Early Review of Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake & Share by Kristen Tomlan

Title: Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake & Share
Classification: Nonfiction
Genre: Cookbook
Format: Hardcover; 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (October 15, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1538748886
ISBN-13: 978-1538748886
Author's website: https://www.cookiedonyc.com/
Notes: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my rating or review.


Kristen Tomlan has always loved baking, but cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies, have always held a special place in her heart. In 2012 while baking cookies with her friends Kristen asked if they'd like to skip the baking and just split the bowl of dough. They all agreed to, and that was when the spark of an idea entered Kristen's head about creating and selling edible cookie dough. If she and her friends loved it so much it only reasoned others would too. While many think DŌ sprang up overnight (or close too it), Kristen developed these recipes over many years. She also had been running her business online out of her apartment for over a year before renting some commercial space to expand her business. That was when DŌ became more than just a business that sold it's product online. People started showing up on her store's doorstep in hopes of buying some of their doughy goodness. Now Kristen is sharing her recipes, some of which she uses in her store, with everyone in her first, but hopefully not last, cookbook.

When a publisher listed this book as one of the ones I could review, I was like, "You so had me at Hello, Cookie Dough." I had no idea it was written by Kristen or that she was the owner of DŌ. I'd heard about her store on the Today Show and was bummed the store was in New York City and not Tampa. I have always had a weakness for cookie dough, but since warnings started circulating about eating raw cookie dough I've shied away from it. In fact, my kids asked me more than once if it was truly okay for them to eat the raw dough when I asked them to sample some Kristen's wares. Even I had to remind myself it was okay to eat. Ms. Tomlan writes in her book how to make cookie dough safe for consumption. In fact, you can use the procedures she lists to make any family cookie, brownie, cake, or other recipe you may have lying around safe to eat raw too. Please excuse me while I do a little happy dance. I wish she'd published this book years ago. I would have loved to make these recipes with my kids when they were younger. She even includes a recipe for edible play dough. How cool is that? Mark my words, this will be the cookbook to get or give this holiday season. It's just that good.

So I've made seven of the recipes--the signature chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies, cake batter cookies, brookies, brownie cookies, sugar cookies, and Blondies--listed in the book, and have loved them all. There are still many many more I want to make and taste, but I'm trying to pace myself so I don't end up gaining a hundred pounds. In fact, the first question my daughter asked after looking over the types of recipes was, "Is the author a rather large person?" Strangely enough she's not.

The book has six signature flavors and the author gives suggestions for what you can mix in with them. She also has several desserts that use cookie dough in their recipes like cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, pecan pie, pancakes, and many more. The only recipes that have nothing to do with cookie dough are the ones the author uses to mix in to her cookie dough like caramel sauce and caramel corn. Yum!

I'd like to take a moment to thank the author for listing the brands of the ingredients she prefers to use in her store. Thank You! I cannot tell you how frustrating it is when a cook, chef, or baker on a TV show or in a book says to use something as vague as a 'good chocolate' that melts at a certain temperature without adding 'like this brand...'  Grrrr.... Are we talking Belgium, French, German or is Nestle okay? Hey, I think Nestle is good, but I don't know what temperature it or other chocolates melt at. I'm not a chef, a cook, or a baker. Kristen tells you her go to brands and lists alternatives for the pricier ones or, when possible, a recipe that you can use if you'd rather make your own.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. Kristen Tomlan has truly created something special. She includes tips throughout the book and encourages you to play with flavors to make the recipes reflect your own personal tastes. The variety of recipes is wonderful and if you'd prefer to have cookies instead of the dough, you can always follow her instructions on how to cook them. The author even includes a recipe for Doggie Dough, and almost all of the recipes can be altered to be Gluten Free--which is something I will utilize for my husband. Additionally, she includes a recipe to make a wheat flour alternative. I have yet to try it, but will definitely make good use of it in the future. I HIGHLY recommend this one. It was well thought out and is full of recipes made up of doughy goodness that taste wonderful. What more could you want in a cookie dough cookbook? I loved this one and have no doubt it will be one of my more used cookbooks in the future.