The 8 Best Cookie Presses
Special Honors
BabyDrop MAXX Cookie Depositor It might not be made for home use, but many commercial establishments that sell baked goods could benefit from an automated cookie-dropping machine such as this one. It features a convenient tabletop design, an intuitive touch panel, and a 200-recipe memory capacity. It can churn out stationary drop, rotary drop, and wire-cut cookies – and can produce up to an impressive 120 trays of uniform cookies per hour. It can also be used for cakes, macarons, and meringues. empirebake.com
Editor's Notes
October 29, 2020:
If you're ready to move beyond the simple world of drop cookies, a sturdy cookie press is a great way to go, and makes a fun alternative to the more common rolling pin and cookie cutter approach. Thanks to its ease of use, the Marcato Atlas still comes out on top; it offers a frustration-free introduction to spritz cookies, or works as a helpful tool for those who already have plenty of practice. We like that it comes in a range of colors, too, although this won't be as much of a plus to those who don't mind whether their baking gear is matching and coordinated.
We've kept the Wilton Preferred as a good choice, as well, although it can't handle truly thick dough. Fans of Wilton will probably be glad to see that the Wilton Simple Success joins the list. This latter model is plastic, whereas the Preferred has more metal parts. You can expect the Simple Success to be a little lighter on the wallet, but not on your hands, as most find that it does take some strength to squeeze its handle. The soft-grip trigger helps offset this annoyance, though.
As for models made to help those who have trouble squeezing, perhaps due to arthritis, we've unfortunately had to remove the Hutzler Easy Action. Its durability is questionable, and when you're baking, there's little worse than a crucial piece of equipment breaking when you're basically up to your neck in dough. We did opt for one electric model, however, the Sunbeam Electric. It's not perfect, since it could last longer for the cost, but it offers a one-touch operation that many will find crucial to getting through large baking projects.
December 19, 2019:
The newly added Lurch Germany Mincer replaces the Fante's Easy Original, a similar model that’s no longer available. This versatile instrument can be used for four shortbread cookie designs (a recipe is included) as well as minced poultry or beef. It comes with a strong suction foot that keeps it from sliding around during use. All the components are hygienic and food grade. You can choose from two color combinations of aubergine and cream white or grey and white.
Unlike many other models that are made of plastic, the Zulay Kitchen Classic is crafted from sturdy stainless steel and anodized aluminum, so it’s likely to stand up to years’ worth of use. It’s thoughtfully designed with an easy-to-fill chamber and an ergonomic lever. It comes with 20 interchangeable stencils (which is more than most other models provide) for a variety of holiday- and seasonal-themed designs. You can purchase it with confidence, thanks to the manufacturer’s lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
From a well-known brand in kitchen appliances and tools, the Cuisinart Electric Red comes with eight discs to create cookies with trees, flowers, stars, and more. It plugs into a wall outlet and can be counted on to quickly produce a pan’s worth of oven-ready cookie shapes. It comes with a booklet that includes more than 20 recipes, so you’ll have more than enough ideas to get you started. Should you ever need replacement parts, they’re readily available on Cuisinart’s website.
The Hutzler Easy Action can be used not only for spritz cookies, but also to make twice-baked potatoes, deviled eggs, and manicotti and cannoli filling, thanks to the included nozzle attachments. Users who have arthritis rave about this product’s ease of use, as it doesn’t require any squeezing, unlike many other models.
Additional choices that leave the list today, due to a lack of availability, are the Huluwa Gun Set, the Norpro 3299 Professional Kit and the Norpro Marcato.
How To Use A Cookie Press
The cookies should then be decorated before placing them into a preheated oven.
Cookie presses are easy to use and will make the cookie baking process go much quicker. Once you have your dough mixed and ready to be pressed, it is time to pull out the cookie press and get to work.
The first step is to roll your dough into a log that easily fits into the tube of the cookie press. Then pick out the design disk you want to use. Most cookie presses come with anywhere from 5 to 15 disks, each with a different design, allowing you to make cookies in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Once you have picked out the disk you want to use, remove the ring from the end of the cookie press's barrel and place your chosen design disk on the end. Then replace the ring and make sure it is securely tightened down. If it is too loose, it may pop off when you are squeezing out cookies.
Next, very lightly grease the cookie sheet or baking mat. Make sure that you only lightly grease it, and wipe off any excess grease with a paper towel. If there is too much grease, the cookies won't adhere to the pan when pressed and won't separate from the press. Touch the tip of the cookie press to the baking sheet while holding it completely vertical, and firmly squeeze the cookie press's handle to push out a cookie. If using a battery powered model, just depress the button. Repeat this process until you have run out of dough.
Cookies made with a cookie press don't require as much space between them as handmade cookies because they don't expand as much. This allows you to make more cookies per sheet. The cookies should then be decorated before placing them into a preheated oven.
Tips For Buying The Right Cookie Press
When it comes to buying a cookie press, the more features and accessories, the better. If you are comparing two similar models, but one comes with more design disks or offers more customization over the size of your cookies, go with the one that has more versatility.
For those that plan on making a large amount of cookies, a model with a larger capacity tube is a good choice.
You'll also need to choose between a manual model or an electric model. Electric models are less fatiguing for the hand, press cookies quicker, and are easier for kids to use. They also make cookies with a more consistent size than manual models. Electric cookie presses do have some drawbacks though. If you choose a battery powered model and you forget to charge it, you may have to wait an hour or more before you can start pressing cookies.
Models that plug into a socket during use don't have this problem, but the cord can often get in the way or drag across previously pressed cookies ruining their design. Manual models are capable of pressing out thicker dough than electric models, but neither kind should be used for extremely thick dough or one with a lot of hard ingredients, like nuts or sugar candies.
For those that plan on making a large amount of cookies, a model with a larger capacity tube is a good choice. If you have small hands, you may find that a larger cookie press is uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time and may prefer a smaller model, even if you have to refill it more often.
After receiving your cookie press, check to ensure that all of the components fit together snugly. Nothing should feel loose or wobbly. If it does, return it for a different model. If you are still having trouble making perfect cookies after buying a cookie press, it may be time to do some cookie troubleshooting.
A Short History Of Spritzgeback Cookies
Spritzgeback cookies (commonly referred to as Spritz cookies) have a long history. It is believed they ushered in the invention of the cookie press. In fact, the history of the two is almost one and the same. In German, the word "Spritz" means to squirt or to squeeze, which is why many people believe the Germans invented the cookie press.
It's also now popular to decorate the cookies with frosting and sprinkles.
Others believe the cookie originated in Sweden since the Swedes have long made something called Swedish butter cookies. These cookies are a staple on Scandinavian Christmas tables. In Norway, people make the cookies into the shapes of small S's and O's. Regardless of origin, their ingredients are undebated and those are sugar, butter, eggs, and flour.
Food historians date the creation of the cookie press back to the 16th century, but its introduction into mainstream cooking came in spurts. For example, one Canadian flour company published a collection of recipes called the Five Roses Cookbook in 1913. This is one of the longest running collections of recipes from a flour company and it has since been republished and amended. The 1960s version of the book had a special section on pressing cookies.
Modern cookie presses usually come with a small recipe book, which is a little nod to their history. In the 16th and 17th century, people would pass their Spritz recipes, along with their presses, onto their children, who would then add their own recipes and keep the tradition going. Today there are almost countless varieties of Spritz cookies; they all keep the original four ingredients but include flavors like coffee and lemon. It's also now popular to decorate the cookies with frosting and sprinkles.