It has been 25 years since this classic cozy mystery was published. The Hannah Swensen Mystery Series now has 34 novels. Both the mysteries and recipes are well loved. These books are perfect for anyone who likes to bake and enjoys a light mystery. Hannah’s small town friends and family make any of the books in her series a delight to read.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of this first book of the Hannah Swensen Mystery series. Today is the right time to begin this series, or, if you are already a fan, re-read it. Hannah’s first murder mystery will keep you guessing until the end.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: Deluxe Collector’s Edition by Joanne Fluke
Find the deluxe, newly-released collector’s edition on Amazon. The description says “Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Joanne Fluke’s bestselling culinary capers, a deluxe collectors’ edition featuring sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, designed endpapers, reversible dust jacket, foil stamped cloth binding, and a brand new recipe!”
Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookie
from a cozy mystery novel
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder
25th Anniversary!
by Joanne Fluke
Book Outline and Tone:
If you haven’t read any of the 34 books in the Hannah Swensen Mystery series, you are in for a treat as delicious as the many recipes, like Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies reviewed here. Each novel in this series not only contains a cozy mystery, but also has several recipes. While most of the recipes are inspired by Hannah’s bakery, The Cookie Jar, there are some savory recipes as well.
Set in a small Minnesota town, Lake Eden, Hannah has returned home from the big city of Minneapolis to help her mom after her dad passed away. Hannah is a single, independent, entrepreneurial, woman. She has opened her own bakery that is well loved by her family, friends, and all the residents of the small town. Hannah begins her murder mystery sleuthing career when she stumbles across a murdered delivery man.
For those of you who have read any of the Hannah Swensen novels, you will be delighted to read about how Hannah first meets Norman and Mike. It is fun to be reminded of her first impressions of 2 characters that will come to play big roles in this series.
The Best Quote:
“Even though she scrunched forward until her entire upper body was hanging over the edge of the Dumpter, the tips of her fingers were still a good three inches from the top of the green bag. Hannah sighed and then did what any good sister-in-law and dedicated amateur detective would do. She turned around to dangle her legs of the lip of the metal bin, took a deep steadying breath, and slid down into the bowels of the Dumpster.
Point of View:
The story is told in third person with knowledge of what Hannah is thinking.
The Author: Joanne Fluke
Joanne Fluke published her first Hannah Swenson novel, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, in 2001. Since then she has been a New York Times bestselling author several times. She is a popular guest on her local television station and she always uploads her interview to her Youtube Channel. She even has many interviews organized by the book. Some of her books have been made into movies on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel. Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery can be found https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/. Joanne Fluke will interact with fans on her X and her Facebook accounts.
What is not to like?:
For the first book in a hugely successful series, I have not complaints.
The verdict:
I remade the Chocolate Chip Crunch cookies and they were just as good as I remembered them to be. I still don’t find the cookies to be crunchy but rather chewy with the addition of the corn flakes.
This is a wonderful series to get started in the cozy mystery genre.
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies
Assemble the Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 375° F., rack in the middle position.
Melt butter,
Easy to read measure marks on inside of cup. Dishwasher safe.
add the sugars and stir.
Add soda, salt, vanilla
and beaten eggs. Mix well.
Then add flour and stir it in.
Add crushed corn flakes
and chocolate chips and mix it all thoroughly.
Good Grips, no slip when mixing. Each bowl has a spout for easy pouring. Dishwasher safe.
Form dough into walnut-sized balls with your fingers and place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack until they’re completely cool. (The rack is important it makes them crisp.)
Yield: 6 to 8 dozen, depending on cookie size.
(These cookies have been Andrea’s favorites since high school.)
Hannah’s Note: If these cookies spread out too much in the oven, reduce temp. to 350° F. and do not flatten before baking.
Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies 25th Anniversary Celebration!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks, melted)
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 beaten eggs (you can beat them up with a fork)
- 2½ cups flour (not sifted)
- 2 cups crushed corn flakes (just crush them with your hands)
- 2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F., rack in the middle position.
- Melt butter, add the sugars and stir.
- Add soda, salt, vanilla, and beaten eggs. Mix well.
- Then add flour and stir it in.
- Add crushed corn flakes and chocolate chips and mix it all thoroughly.
- Form dough into walnut-sized balls with your fingers and place on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack until they're completely cool. (The rack is important it makes them crisp.)
What would I do differently next time?
Nothing. These are perfection!
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