Cookbook Review: 500 Best Cookies, Bars & Squares by Esther Brody

I grabbed this book at Barnes & Noble sometime last year, and hadn't used it much up until now. My baking has been at a standstill pretty much until the last month or so. But this book is just great! I made my first recipe out of it last week, Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars, and everyone but me loved them!

The beginning of the book is comprised of different tips on successful baking, and how to solve common baking problems such as dry cake, uneven baking and the like. The rest is laid out according to type, there are 17 different categories from drop cookies all the to frostings, glazes and toppings. There are full color pictures sprinkled throughout the book, which I really like to be able to see some of the recipes in their completed stage. Each recipe is laid out very nicely, with the ingredients listed very clearly. There are also tips and variations added to some recipes.

All in all this is a really nice book, a treasure trove with a mix of classic and unique recipes. I was surprised to see a recipe for Potato Chip Cookies, which I've bookmarked to try. I really like this book, and can't wait to try some more recipes from it! Check back tomorrow for the Banana Bars recipe!