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December 02, 2022

What’s Cooking @ HEPL: Ep 12

By: Heidi Herald

The Perfect Cookie by America's Test Kitchen

Welcome back to What’s Cooking @ HEPL! I am Heidi Herald, a Public Services Librarian at Hamilton East Public Library. I review one of the library’s cookbooks each month. This month, I am reviewing The Perfect Cookie: Your Ultimate Guide to Foolproof Cookies, Brownies, and Bars by America’s Test Kitchen.  Many people like to bake cookies this time of year, and this cookbook is chockfull of amazing cookie recipes. I tried several of the recipes, and they were absolutely delicious. I hope you try out this cookbook and have fun making cookies! To celebrate the Season of Giving, you can make cookies to share with neighbors, friends, and family!

 

 


Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
Many of the recipes in the cookbook are classic cookies I have been making for years. However, the Test Kitchen has added steps to make them even more delicious. For example, I tried the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe which called for browning part of the butter in a skillet before adding it. This small step made a dramatic difference! I think these are truly the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever made! I shared them with friends, and they did not last long! 

 


Snickerdoodles
I also tried another classic cookie—one of my personal favorites—Snickerdoodles. I have always loved my aunt’s snickerdoodles, but these are a close second. They were delicious and came out much better than when I tried to recreate my aunt’s recipe. The recipe includes both butter and vegetable shortening, while my aunt’s recipe is only butter. These were soft and delicious. Again, these disappeared quickly when shared! 

 

 


Orange-Cardamom Twists
Next, I wanted to try a cookie that I had never made before. I selected the Orange-Cardamom Twists. These are made with puff pastry and have a light, delicious flavor. I used frozen puff pastry, so these were easy to make! They include crushed walnuts, cardamom, and orange zest. I highly recommend this cookie.


Soft and Chewy Gingerbread People

Finally, in the video below I make Soft and Chewy Gingerbread People. These are fun to make and will leave your house smelling of ginger! I chose not to decorate the cookies, but you could decorate them if desired, using the Decorating Icing recipe also included in the cookbook.

 

 

I hope you will borrow The Perfect Cookie by America’s Test Kitchen from our library collections! It is available in print and digitally in Libby/Overdrive. The library also has many other America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks that you can borrow. Happy Eating! 


FOLLOW OTHER EPISODES OF WHAT’S COOKING @ HEPL

Explore our HEPL YouTube What’s Cooking @ HEPL playlist for access to the entire cooking series at your own pace.

Missed last month’s episode? You can find the recipe here.

Follow HEPL on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn the first week of each month as we share a new featured cookbook and recipe on What’s Cooking @ HEPL!  Be sure to tag us and use #HEPLFoodies to share what’s cooking in YOUR kitchen!

Credit goes to Danielle Acton, HEPL’s Adult Engagement Coordinator, for producing the videos and for her help and advice.