New Book Takes the Art of Making Cookies to the Next Generation

Fabulous Modern Cookies elevates the comfort-food-cookie to creative and untraditional heights, perfect for holiday entertaining or any time.

We all have fond, cookie-shaped memories—whether it be the smell of chocolate chip cookies in the oven, lunchtime oatmeal raisins, holiday gingerbread, or tangy summer lemon bars.  Authors Chris Taylor and Paul Arguin pay homage to the cookie in all its forms in their tasty new book, Fabulous Modern Cookies: Lessons in Better Baking for Next Generation Treats.  Their recipes introduce creative taste sensations, textures, and designs that will be the hit of any party or gathering.  Their previous best-selling book, The New Pie: Modern Techniques for the Classic American Dessert, showcased their inventive recipes and techniques.

With bold and fearless suggestions, Taylor and Arguin, scientists turned bakers, explore the deep-in-our-heart love of cookies as well as the philosophy behind them.  Does a cookie always have to be round, sweet, or soft?  Breaking down the essential rules, ingredients, and equipment needed, Fabulous Modern Cookies demystifies the cookie and provides home bakers with fun and unique cookie recipes.

 

“We are always asked ‘why a book on cookies?’ For one, we love cookies— but that’s not the only reason. To us, cookies are the most approachable of all desserts,” Chris and Paul state.  “For this book we took the vast universe of cookies and tried to expand it even further. We brought a scientific approach using innovative techniques to ensure success in baking regardless of whether you are new to baking or have been elbow-deep in cookie dough for decades. The cookies will still seem familiar (brownies, bars, drop cookies, cookie- cutter cookies, and the like) but with new and exciting flavors.”

Filled with 100 recipes, Chris and Paul also provide “Cookie Bytes” – short tips, tricks, helpful techniques, and explanations to demystify the science of baking.  The recipes are grouped in chapters like Bar Cookies; Drop Cookies; Rolled Cookies; Filled, Stuffed and Sandwiched Cookies; Savory Cookies and Slice-and-Bake Cookies.  Some of the recipes in the book include:

 

• Whiskey-Lemon Sweet Potato Squares
• Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies / Chewy Malted Vanilla Variation
• Escapes (The Pina Colada Oatmeal Cookies)
• Teatime Stamped Shortbread
• Pumpkin Snickercrinkles
• Peanut Butter Cup Cut-Out Cookies
• Stollen Glances
• Grapefruit and Pistachio Stained-Glass Slices
• Elderflower Dainties
• Cucumber Cheesecake Everything Bagel Bars
• Mai Tai Cremes
• Jam-on-Toast Thumbprints
• Fried Green Tomato Sandwiches

 

“Cookies are so amazingly diverse and amazingly adaptable— simple doughs can be augmented with fun flavors and textures, elevating them to new heights. Our goal with Fabulous Modern Cookies is to entice and teach fellow cookie lovers and bakers of all stripes to make delicious, foolproof cookies and introduce new flavors that bakers can use to share with friends, wow at parties, and create new memories with their families.”