Holiday Baking

This addition to the Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library series is organized by type of baked good, in such chapters as ``Cakes & Pastries'' and ``Cookies.'' While this arrangement may frustrate the search for a holiday-specific treat, recipes for unusual dishes compensate. Included are a Twelfth Night Jam Tart, Coconut-Almond Macaroons for Passover, Cherries and Cream Sweetheart Scones, Eggnog Tart and Golden Panettone with pine nuts and yellow raisins. Along with the de rigueur Holiday Cutout Cookies are fitting finales for a Fourth of July picnic (Summer Berry Pie), a Thanksgiving feast (Pecan-Cranberry Pie) and Halloween goodies (Devil's Food Cupcakes). The opening chapter advises on kitchen equipment and basics, although novices might wish for even more direction. Purists may wonder if fruitcake without the ``old-fashioned'' candied fruit is progress or whether a basic pie crust ought to call for lemon juice, but there's plenty of inspiration here nonetheless. (Nov.)