instruction, extra hints and tips, and clear photographs to likely make it alone worth the price of the book. Each recipe includes an introduction, yields, description, equipment, ingredients listed bullet-style in a sidebar with metric and American standard measures included, and step by step specific directions which are clear and easy to follow. Alternatives and special info is included in "baking gems" which are highlighted in text bars at the end of each recipe.

The photography is superb. This is a classic and comprehensive collection and will be a perennial go-to. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 17 April, 2021: Finished reading
  • 17 April, 2021: Reviewed