I love this cookbook! The chocolate brownies with caramel sauce and bacon is sinfully sweet and so delicious. I plan on making almost everything from this cookbook and enjoying all the delectable treats! ( )

I already own the best cookie book ever, Farm Journal's 1971 "Homemade Cookies", a book so good that I give it as gifts. But 1971 was a while ago and bakers have done some exploring in the past 50 years. (It's interesting, though, how many international recipes there are in "Homemade Cookies", gleaned from immigrants from around the world.) Anyway, I think I can safely say that in 1971, margarita cookie bars weren't a thing.

The TOC of "Crazy for Cookies" reveals a taste for the new and different. Alongside old favorites like chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, molasses cookies, and fudge brownies, we find, in addition to Margarita Bars: Trail Mix Oatmeal Cookies, The Great Pumpkin Cookies, Almond Joy Macaroons, Death by Chocolate Brownies, Nutella Brownies, Salted Butterscotch Cookies, baked treats for dogs, and, a flavor combo that would have floored the Farm Journal editors: Bacon and Caramel Brownies.

The recipes are well written and include metric temperatures. Ingredient weights are metric and Imperial. The instructions are easy to follow. Ms Kern likes her brownies cooked more than I do.

The writing is modern too. Personal and quite informal. The photos are pretty.

I think this book will be a good addition to your bookshelf and it will make a good gift. Maybe bundled with the one by Farm Journal.

I received a review copy of "Crazy for Cookies, Brownies, and Bars" by Dorothy Kern from Harvard Common Press through NetGalley.com. ( )