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Rose's Christmas Cookies
Since its 1990 publication, "Rose's Christmas Cookies" has been a phenomenal success. Who can resist Chocolate-Dipped Melting Moments Cookies or moist Mini-Cheesecakes with Lemon Curd . . . or David Shamah's Jumbles, a fabulous cross between a chocolate-chip cookie and a chunky candy bar bursting with raisins, chocolate chips, and pecans. Whether you need a cookie to decorate your tree or grace your mantelpiece (cookies like Stained Glass or Christmas Wreaths), a sweet to send (Mahogany Butter Crunch Toffee, Maple Macadamia Bars), or a special holiday treat for your dinner party (Praline Truffle Cups, Chocolate-Pistachio Marzipan Spirals), you'll find that perfect something here. Complete with 60 cookie recipes and a color photograph of each cookie for handy reference, this easy-to-use and fun-to-read book will result in scrumptious, festive, and splendid-looking cookies every time.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
4 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Rose Levy Beranbaum
20 books218 followersRose Levy Beranbaum is an award-winning American baker and cookbook author.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 31, 2015
An ambitious and impressive Christmas cookie guide. There is an impressive section on ingredients and substitutions. Indeed another chart shows the method to measure certain incredients and their ounce and grap equivalents of a cup.
All in all, I was looking for a good guide for nice holiday cookies and this was a bit more in-depth/extravagant than I wanted (this is saying a lot for me). What the heck does that mean to you, reader of this review?
If you are trying to raise the bar with your friends/relatives and for example, a gingerbread house just isn't cutting it. Have no fear! This book contains step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own gingerbread cathedral (with stained glass windows!) As if any gingerbread cathedral would be worth anything with out them.
Once upon a time, a friend brought me a recipe for how to make a golden chocolate castle. I thought it was a joke, but she seemed to think, if someone could make this...could be enticed/bet or challenged into doing it to benefit all the chocolate lovers, it was me. I was flabbergasted, but flattered. I think that recipe would fit in nicely in this book.
All in all, I was looking for a good guide for nice holiday cookies and this was a bit more in-depth/extravagant than I wanted (this is saying a lot for me). What the heck does that mean to you, reader of this review?
If you are trying to raise the bar with your friends/relatives and for example, a gingerbread house just isn't cutting it. Have no fear! This book contains step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own gingerbread cathedral (with stained glass windows!) As if any gingerbread cathedral would be worth anything with out them.
Once upon a time, a friend brought me a recipe for how to make a golden chocolate castle. I thought it was a joke, but she seemed to think, if someone could make this...could be enticed/bet or challenged into doing it to benefit all the chocolate lovers, it was me. I was flabbergasted, but flattered. I think that recipe would fit in nicely in this book.
November 19, 2018
I bought this outstanding collection of Christmas cookie recipes in 2011, and have now used it through two holiday seasons, finding it an excellent resource. I gained a number of new ideas from it, and thought the instructions were helpful and clear. Although I have not made every cookie in the book, I have enjoyed every recipe that I tried. This year I made a variety of cookies for our family celebration, some that have been in the family since I was a girl - mostly bar cookies dreamt up in the 1950s (so I suspect), and given to me by my Great Aunt Audrey - and some from Rose Levy Beranbaum's book.
The Traditional Rolled Christmas Sugar Cookie recipe is outstanding, far superior to the one I had been using - I liked the subtle citrus flavor to them - although it didn't produce as many cookies as I'd hoped. Perhaps next year I'll try a double batch. The Stained Glass cookies were fun to make, and turned out quite well - this was my first time making them, and I thought they were prettier than they were tasty. The Christmas Wreaths - this treat is rather like Rice Krispie Treats, only made with corn flakes, and green food dye added to the marshmallow/butter mixture - also looked well, although I continue to fail to produce actual wreaths, ending up with little holly and ivy clumps. The Mexican Wedding Hats were delicious - I'd never made this cookie before - although I think I should have dipped them in the confectioner's sugar a few more times. Finally, the Cashew Puffies were delightful, with a lovely light flavor - satisfying, but not too sweet, serving as a nice counterpart to some of the more sugary treats.
All in all, Christmas cookies were a success this year, thanks in part to this wonderful book! I look forward to using these recipes again, and to trying new ones. Perhaps next year I will attempt the Maple Walnut Sablé Sandwiches!
The Traditional Rolled Christmas Sugar Cookie recipe is outstanding, far superior to the one I had been using - I liked the subtle citrus flavor to them - although it didn't produce as many cookies as I'd hoped. Perhaps next year I'll try a double batch. The Stained Glass cookies were fun to make, and turned out quite well - this was my first time making them, and I thought they were prettier than they were tasty. The Christmas Wreaths - this treat is rather like Rice Krispie Treats, only made with corn flakes, and green food dye added to the marshmallow/butter mixture - also looked well, although I continue to fail to produce actual wreaths, ending up with little holly and ivy clumps. The Mexican Wedding Hats were delicious - I'd never made this cookie before - although I think I should have dipped them in the confectioner's sugar a few more times. Finally, the Cashew Puffies were delightful, with a lovely light flavor - satisfying, but not too sweet, serving as a nice counterpart to some of the more sugary treats.
All in all, Christmas cookies were a success this year, thanks in part to this wonderful book! I look forward to using these recipes again, and to trying new ones. Perhaps next year I will attempt the Maple Walnut Sablé Sandwiches!
December 17, 2016
A great collection of cookies, each one with it's own little story. The photos are lovely. The recipes are easy to follow. My favourite one has to be the gingerbread cathedral!
January 18, 2018
Desert island cookie book.
January 20, 2024
A good resource for cookie baking throughout the year. I like that home cooks weren't expected to have as many specialty tools in the early '90s, and I like that they weren't as fussy about how long things keep. A lot of the recipes say they keep for weeks when properly stored at room temperature, which is very different than contemporary cookbooks. Lots of meringue recipes, though, which aren't my favorite.
February 21, 2024
A very impressive collection of cookie recipes for Christmas time, with clear directions, tips and family stories.
For gingerbread, there is a Gingerbread People recipe and a spectacular but intimidating Notre Dame Gingerbread Cathedral. For molded cookies, there is Springerle with decorating suggestions and reminisce about the author’s collection of molds, including a pear motif carved in pear wood that serves as the family crest (Beranbaum translates to “pear tree”).
For gingerbread, there is a Gingerbread People recipe and a spectacular but intimidating Notre Dame Gingerbread Cathedral. For molded cookies, there is Springerle with decorating suggestions and reminisce about the author’s collection of molds, including a pear motif carved in pear wood that serves as the family crest (Beranbaum translates to “pear tree”).
April 5, 2022
I enjoy Rose Levy Beranbaum books - she has a way of drawing you in and her recipes are so delicious. I have been creating from this book since I bought it a few years ago and I have not been disappointed. Rose Beranbaum is a very talented lady and I am so happy she has created books for us to enjoy in our own homes.
December 11, 2019
This is a well-thought out, attractively designed Christmas cookie book. I'm on my second year of using it and so far have loved several of the recipes (the ginger pennies are amazing).
I particularly like the extra info on how well the cookies store/ship/freeze/etc.
I particularly like the extra info on how well the cookies store/ship/freeze/etc.
December 31, 2018
A well instructed book with great recipes. I use it every year.
December 9, 2022
A classic cookie cookbook with some truly unusual recipes among the usual suspects.
January 21, 2024
This is just fantastic. I enjoyed the stories behind the recipes. I appreciated the different method options in each recipe. I loved that we can measure by weight or volume! Thanks for that!
December 7, 2025
Rose Levy’s cookie “Bible” is perfect for all levels of baker. Beautifully photographed, the recipes are easy to read and execute. If you want to find a cookie recipe start here first.
April 11, 2015
Cookies!
Do you need to know anything else?
Let's suppose, for the sake of argument, that you do: this is an excellent book, mostly of staple cookies, but also with some unusual delights to share ... including cookies for hanging on the tree, displaying on the mantel, and even one for the family dog. Rose's descriptions are warm and bright with all the love of the season, and her tips and tricks for cookies are excellent - since they explain why to use this technique or that, they can be applied to other recipes.
Of course, like her other books, the back of this volume includes all the specifications you could want on staple ingredients and equipment, from as simple as aluminum foil to as particular as which mixer or thermometer to buy.
Do you need to know anything else?
Let's suppose, for the sake of argument, that you do: this is an excellent book, mostly of staple cookies, but also with some unusual delights to share ... including cookies for hanging on the tree, displaying on the mantel, and even one for the family dog. Rose's descriptions are warm and bright with all the love of the season, and her tips and tricks for cookies are excellent - since they explain why to use this technique or that, they can be applied to other recipes.
Of course, like her other books, the back of this volume includes all the specifications you could want on staple ingredients and equipment, from as simple as aluminum foil to as particular as which mixer or thermometer to buy.
June 1, 2013
I can be excessively critical about cookbooks, but even with my high standards, this is an exceptionally wonderful cookbook.
There isn't anything to dislike about it. It has a variety of recipes, and I've made the vast majority of them, at least once. There are a lot of photographs, so you have a good idea of what the end result should look like. There is enough "extra" material describing the recipes to keep it good reading too.
This is one of the "top two" cookie cookbooks in my world. The only other one is the 1961 edition of Betty Crocker's Cooky Cookbook. If you are only going to have 2 cookie cookbooks, make it these two.
There isn't anything to dislike about it. It has a variety of recipes, and I've made the vast majority of them, at least once. There are a lot of photographs, so you have a good idea of what the end result should look like. There is enough "extra" material describing the recipes to keep it good reading too.
This is one of the "top two" cookie cookbooks in my world. The only other one is the 1961 edition of Betty Crocker's Cooky Cookbook. If you are only going to have 2 cookie cookbooks, make it these two.
January 6, 2010
AGH. This is one of my favorite books ever, if only for sheer nostalgia's sake. Even if you don't intend on making any of the recipes (which you should- my mom makes Mahogany Crunch Toffee every Christmas, and it's amazing), the book is gorgeous: I can spend a good hour poring over its contents. The food styling and photography is vivid and beautiful, and the text is clean and attractive. It is charmingly written and features a lot of creative tips in the margins.
A great book to pass down, if you will allow me to be totally cheesy. I'm gushing over a cookie cook book. WHATEVS!
A great book to pass down, if you will allow me to be totally cheesy. I'm gushing over a cookie cook book. WHATEVS!
July 31, 2011
I have made a couple dozen cookies from here, and I love how each cookie has a picture so that you know what you are shooting for--it is not my favorite cookie cookbook any more, but it is a classic--and the macadamia cookies are amongst the best!
February 26, 2013
This is my second copy. While moving misplaced my original. This is my goto sure fire cookie guide!
She really test her recipes. I have never been disappointed with her well thought out instructions.
She really test her recipes. I have never been disappointed with her well thought out instructions.
August 5, 2008
Everything I've made from this book has been fabulous. My copy is falling apart. I can only hope it's still in print so I can get a new one!
November 15, 2008
I have only tried a few recipes from this book. I use the shortbread cookie recipe almost every Christmas. But tried the wreaths one year and they were a total disaster.
February 23, 2009
One of my favorite cookbooks. Probably top 3. This is the best cookie recipe book I have ever read or used. I have made a majority of these cookies and every one of them has been a keeper.
October 6, 2009
One of my favorites. Very inspiring. Lots of yummy treats found inside.
February 13, 2011
You can't go wrong with Rose Levy Berenbaum. Her cookies are wonderful and get great reviews. Instructions are complete.
September 14, 2012
Latest treat: Mexican Wedding Cakes
March 22, 2016
Cocoa brownies - 3.5 one bowl and easy to make
David's Dream bars - 4.2 really easy and very delicious
David's Dream bars - 4.2 really easy and very delicious
April 11, 2016
Cranberry chocolate chippers and David Shama's Jumbles. My copy is falling apart. Enough said.
January 17, 2016
Some of the best cookies I have ever made. Orange Paradise bars are a family favorite.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews