The Sophisticated Cookie - Book Review
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This book, The Sophisticated Cookie is subtitled “Baking with spirits - the world’s best cookies made with popular alchoholic beverages.”
Add some zing to your baking for your own parties or as gifts. Great for the holiday season.How about Brandy Truffle Balls, Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, Creme de Menthe Chocolate Brownies or Classic Rum Balls?
For coffee lovers, there’s Black Russian Espresso Cookies, Capuccino Mousse Brownies, Irish Whiskey Shortbread, Mochaccino Monkies, Southern Pecan Chocolate and Date Diamonds, Coffee and Chocolate Rugalach, Coffee and Cream Cookies, Irish Cream Pudding in Chocolate Cups.
Of course, the coffee liqueurs, Kahlua and Tia Maria feature strongly in many of these recipes. While most of the recipes call for at least 2 tablespoons of alcohol, author Jeanne Bendedict explains that much of this cooks off in the baking process. The finished cookie leaves a mellow flavour of the spirit, rather than the potency of the original.
She emphasises that these cookies are for adults only. The same recipes can be used for kids or non drinkers, by substituting vanilla or other flavour extracts for the alcohol.
She also suggests adding a touch of liqueur to your own favorite cookie recipes, to give them a lift. There is a section on baking ingredients tips and terms. At the end of the book are ideas for presenting your sophisticated cookies as sophisticated gifts. There are aso tips for mailing cookies so they arrive in good shape.
Have you ever noticed how well coffee goes with chocolate? Benedict explains why.
Many decadent chocolate dessert recipes contain a tablespoon of instant coffee or instant espresso powder dissolved in a little water. This really brings out the flavor of the chocolate. Try it the next time you bake with chocolate.
Madelines are a traditional afternoon tea treat, with an interesting history originating in France.
Benedict offers two interesting versions in Sophisticated Cookies - Banana Banshee Madelines and Orange Filbert Madelines.
Of the latter, she says “Madelines are such a serious little cookie that I baked this recipe in molds shaped like goldfish.” (rather than the tradiitonal shell shape). This version has grated orange zest, cointreau and ground hazlenuts.
There are no photos, but each recipe is preceded by a few lines of explanation or a personal anecdote about the recipe from the author.
This adds to the recipe, sparks your interest and whets your appetite. There are over 150 recipes, one to a page, and clearly set out, including how many cookies each recipe makes.
The Sophisticated Cookie is a good blend of practical advice and tips with decadent, but surprisingly straightforward recipes. The author, Jeanne Benedict is a former caterer to the glitterati and stars.
Also by this author - Sophisticated Entertaining - Spirited Food for Grown Up Parties.
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