Kat Lieu's 108 Asian Cookies is a gorgeous collection of unique, flavorful recipes aimed at being more than a standard baking book. The recipes are an exploration of what cookies can be when you mix fun ingredients, rich culture, and the willingness to experiment. The recipes themselves are arranged into different categories: essentials, classics Asian cookies and treats, brownies and bars, cookies with a kick, umami experiments, modern fusions, festive bakes, and an ode to the not-too-sweet philosophy. The structure is neat, the bakes are extremely creative, and the photos accompanying the recipes are STUNNING. The visuals alone make you want to drop everything, grab a mixing bowl, and get to work.

What struck me most, though, was Kat’s introduction. She opens up about her heritage and how her baking journey began, weaving her personal story into the fabric of the recipes. Reading her words felt deeply relatable. I also found my way into baking during the pandemic, and after losing my father in 2021, the kitchen became both an outlet and a source of comfort for me. Seeing Kat share her own experiences so openly made the book feel that much more personal.

I'm going through a journey of baking different recipes from the book, but and it has already been such a rewarding experience. So far, I’ve tried the Mango Lassi Cookies, Ube Halaya Brownies, Bourbon and Fish Sauce Cookies, and Snickerdoodles with Five Spice. Each recipe has surprised me in the best way, and what ties them all together is Kat’s philosophy of “not too sweet,” which lets every ingredient shine without being overpowered.

108 Asian Cookies is definitely the kind of book that makes you excited to bake something new. I know I’ll keep reaching for it, both to try more recipes and to revisit the ones that have already earned a spot in my regular rotation!

I've had this book on preorder since foreverrrrrr but when I saw it pop up on NetGalley I simply couldn't resist the temptation of taking a peek at the cookies and goodies that were in store for me inside this book!

As a fellow chaotic kitchen wizard, there's a lot that I really appreciate about this book. I love that the author stated she wrote this book to address a lack of diversity in baking, something I have also noted. I think I own almost every Asian baking recipe book other there and it barely fills half of one of my bookshelves. I acknowledge there are other cultures and there are a few baking recipe books but I defy you to find more than the few, the mere handful that have been published. The author also addresses the racist myth surrounding MSG (would you believe someone in 1968 just...published a racist idea? You would? Me too!) and explains specifically why she chose 108 cookies (I'll let Kat tell you herself) AND adds a difficulty rating to her recipes, something I always wish and dream from even as an intermediate baker. Honestly and truly the love of baking and an eagerness to share culture through cooking and baking drips and melts from these pages like butter.

I can already tell this will be a recipe book I reference as much if not more than I do Mayumu (by Abi Balingit). I'm not joking or overexaggerating when I say every single recipe, every cookie, brownie, and treat calls to me like a siren singing to me from her ocean of sugar and happiness. Say less, imaginary siren, let me dash myself upon gochujang and berry jam chocolate thumbprints. Allow me to drive into matcha and wasabi drop cookies. Watch as I wade into soy sauce chocolate chip cookies. I simply MUST float upon pho cookies.

Is it October 14th yet? I'm getting hungry!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kat Lieu captured me at: 'chaotic kitchen wizard' (growing up, I was one too, and still try to be from time to time).

This was a beautifully assembled cookbook - it hit all the notes: the homage to her family history and places shes lived, the reci[e notes where the inspiration comes from and the truly fun flavors.

I'm not a huge sweets person and definitely prefer the more savory + less sugary versions (probably why section 8 is looking to be my fav). My kid enjoyed the loose interpretation of cookies too (scones, cheesecake, brownies, etc). They've already made a list of recipes we must try asap (which includes all of section 6).

Top of their list is the:
- Lace Cookies with Miso Caramel & Sesame
- Pandan Coconut, and Cardamom Ladoo
- Ube Halaya Brownies
- Spicy Ginger Chai Cookies (these look so good)
- Japanese Sweet Potato Cookies
- Miso Pistachio Pudding Cookies
- Masala Macaroons

I want to devour every cookie in this book! They look delicious and you can tell that care was taken with each recipe. The author write clear instructions, includes pictures, and defines her terms which I feel many cookbooks fall short of. Absolutely obsessed.

Fun, fun, fun!! Loved this a great way to explore other cultures and their food while in the comfort of your home and the end results is some really yummy cookies!!!!

I want to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown and company for the ARC of 108 Asian Cookies by Kat Lieu.

I love Kat Lieu's work. As an Asian American adoptee, I resonate with the idea of being a "third culture" person. Although I grew up in America, I've been slowly regaining knowledge of my homeland of Taiwan, and incorporating that into my wholly American upbringing.

I enjoy how Kat takes Western recipes and gives them an Asian flare and how she explains the cultural significance of things and why she wrote this book.

As a fan of her book, Modern Asian Baking at Home, 108 Cookies offers a sweet, but not too sweet! compliment.

This is the baking cookbook I didn't know I'd been waiting for my entire life!!!!!!! The photos of this cookbook are beautifully shot, the stories preceding each recipe give a rich history of Kat's life that makes you feel like she's there with you. I'd also expected these recipes to all be Chinese given Kat's background but this cookbook pulls from all parts of the Asian diaspora and it's amazing to see so many cultures represented. I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of hard work and research that must've gone into bringing this all together. I was excited to receive a digital copy but I will DEFINITELY be pre-ordering my copy right NOW!