If you happen to hope to replenish cookie jars with buttery, crumbly treats of all sizes for vacation celebrations and past, then it’s excessive time to spend money on a cookie press. Then it’s time to get piping: The basic spritz dough is right for the job, with its particularly tender texture that’s simply allotted.
What’s extra, the common-or-garden sweets are steeped in historical past. With ties to Germany (the German phrase spritzen loosely interprets to “squirt”), Scandinavia, and the Netherlands, spritz cookies depend on butter, sugar, eggs, and flour for his or her wealthy taste and kooky shapes. Meals historians imagine the cookie press originated within the sixteenth century, however the one many bakers conjure when listening to the phrases ‘spritz cookies’ was unveiled by the Aluminum Items Manufacturing Firm of Wisconsin someday between 1930 and 1935. Referred to as the Mirro Cookie Press, Midwesterners—primarily Dutch, Scandinavian, and German immigrants—welcomed the cookie press with open arms and pre-heated ovens. However they weren’t the one bakers impacted by the broader adoption of cookie presses. Southerners, too, embraced the machine, which made for simpler cheese straws, crackers, and canapé fillings (sure, like deviled eggs). And the hand held equipment remains to be repeatedly used as we speak, a dependable workhorse in any baker’s device equipment.
One of the best cookie presses, merely put, make the kitchen a enjoyable manufacturing facility of dough—listed here are those worthy of consideration.
Options to Preserve in Thoughts
Cookie presses present bakers with a hand-held various to a piping bag and ornamental tip. cookie press delivers consistently-shaped cookies with definition, is comfy to make use of, and durable sufficient to see its manner via dozens and dozens of candy and savory pipings. It must also be straightforward to take aside, clear, and reassemble. Cookie presses are notoriously hungry, that means an excellent press needs to be refilled with dough typically and simply. Search for a press that may go the space; regardless of a better value level, severe bakers with many cookie miles to pipe ought to contemplate a mannequin with some heft. The expense shall be definitely worth the funding. Lighter-weight fashions actually serve their goal, whether or not should you’re watching your funds or are simply baking just a few dozen cookies, so contemplate what most closely fits your wants earlier than shopping for.
Guide vs. Electrical Cookie Presses
Normally, a cookie press is operated by filling a hole tube with dough and extruding it via an ornamental die-cut disk on the backside of the press. By turning or squeezing a piston-driven deal with on the prime, the dough is extruded via the disc. Room temperature dough ranging between 65 and 75 levels Fahrenheit works greatest.
Capability
The bigger the tube, the bigger the dough capability; presses fluctuate and might maintain between (roughly) 3/4 cup and as a lot as 1 1/4 cups of dough.
Die-Lower Discs
Sturdy steel discs are thought-about superior to plastic variations, which generally tend to bend. Search for discs made from chrome steel, which have sharp, clear cuts. Something with overly intricate particulars shall be trickier to scrub, and also you need constant, well-defined cookies.
Sure shapes are higher for sure cookies; as an example, the “wash-board” or “ribbon” type disc is nicely suited to cookies being dipped in melted chocolate. A star tip can pipe steady strips that may then be minimize, excellent for cheese straws. Vacation shapes reminiscent of bushes, wreaths, and snowflakes seize the highlight throughout the months of November and December, however most producers supply year-round design choices as nicely.
Form Versatility
Search for discs that provide greater than vacation form choices and are appropriate for savory objects. For instance, spring-themed cookies are greatest piped via a flower disc. Most presses will embody a recipe booklet or present a recipe on the field. Conventional doughs (chocolate, vanilla, spice, gingerbread) will be embellished with sugars, sprinkles, and melted chocolate. Add-ins reminiscent of nuts or chocolate chips are typically too cumbersome to suit via a slender die-cut disc until very finely floor. Gel-type meals coloring, freeze-dried/pulverized fruit, and instantaneous espresso powder will be added to your dough earlier than piping to boost shade and taste.
Upkeep
At all times learn the producer’s suggestions for care and cleansing. Hand-washing is preferable, significantly the small, die-cut discs, and may contribute to the longevity of the product. Some cookie presses can take a spin via the dishwasher, but it surely is determined by the mannequin. It doesn’t matter what, make certain the whole lot is washed and completely dried earlier than storing. Even the tiniest remnants of dough or swimming pools of water can negatively affect the press.
Our Prime Picks
Finest Total: OXO Cookie Press With Storage Box
Simple to make use of and a breeze to scrub, Oxo’s sturdy press has a see-through dough canister. A handy storage case homes 12 chrome steel discs. Testers just like the non-slip base, which retains the press regular on the cookie sheet whilst you dispense cookie dough. The deal with retains issues comfy; squeezing dozens of spritz cookies doesn’t really feel like a chore and clean-up is a snap. Dependable recipes are included and for extra vacation merriment, contemplate buying the set.
Finest Worth: Wilton Preferred Press Cookie Press
This budget-friendly providing from the baking lovers at Wilton has a soft-grip, straightforward squeeze lever, a plastic barrel, and 12 steel discs to encourage your cookie fantasies. That is lighter weight than a number of the different manufacturers we tried, however for the worth, it has its followers. Thicker batters struggled on this press, and refrigerated dough additionally balked, so it’s greatest to make use of this mannequin with freshly-made, room temperature dough. For informal bakers, this mannequin will do the trick.
Finest Splurge: Marcato Atlas Biscuits Cookie Press
Crafted in Italy out of heavy anodized aluminum, this cookie press is certainly splurge-worthy, however so nicely price it. Made by an organization devoted to superior pasta making machines and extruders (in addition to utilizing sustainable and health-conscious manufacturing processes), Marcato’s experience is clear if you take away this good-looking gadget from its field. Consideration to element is clear in its sturdiness; the distinction is night time and day over different fashions made out of plastic and regardless of its heft, it’s comfy to make use of. Twenty discs encourage year-round creativity, with loads of vacation choices. The deal with supplies good leverage and the adjustable knob permits you to select from two sizes of cookies, small and huge. Ensure to hand-wash and dry the cookie press completely, taking care to take away any stowaway dough. Learn the enclosed booklet from cowl to cowl earlier than use, and observe the directive to by no means place this machine within the dishwasher.
Finest Cookie Stamp: Nordicware All Season Cast Cookie Stamps
A superb various to cookie presses, stamps simply create intricate designs with minimal fuss and are helpful for bakers who battle with repetitive squeezing. These sturdy forged aluminum cookie stamps are American-made and can embellish your favourite made-from-scratch cookie doughs. Use a pastry brush and oil (or nonstick spray) to evenly oil the stamp and forestall sticking. They’re hand-wash solely, however take care to not submerge the handles in water. An array of selections make these a fantastic reward for any baker who needs to streamline the cookie adorning course of—and, besides, they boast a lifetime guarantee.
Finest Multitasker: Kuhn Rikon Clear Cookie Press
Housed in a handy and well-organized storage field, this easy-to maneuver-press has a cushty chrome steel set off, 14 aluminum discs that spark loads of creativity, and a transparent barrel to regulate your dough quantity. The general feeling within the hand is considerably much less substantial than a press made from steel, however customers applaud its smoothly-piped dough and clear particulars. The equipment consists of discs appropriate for creating cheese straws or cute animal shapes with ease, plus a squeeze bottle that’s hungry for ornamental icing. The coupler attachment and adorning suggestions are a plus for artful sorts, and I’ve even used them for filling small tart shells. Directions say the disassembled press is dishwasher protected, however that and the discs are higher washed by hand. Whereas it’s not as sturdy as an all-metal counterpart, this press makes a fantastic reward for any passionate cookie maker or decorator.
Finest Conventional Italian Cookie Press: Fante’s Nana Anna’s Easy Cookies Cookie Press
This long-handled cookie press makes use of a rotary plunger mechanism, making it comfy to pipe lengthy strips of ornamental dough. In contrast to cookie presses that depend on particular person discs to form dough into single cookies, the Nana Anna press makes use of a single sliding plate that affixes to the underside of the press. Turning the deal with propels the dough, which is extruded via considered one of 5 conventional designs. It’s very best for working with thicker doughs and piping out lengthy strips (assume cheese straws) that may be twisted into braids, swirls, or ribbons. Simple to place collectively and simply as easy to disassemble, it is a extra old-school, much less high-tech selection that conjures a grandmother’s generously crammed cookie tin.
How We Examined
All of our picks had been examined utilizing strictly-from-scratch doughs, made in line with the recipes offered by the producer. Basic sugar cookie dough and peanut butter dough had been used with the cookie stamps. Moreover, we spoke with severe house bakers spanning multi-generations, business bakers, and educated retailers. Amongst them is Mariella Esposito, a mainstay at Fante’s Kitchen Shop since 1970. Considered one of America’s oldest and most distinguished assets for cookware, Fante’s was established in 1906 within the coronary heart of Philadelphia’s historic South ninth Avenue Italian Market. The shop is a baker’s dream. When requested if gross sales of cookie presses have dwindled over time, Mariella assured me that the demand hasn’t modified. “We check our merchandise, and carry a number of cookie presses,” she defined. Apparently, electrical fashions weren’t dependable and didn’t make the minimize—the shop solely sells handbook variations, giving excessive factors to ones crafted out of steel, claiming they’ll final ceaselessly.
3 Professional Suggestions for Higher Cookie Dough
- Beneath-beating the butter and sugar combination and over-beating as soon as the flour is included is a standard reason behind greasy, robust, or hard-to-pipe dough. Take care to cream the butter and sugar till very gentle and fluffy; add the egg and beat till utterly included. It’s best so as to add the flour by hand, utilizing a big rubber spatula or a picket spoon, mixing simply till the dough is homogenous.
- Good high quality vanilla extract (or ideally the seeds from a vanilla bean) enhances the flavour of the dough. Some bakers go for almond extract, however make certain to make use of it conservatively as a result of an excessive amount of will overpower different flavors.
- Ensure the dough is rolled right into a log of constant thickness earlier than loading it into the barrel of the press. Freshly made dough pipes extra simply than dough that has been refrigerated. Must you make the dough forward of time and refrigerate it, permit it to take a seat at room temperature till malleable; it needs to be tender, however not meltingly so.
Ask the Specialists
Q: Why is my cookie dough sticking to the cookie press?
If the dough is just too tender, it tends to stay to the press. Refrigerate the dough briefly, simply till it’s room temperature. The cookie press needs to be clear and dry earlier than utilizing. Ensure to pipe the cookies onto a chilly, ungreased baking sheet.
Q: Ought to I wash a cookie press with heat water?
Disassemble the cookie press and hand-wash it and the discs in heat, soapy water; rinse and dry completely.
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