Baking basics--such as choosing the right kitchen equipment and stocking up on essentials Foolproof techniques for outstanding cookies, plus tips on troubleshooting baking mishaps Decorating with chocolate (with tips on piping, painting, and stenciling) Creating slender' versions of old favorites, while maintaining texture and boosting flavor Discovering cookies from other cultures Baking for the holidays and making baking fun for kids With a summary cheat sheet of baking essentials, helpful how-to illustrations, and humorous cartoons along the way, Cookies For Dummies will help you bake awe-inspiring homemade cookies that will have even the fanatical cookie lovers in your family clamoring for more.