Do you remember the last time you read a book that was just plain joyful? I do, because it was last week and the book was Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.
This book is written for a teen audience, who I imagine would be just as obsessed with it as I am, since it’s basically every weird, bookish teenage girl’s fantasy come alive. (I have never been a sensitive, “snarly” teenage boy, but I imagine that it hits home for a good number of them as well.)
The story is told from duel perspectives, but begins by following Lily–a precocious teen who has found significant companionship in books, but maybe isn’t the best at nurturing actual friendships in real life–as she embarks upon the quirkiest of quests to find a real-live human she’s compatible with. The game begins when Lily leaves a notebook full of “dares” in her favorite local, NYC bookstore (again, where the teen versions of most of us #bookstagrammers probably imagined meeting our partners), and sits back to wait for the perfect guy to pick it up and follow through; which, of course, he does.
The story continues to switch between Dash and Lily’s POVs as they pass the notebook back and forth and build a bond that both sustains them through some difficult times, and causes them to question was “real” companionship, or even love, really looks like.
There were a lot of components of this story that were wildly unrealistic. Like, for example, the fact that Dash has the vocabulary of a 50-year-old linguistics professor, or the implication that his best friend’s aunt is, perhaps, Oprah? But, honestly, I didn’t mind any of it. Even the most unlikely of coincidences or un-teenagerish interactions between supposed “kids” just added to the magic of this truly delightful romp.
One of my favorite parts of the story involved Lily’s obsession with Christmas Cookies; particularly, Lebkuchen Spice Cookies, which I did not attempt to make, because, A) I don’t know how and B) I don’t love gingerbread.
I did, however, take a stabs at regular Christmas cookies (press cookies to be specific), AND even accomplished making them gluten and refined-sugar free (because Lily seemed like a little bit of a hippie, and so am I). I also listened to an audiobook while baking, which I think Dash, Lily, and authors Cohn and Levithan would probably salute me for.
So, I hope that you are able to read this book in time for the holiday season (it’s very Christmas-centric by the way), AND before you watch the Netflix rendition, which comes out TOMORROW! (EEK!)
I also encourage you to read alongside a batch of these truly delicious cookies, and perhaps share with a friend (because the recipe makes about 50 of them… and it’s already been a long quarantine bulking season).
Enjoy & you can find the recipe below!
Tools:
If you don’t already own a cookie press, I highly recommend investing in one. It’s a great way to make a ton of cookies at once, and to guarantee that they all look GREAT. It’s also an easy way for kids to help with the baking process, without getting their hands dirty. I recently bought the OXO Press off of Amazon and am thrilled with it. It comes with a variety of different molds–my favorites of which are the classic Christmas tree, and the teddy bear.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks) at room temperature
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (you can leave this out if you want, but it’s honestly my favorite part)
- 2 and 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used the Trader Joe’s brand)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- SPRINKLES to top
*You can do a 1-1 substitution of cane sugar and white flour for the coconut sugar and gluten-free flour if not gluten-free!
Instructions:
- Pre-heat oven to 350.
- In an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar on medium speed until well-combined.
- Add in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract and beat on medium. Scrape sides and beat again.
- On low, slowly add the flour and salt.
- Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- When batter is combined, you can either roll it into small balls (small enough for bite-sized cookies), and press flat onto cookie sheet, OR fill cookie press if you have one.
- Place cookies about an inch or two apart on cookie sheet (and decorate with sprinkles or a chocolate chip if that floats your boat).
- Cook for about 7-9 minutes (mine took 9, but it might be longer if your cookies end up being a little bigger).
- ENJOY!