A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

Monster Cookies (Recipe Inspired by MORNING IN THIS BROKEN WORLD)

You're going to become a Cookie Monster for these Monster Cookies.  See what I did there? You know I can't resist a good play on words.  Um, what is a Monster Cookie? The first time I discovered Monster Cookies was about ten years ago. Mr Tart immediately fell in love with these thick, chunky, chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookies, and they’re the cookie he always asks me to make. Monster Cookies are a little salty, a little sweet, and...

Simple Lemon Sable Cookies (Recipe Inspired by A BAKERY IN PARIS)

Guys. GUYS. I made Lemon Sablé Cookies.  I feel so French. Oh la la.  What is a sable (sablé) cookie? Unless you watch a lot of Great British Bake Off or Food Network, you might be wondering what a sable cookie is. Or, a sablé, if you want to ignore SEO ranking and be properly French. Think of sables as super thin, extra crispy shortbread cookies. The rich, buttery flavors of the two treats are very similar, but a sable recipe calls for...

Pfeffernusse Sugar Cookies with Easy Marbled Icing (Recipe Inspired by DECODING THE STARS)

It’s the most fattening -- er, wonderful time of the year, Tartlets! It's COOKIE SEASON! And, Pfeffernusse Sugar Cookies with Easy Marbled Icing are sure to impress all your guests this holiday season.   Why are Pfeffernusse Sugar Cookies with Easy Marbled Icing the book-inspired recipe for Decoding the Stars? Star-shaped cookies seemed an almost embarrassingly obvious choice for the book-inspired recipe for Decoding the Stars. Especially...

Spiced Walnut Cookies (Recipe Inspired by CHRISTMAS CHARMS)

Tartlets, this is my last book-inspired recipe for the year! Can you believe it?  But I saved the best for last because these Spiced Walnut Cookies are my new favorite Christmas cookies. The book-inspired recipe for Christmas Charms was pretty much handed to me – a recipe for “Spiced Walnut Crust Cookies with Chocolate Ganache and Sea Salt” was included in the back of the book. The combo of walnuts and holiday spices like cinnamon and...

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies (Recipe Inspired by AUNT DIMITY’S CHRISTMAS)

These Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are bringing the Christmas spirit! Because, is it even Christmas without cookies? And candy canes?? And chocolate???  I think not.  Main character Lori in Aunt Dimity’s Christmas becomes obsessed with creating the perfect Christmas for her family, which includes a lot of cookie baking. Her favorite cookies are “Angel Cookies,” the recipe for which is in the back of the book.   I was planning...

Authentic Anisette Cookies (Recipe Inspired by THE BAKESHOP AT PUMPKIN AND SPICE)

I hate Anisette Cookies with the fiery passion of a thousand burning suns. Yeah, I said it. A food blogger started off her own blog post by saying "I hate these cookies." However, my husband adores them. He loves whenever I make them. #TheThingsWeDoForLove He can't get enough of all things anisette, anise, or licorice. If you're anything like him, then YOU'RE WELCOME for this recipe.  I’m gonna be frank with you – if you don’t like the...

Totally Different Chocolate Chip Cookies (Recipe Inspired by RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE)

Full disclosure: these Totally Different Chocolate Chip Cookies are unlike any other chocolate chip cookie you've tasted.  So different, in fact, that I debated posting this recipe. I even debated calling them "chocolate chip cookies."  In the end, though, these cookies were just SO. FREAKIN'. GOOD. that I decided it'd be selfish to keep them to myself. (You're welcome. Manners cost nothing.) Even though I've already paid homage to my...

Miami Vice Cookies (Recipe Inspired by THE NEWCOMER)

Listen up, Tartlets! I'm bringing you summertime vibes in cookie form with Miami Vice Cookies. Before we go any further, let me clear one thing up: when I say "Miami Vice," I am not talking about the TV show. I'm talking about a DRINK. You all know that I don't love alcohol; I don't care for wine or beer or cocktails or anything like that. A Shirley Temple is my I'm-At-A-Bar beverage of choice. The exception to my hatred of alcohol is a Miami...

Jam Thumbprint Cookies (Recipe Inspired by CHRISTMAS JOY)

It's just not Christmas if Jam Thumbprint Cookies aren't on my dessert table. Even though I didn't grow up baking these little cookies filled with fruity goodness, they've become a Christmas cookie staple in my home over the years. Which is why I think they're the perfect book-inspired recipe for Christmas Joy. Main character Joy spends hours baking dozens and dozens of cookies for her Aunt Ruby’s holiday house tour and annual Christmas Cookie...

Orange Rosemary Shortbread Cookies (Recipe Inspired by THE LOST APOTHECARY)

Tartlets, you have no idea what I went through to bring you today’s Orange Rosemary Shortbread Cookies. For reals. If you only knew how many trial batches of cookies were tossed in the bin…. *sigh* As soon as I finished reading The Lost Apothecary, I knew what my book-inspired recipe would be. Author Sarah Penner included a recipe for Rosemary Butter Biscuit Cookies at the end of the book, and since apothecary Nella knows everything about...