Westerly Sun Column | Chasing the Perfect Cookie as the Library Serves Up Sweet Inspiration

I’ve heard a saying before about pizza: “When it’s good, it’s really good. And when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good”. I’d love to say I agree, since the combination of cheese, tomato, and bread is inherently delicious…but I’ve also eaten some pizza in my day that I can’t justifiably describe as “good”. Cookies, on the other hand? Well, I’ve NEVER met a cookie that I didn’t enjoy. Overcooked, undercooked, savory, sweet, basic, and over-the-top, I love them all. Even so, I’m always looking for my new favorite cookie recipe – especially now that I have several Cookie Swaps on the horizon! For this, I turn to the library.

One of my favorite resources for cookie recipes is the New York Times. Not only are they chock full of amazing, well-tested recipes, the comments are often full of useful tips and tricks from the public. In addition to the backlog of recipes on the NYT Cooking site, they celebrate “Cookie Week” each year by sharing 7 of their favorite cookie recipes, along with helpful “how-to” videos for each. This years’ Cookie Week just wrapped, but you can still find it on their website. Even better, you can access it without paying for a subscription by visiting the “databases” page of the westerly Library website, and clicking on the link for “New York Times All Access”. You can thank me later!

At the library, we’re known for our extensive cookbook collection, which includes everything from international cuisine to restaurant copy-cat recipes, to – yes – cookbooks devoted to the art of the cookie. Wannabe bakers aren’t limited to the books on the shelves at our library, either; books can be borrowed from other libraries in the state of Rhode Island, and many fantastic cookbooks are available in eBook format through the “Libby” app! All of these can be accessed easily with your library card.

With so many options, the hardest part is choosing which book (and recipe) to start with. I always recommend books by the editors at America’s Test Kitchen, which are reliable, thoroughly tested, and include detailed instructions and explanations as to why the recipe works. For cookies, I would check out “The Perfect Cookie”, or “Cooks Illustrated Baking Book” by America’s Test Kitchen.

Dorie Greenspan is another trusted cookbook author, who specializes in baked goods and has won the James Beard Foundation Award five times. “Baking with Dorie” is a great book to start out with, and includes mouthwatering recipes that are both unique and doable. “Tea and Honey Madeleines” and “Coffee-Anise Stars” are two that stood out, among many others.  I would also recommend “Zoë Bakes Cookies” by Zoë François, which features delectable-looking treats like “Lemon Lavender Shortbread” and “Smash Cookies”. 

There are so many more, but not enough time to bake them all. Thankfully, Cookie Swaps exist, which is a perfect opportunity to try out a ton of recipes without having to prepare them all yourself. If you’re into it, check out our Cookbook Club’s Cookie Swap, coming up on December 10!

By Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian