As this new edition of The Ultimate Cake Mix Cookie Book heads to the printer, I’ve been musing about the exciting developments that have occurred since it was first published in 2005.
Topping the list is the sheer popularity of the book, something I merely hoped and dreamed of back in the early days of testing and writing recipes. I knew then how much I loved making cookies with cake mix, but it has been a thrill to share the joy with others.
I’ve especially reveled in the notes and letters from fans, letting me know which recipes are loved most, and what kinds of recipes they would still love to see. After chatting with countless home bakers across the country, I know that it’s the simplest recipes with an innovative twist that everyone’s after. It has to taste terrific, first and foremost, but if it’s versatile, can be made in minutes, has an especially short list of ingredients, and looks gorgeous, all the better.
So, in addition to the familiar favorites from the first edition, you’ll find here more than two hundred brand-new recipes, all of which reflect feedback from fellow cake-mix-cookie-aficionados. I am confident you’ll love each and every offering, from the ease of baking the cookie to the subsequently stellar results. Think Hazelnut and Chocolate Chip Butter Cookies, Deluxe Nut Jumbles, Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Pillows, and Vanilla Malt Gooey Bars; it just gets better and better.
And if those new options don’t have your mouth watering, just wait until you try two of the hottest new trends for using cake mix: cake balls and whoopie pies.
Cake balls are tiny cookie-like confections made from mixing crumbled, baked cake with frosting, molding the mixture into tiny balls, then coating all with chocolate. Yum! I’ve created eighteen scrumptious varieties for you to try, such as German Chocolate, Cinnamon Roll, Berries-and-Cream, Key Lime, and Cheesecake. Be forewarned: they are highly addictive to make and eat (and absolutely adorable, to boot).
Second, whoopie pies. The oversized, soft cookie sandwiches, stuffed with a variety of creamy frostings, are nothing short of cookie nirvana. Think Red Velvet Whoopies, Caramel Latte Whoopies, and Lemon Buttermilk Whoopies, to name but a few. Forget the cupcakes: make whoopie pies for your next party to score an excess of points.
Beyond the new recipes, I am compelled to mention that with this new edition, what ultimately excites me above all else is that it further celebrates American home cooks’ enduring embrace of home baking in general, and home-baked cookies in particular. No matter how many cookies in our repertoire, we have a boundless zeal for new ideas, from techniques to flavor combinations, and we cannot wait to share them. That’s the real story of American home cooking and baking.
That being said, I hope you’ll experience as much delight in creating these cookies in your home as I have had crafting them in mine. Few things gratify me as much as sharing a plate of cookies with friends, including the conversation and camaraderie that typically coincide. If this book helps you do the same, I will be truly pleased.