Cookie Craft Christmas: Dozens of Decorating Ideas for a Sweet Holiday

by Valerie Peterson, Janice Fryer

Take your holiday cookie decorating to impressive new heights! Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer will have you sprinkling powdered snowflakes onto cheery snowmen and adding a sugary glimmer to multicolored strands of licorice lights. With more than 60 fabulous designs for Christmas cookies, plus festive delights for New Year’s and Hanukkah, Cookie Craft Christmas gives you the inspiration and simple instructions you need for batch after batch of deliciously show-stopping holiday cheer.

Genres: Cookbooks, Christmas, Cooking, Nonfiction, Holiday, Food

169 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2009

About the author

I'm a writer and a fan of smart writing, clever plot twists and all things procedural — preferably with a bite of humor. Currently finishing my own first novel (which involves several intertwining mysteries and at least two dead bodies), I'm a member of both the Jane Austen Society of America and the Mystery Writers of America.

My TV writing and screenwriting has been honored by the WGAE Made in NY Writer's Room Fellowship, the CBS TV Writing Mentor program, Austin Film Festival, Cinequest, The Big Apple Film Festival, and More Magazine; my short film, The Maid of Honor, was an Official Selection at the Sedona International Film Festival.

A lifelong food lover and the daughter of a fantastic home cook, I'm the co-author of Cookie Craft and Cookie Craft Christmas cookie decorating books, and the author of Peterson’s Holiday Helper and Peterson’s Happy Hour cocktail humor books. My articles and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Bride’s Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Pastry Art & Design and other publications.

I'm a proud native of Yonkers, NY and currently live in New York City.

Reviews

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little book with lots of gorgeous, colorful photos and the recipes and direction to make these treats. The book does not, however, appear to be for beginners but rather for serious decorators. No Index and the Table of Contents only lists chapters not recipes.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading through cook books and this one had lots of fun photos to look at. This is more of a cookie decorating cookbook and not a cookie baking cookbook. It has 3 basic recipes and then gives techniques for decorating, especially with royal icing. Then comes all the pretty pictures with detailed instruction to follow to get that cookie.
I am more of a bake a ton of different cookies (not decorated) than a bake and decorate one type, so I will likely never use this book but it was fun to read.

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

I checked this book out prior to the Christmas season and did nothing with it. There are too many special items required to take on the simple task of cooking baking and decorating: cookie slats, pastry bags, decorating tips, paintbrushes, squeeze bottles, sanding sugars in varied colors, dragees in varied sizes and colors....and that's not ALL of it. You also need to produce a cookie that is perfect in shape and coloring, and then work with some adeptness at icing the final product. Way beyond most people's skill sets. I am seeking, through the library, a copy of the author's Cookie Crafts to see if they are set more toward a beginner level. Then I can return to this book next year.

[Carissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have paid more attention to the title: Decorating Ideas.

You're basically given gingerbread or sugar cookies in different cut outs and how to decorate them. They are beautifully decorated. There's even a little "Easy" sticker on the easier ideas. If you're trying to decorate sugar cookies like a pro- it's worth checking out. For me, the recipes were subpar and I had no desire to do that much work for a cookie that'll last a couple of minutes.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for techniques and decorating ideas.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice range of ways to decorate from easier to more challenging

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

a book mostly of cookie decorating techniques. well beyond my current abilities but maybe for a future skill

[Janastasia Whydra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valerie Peterson's and Janice Fryer's Cookie Craft Christmas: Dozens of Decorating Ideas for a Sweet Holiday has a few simple recipes and decorating tips, but gives lots of ideas for Holiday's, Christmas's, and New Year's cookie designs. You might want to read Cookie Craft first, but it is not necessary because a lot of the recipes and decorating tips are repeated. As a regular cookbook, I would say "this was ok," but since it's specialty is Christmas, I "liked it."

[Just - The romance reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't get this book from the library in time to actually try out any of the cookies for Christmas but the recipes look good and the cookies are pretty cute. It's definitely good eye candy for bakers and cookie lovers.

[Alice Taylor Gripkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas cookie decorating

Informative cookbook on Christmas cookie decorating offering clear instructions for perfect results while allowing personal creative touches. Provided comprehensive resource list for needed supplies to gain perfect results.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational, if not for the faint of cookie decorating heart.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative designs, pleasing layout -- nice incorporation of various cookie mediums, including food-coloring makers for handwriting techniques.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someday when sugar and food dye are found harmless (a girl can wish, huh?), I'm going to make fancy cookies all day long. :-)

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few rolled cookie recipes, really about the decorating. Great ideas; fairly basic. Not so fancy so many can do at home.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing cookies- probably more time & effort than I'm willing to put into an edible item, but so fun to look at!

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some nice ideas, but a little simplistic.