As an avid baker and a collector of cookbooks, I am always interested in dessert cookbooks. I had never heard of this author but when I heard she had inspired so many famous bakers, I knew I had to check this one out. There are many chapters of cookie types to explore like drop cookies, bar cookies, etc. Throughout the book are helpful tips for better baking. One of my musts for cookbooks is a colorful picture of every recipe. This book unfortunately didn't fulfill that wish. There were plenty of unique cookie recipes though and all the recipes I attempted were successful. While this is not the best cookie book I have used, it would be a great gift for someone looking to bake more cookies.

Magical. A Master. Accolades are not new , but this book deserves a round of applause for its approachability. Novice or veteran new tricks are here for the reading. A primer to be sure. It will unlock all the joy of baking, especially if you have stepped away. It will remind you simply of the sigh in a plate of cookies out after a long day of conferences or in my case classes. A pleasure to read.

Maida’s books are always inspiring and this book is no different. Cookie jars will overflow with delicious pickings using Maida’s recipes.

Cookies are Magic is another wonderful book by one of my favorite cookbook authors, Maida Heatter. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. It's not just cookies, it includes recipes for bars and brownies. As always Heatter provides great information for bakers. If you follow her tips and her recipes as written you will not be disappointed in the delicious results!

A wonderful book on how to make so many delicious cookies! I would definitely recommend this book to other at home baking novices or people who have children that enjoy eating/making cookies!

This seems like a really great book & I would have loved to review it. Unfortunately, the formatting on my review copy was an issue and I couldn't get the file to open. I am a huge baker & I really wish I could read & review it. I love cookies and I love the cover. Still planning to buy or check this one out from the library.

This book is one of a series of re-releases of Maida Heatter's recipes with whimsical illustrations. This volume is entirely devoted to cookies. It does have some repeats of recipes from the other two volumes in this series, but it is a wonderful collection all the same.

If you are new to Maida, this book pulls out some of her greatest hits. All the recipes are reliable and turn out delicious. There is also a tinge of nostalgia to all the recipes--for me it's like baking with my grandma, and I love that.

I'd like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy of this book.
I'm always looking for new recipes and this one didn't let me down! A nice addition to any baker's library!

Cookies truly are magical! Maida Heatter's cookbook explores all the beauty, simplicity, and artistry there can in when it comes to cookies. As an avid chocolate chip cookie fan I am always on the lookout for new twists on classics or a new technique to try. Cookies are Magic is a must for all baking fans.

COOKIES ARE MAGIC by Maida Heatter is described by its publishers as "the only cookie book you will ever need." In terms of recipes, they could be right; however, those ingredient lists and directions are only offset with appealing and rather whimsical artwork. Having no photos is a big disappointment. Heatter, called "The Queen of Cake," died in 2019 and this book contains some of her classic favorites, mostly sweet, but some savory, too. COOKIES ARE MAGIC definitely conveys a sense of nostalgia and even some happy childhood memories, with sections for Drop, Bar, Icebox, Rolled and Hand-formed cookies. There is no nutritional information for each recipe.

I thought this had great recipes for all kinds of cookies. I am always on the hunt for good and new cookie recipes. I love the illustrations in this book. I never looked though a Maida Heatter cookbook befor, but now I want to.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This cookbook is magic! lol I liked the chocolate cookbook and this one is just as great! I really love baking more than cooking so I really want to own this book (and maybe even buy one for my mom too!

We love cookies and have been doing tons of baking as of late. We were very excited to try out some of these recipes and look forward to man=king many more..so far so good! Easy to understand recipes.

I have not yet made any of the cookie recipes in this book, but the notes at the beginning about how to perform certain baking techniques (separating eggs, whipping cream, etc.) were clear and match what I have learned about baking over the years. This should be a helpful section for any new baker! The recipes seem clear and have all of the necessary info that I find some recipes leave out (for example, the expected number of cookies per batch). I do wish there were photos rather than illustrations since that usually helps me to check my final result. Star docked for design only; I'm excited to try these recipes.

I had never heard of Maeda Heather but have since learnt she was a famous pastry chef who produced many cookbooks. This cookbook is an updated collection of some of her most famous cookie recipes. Although it is a decent collection of cookie recipes, its layout and excessive detail would put me off purchasing the book as I found some of the recipes being many pages long (maybe this will change in the physical book?). The extra notes and information on each recipe was helpful to read though. I would also prefer photos over the line drawings as it wasn't always obvious what the end product would look like. It seems to be designed for beginners with the detailed introduction but many of the recipes would require purchasing extra equipment or special ingredients.
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Little, Brown and Company for this review copy.

Have posted twice on IG about this. book which I got through the Voracious Ambassador program Details for the publisher in the next round of this process.

This is a compilation of Maida Heatter’s favorite cookie recipes which were published over the years. What a special treat for us, even while acknowledging the sadness of her passing before it was published.

The cookies in this book brought back so many memories for me. The nostalgia they elicit as they baked was very comforting. The first bit reminded me of my grandma. The ones I made were excellent. My family loved them.

This cookbook should be in every kitchen. It was a lifesaver during the coronavirus stay-at-home orders. It will make a great gift at Christmas, as well.


I received an ARC from Little Brown Company through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Great little collection of cookie recipes, and I will definitely consider buying this books for myself! This is a great book for those that want to get started in baking, as the author spends a good portion of the beginning of the book explaining baking techniques and concepts that might otherwise be confusing to people new to baking.

So (possibly because I have lived in the UK until now) I had not heard of Maida before. This book contains very concise instructions and recipes for cookies, and is divided out into sections as follows :
Drop cookies - 19 recipes
Bar cookies - 18
Icebox cookies - 12
Rolled cookies - 18
Hand formed cookies - 11
Most of the recipes require a mixer or processor, but I have identified a few that can be made with only very basic equipment. So far, I have not actually tested any of the recipes due to the current global pandemic, but I will report back after baking.
This review was provided in exchange for an ARC via NetGalley.

A lovely cookie book from a trusted authority on baking. Really enjoyed my time with this book and recommend it to other enthusiasts of the humble, delicious cookie.