These delectable recipes will encourage home cooks to bake as often as they can.

What beats the aroma of freshly baked cookies, bars or squares, still warm from the oven? Only eating them of course! Cookies, bars and squares are the ultimate comfort food and welcome at any time. These tasty treats can be baked for everything from the perfect mid-afternoon snack to special occasions and community bake sales. And the wide variety of ingredients -- from fruits, nuts and spices to chocolate -- mean there is something for virtually everyone.

Here is a small sampling of these extraordinary and reliable recipes for every occasion, from baking with kids to holiday favorites:

• Chocolate caramel pecan rounds
• Slice 'n' bake brownie cookies
• Fabulous florentines
• Lemon-frosted cherry bars
• Maple nut bars
• Orange cream cheese brownies
• Chocolate toffee cookie brittle
• Cappuccino Nanaimo bars
• Viennese fingers
• Chocolate-dipped cinnamon hazelnut rounds
• Hawaiian chews.

Whether a novice or experienced baker, this outstanding compilation of 400 mouthwatering recipes will help home cooks appreciate how easy and satisfying baking can actually be. Its clever use of full color, incredibly handy lay-flat binding, abundance of tips and techniques and "Baking for Success" section make this book an integral addition to any baker's collection.

Jill Snider has decades of baking experience, including 25 years as the Test Kitchen Manager for a major flour maker She is a highly respected food stylist and recipe developer She is also the author of Cake Mix Magic, Complete Cake Mix Magic and Bake Something Great

Jill Snider's profile page

Richly illustrated, this is an invaluable book for the home baker, and those who want to start a business to produce and market honest-to-goodness baked goods.... Highly recommended.

Winesworld Magazine