diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a03ebb45cdc8615e780f394aebc6b9f6f8c6527d..a6e09aea1a31bc90c9f4b82b3fb6afbc7e23972f 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -455,7 +455,10 @@ add_subdirectory(Utilities/Doxygen)
 
 add_subdirectory(Utilities/Completion)
 
-if (BUILD_DOCUMENTATION)
+option(BUILD_COOKBOOK "Build the CookBook documentation." OFF)
+mark_as_advanced(BUILD_COOKBOOK)
+
+if (BUILD_COOKBOOK)
     add_subdirectory(Documentation/Cookbook)
 endif()