When I'm browsing through the cookbook section of the local bookstore, it's very rare that I'm looking for a book that encompasses all the different courses and dishes one could eat. Instead, I'm usually very specific and looking for a book about meat or slow cookers, but in this case it's cookies.

Although it sounds silly to want to own 5 cookbooks worth of cookie recipes, if you're truly digesting what's in each book, it's not difficult to do. For as many awesome cookie cookbooks (say that 3 times fast) as there are out there, there's an equal amount of bad ones. Here's a few of our favorites:

1. Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar: The word Vegan makes you think that your baked good will taste like whole grains and flax or other non-dessert based grains and "hippie food." This book is perfect to add to your collection for those with allergies or with kids (someone in a class at school always has one!) and yields amazing goods to feed crowds.

2. Martha Stewart Cookies: A few years back Martha put out a holiday cookie magazine supplement to her Living Magazine. My copy is now tattered and torn and I was ever so grateful when this book came out. It encompasses most of those recipes, packaging tips and has big, beautiful photos. Fabulous recipes, my only complaint is that the book doesn't stay open easily on the counter and needs a stand or weight.

3. King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion: I've eaten my way through 85% of this book over the last several years (I say years to make it sound less depressing... don't look at me that way, you'd do it too) and my favorite part about this book (besides the cookies themselves), is the science that lies within it's pages. There's all sorts of tips that will help you better understand the mechanics of a recipe to help you become a better baker.

4. Cookie Craft: From Baking to Luster Dust, Designs and Techniques for Creative Cookie Occasions: If the title is that long it must be good right? This book is a great place to find sparkly eye candy and is full of cookies that leave you with your jaw open in amazement. It's a good source to see all sorts of icing work and decoration in one place without spending your evening Googling till your eyes bleed.

5. Taste Of Home Cookies: Although it takes a great deal for books that are compiled from magazines to win our hearts (they usually tend to be 25% awesome and 75% just ok), this one has earned a spot on the shelf. This is a great book for new bakers as its ingredients and instructions are unassuming and easy to follow.

A few other honorable mentions go to some of the cookbooks in Sara-Kate's post from yesterday, so make sure to check those out as well!

Do you have a favorite that didn't make the list, share the title and let us know why you think it's awesome in the comments below!

Related: Gourmet Magazine's Favorite Cookies: 1941-2008

(Image: Barnes and Noble)