Baking with Cookie Molds (2nd Edition)

A tasty treat of practical cookie making, historical cookie-mold information, and a wide range of recipes, all served with appetizing sides of baking history and great photographs.

Watson (Island Women Trilogy, 2015, etc.) adds to her collection of how-to books on soap and lotion making with a colorful collection of recipes, decorative cookie lore, and clear, practical advice for bakers of all levels. Starting with honest descriptions of her own failures—some cookies were “flattened into unrecognizable blobs”—she provides historical context for molded cookies of all types, along with her secret ingredient to ease the unmolding process and produce exquisite treats. Few cooks will be able to resist her enthusiastic and encouraging call to kitchen action: “You’ll have to experiment a bit, but don’t let that daunt you. Remember, when you experiment, you may not get cookies you like—but the one thing you’re sure to get is information, and that’s always helpful!” But Watson’s book has appeal outside the kitchen; she weaves in a Saint Nicholas story and a detailed cookie-making lesson with style. Also helpfully included is an FAQ section and extensive resources for purchasing molds or learning more. A “historic preservation architecture consultant” by trade, Watson is organized, thorough, and undeniably readable. Her guide is also surprisingly entertaining. While relating her first attempt at molding, she says, “Since my reason for buying the mold in the first place was the making of beautiful Saint Nicholas cookies, I was very disappointed. For all I knew, so was Saint Nicholas.” Shepard, her husband, provides dozens of clearly labeled photos for mouthwatering visual inspiration.

Engaging, precise baking guide that will have readers heading for the kitchen with enthusiasm and confidence.