Cake Mix Cookies

I have used several recipes from this book. Two of my friends who have eaten these cookies have asked where they could purchase a copy.

What a great book. I have made a slew of recipes already, from all the different chapters in the book. Simple, clear & easy-to-follow instructions, super results. Some really surprising, sophisticated flavor combinations, not the run-of-the-mill cake mix cookies, although there are lots of great "basic" ideas, too, that have been hits with my kids. The key lime bars are sublime.

I love this book. It's very easy to follow and not intimidating. I would think the recipes are so easy and simple, that they are also kid friendly, but don't take my word for it since I don't have kids, nor work with them. I love the tips in the beginning chapter, where they tell you all these tips about making cookies and keeping them fresh, that some people, like me, who grew up eating pre-made cookies wouldn't know. The book also explains the differences between ingredients and how to prep them. If you know anybody, who's interested in learning to bake or would like to bake (including yourself), but don't have the time to make things from scratch, this is a great gift. I would have love this book when I was in college cause I really wanted to learn to bake but I didn't have the time, nor energy, or money to pay for cooking/baking class, so everything I made was out of the box. I discovered that it was a great way to work off some the stress from studying and the smell of baked goods was also a stress relief, which my roommates also enjoyed. I really have enjoyed using this book cause I still don't have the time nor the energy to make things from scratch. Don't get me wrong, I know that nothing compares to something made from scratch but for me personally due to my current life style, that's what a bakery is for. I still am at awe anybody who makes things from scratch.

Love this book. I really like the idea of cake mix doctoring but find that I don't have as many occasions to bake cakes as I do to bake cookies. I have a 10, 7 and a 3 year old and between their activities and family activities, there is always one reason or another to bake and bring a batch of cookies. This book is a lifesaver for all busy mom's like me who are pressed for time but don't want to bring a package of Oreos to the next school potluck. The lemon macaroon bars I made last week for a school bake sale were so easy and no one could believe they were made with a cake mix.

I suppose you could call me the cowardly baker, because, though I love to cook, I often take shortcuts with baking. I've made quite a few cake mix cookies over the years, and it's much like the doctored cake mix cakes--the basic ones may taste like a cake mix, but the well-doctored ones don't. This collection has an inspiring number of flavor combinations and cookie varieties. I was hopeful when I ordered it that it would live up to the promise of containing many options different from the cake mix cookie recipes that are already out there. Well, it does, and then some. The Viennese tea cakes are simply delicious, and so easy--a can of almond filling is the secret ingredient. They took about 3 minutes to whip up. I took the plunge and made the classic madeleines, too--a bit of a stretch for me since I had to whip some egg whites, but that was the only fussy part and they turned out buttery, golden and delicious. This has fast become a favorite on my cookbook shelf.

I and three other women made the desserts for a community Thanksgiving fundraising supper this weekend and made multiple bars from this book including the pumpkin gooey chess squares, pumpkin pie bars, triple chocolate gooey bars, pecan pie bars, premier cranberry cream cheese bars and the blackberry-lemon crumb bars. The recipe directions were excellent, the results were perfect, and people were beside themselves trying to get second and third helpings (we thought we had made too much but we in fact ran out). Really a useful book and I was delighted by the wide range of recipes. The bars are definitely stars but I'm looking forward to trying some of the biscotti, madeleine and thumbprint cookies, too.