Related Resources • Index of Previous Tips

One of the most versatile and creative desserts, in my opinion, is the humble cookie. Nuts, chocolate, butter, chips, jellies, sesame, fennel, big, little, crispy, soft, the possibilities are endless. They can be made in advance of your party because they store so well. They travel beautifully to picnics and other outings. They can be served as well with hot cocoa as with iced tea. A person on a diet can find guilt-free satisfaction in a handful of meringue cookies. And a person who couldn't care less about dieting can find the perfect giant-sized cookie to suit a dessert craving.

So the next time you're entertaining, consider serving the humble cookie for dessert. If you don't bake, visit your favorite bakery and assemble a collection of their finest. Purchase or bake several varieties of cookies, and be sure to have cookies of different sizes to suit varying appetites. Then let your guests choose the perfect cookie to suit their mood.

Do you have a favorite entertaining tip? Send it to us using our simple submission form. If selected, I will post it with your name in future weeks.