No-Bake Cookies: More Than 150 Fun, Easy & Delicious Recipes for Cookies, Bars, and Other Cool Treats Made Without Baking

Camilla V. Saulsbury
Cumberland House Publishing (2006)
ISBN 1581825048
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (8/06)

If you are like me and try to keep the cookie monsters in your house at bay, even on hot summer days, you must get a copy of “No-Bake Cookies.”  Without heating up your kitchen, you can make special treats for your family and friends, and they will love you for it.  “No-Bake Cookies” would also be great for those who are too busy to bake, for most of the treats included here go together quickly and easily.  The included recipes would also be terrific when the kids want to help out in the kitchen.  Several of the steps are well suited for a younger child to handle, leaving only a few advanced steps to an older child or adult.  With the oven off, most parents will feel more at ease when the youngsters are helping.  And even better, the results deliver a fairly consistent and excellent product if all directions are read and followed.  A section is included on selecting the proper ingredients to achieve the best results.

Most of Saulsbury’s no-bake cookies are only a matter of minutes in the making.  The results are big on taste and little on effort.  All the required ingredients are readily available at the grocery and common to most.  There should be something for everyone with icebox bars, simple drop cookies, shaped cookies and bar cookies, as well as the well-known cereal bars.

Most cooks are familiar with a few common no-bake cookies such as rice crispy treats and chocolate-oatmeal cookies, but SO MUCH more is included here.  And once you see the variety of ingredients Camille Saulsbury uses, you will likely come up with your own variations.  A big surprise for me was the inclusion of three packages of ramen noodles in Orange Cream Clusters.  Interesting!

I received my copy of “No-Bake Cookies” in July when the mercury was pushing 90 degrees daily, my cookie jar was empty, and my family wanted something sweet to snack on.  Therefore, I can personally attest to several of the recipes.  The chocolate lovers in my home gave thumbs up to Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars and Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp Rice Bars.  We also found Pink Lemonade Squares to be a cool treat on a warm day, but I recommend using regular cream cheese, not a lower fat variety.  My recipe turned out a bit too runny.  Otherwise, the taste was great.

I enjoy making desserts for my family, and “No-Bake Cookies” did not disappoint me.  It will be a welcome addition on my cookbook shelf.  I recommend it to all!

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