Tips on using a Cookie Press

[**Tinkerbell**]

I borrowed my mom's Mirro brand Cookie-Pastry Press to make some spritz cookies; about 15 years ago. Periodically I wonder if she ever gets a craving and then curses me for never having returned her press.
For the record, I'm usually really good about returning everything I borrow. Well, except for that hot air popper she loaned me...



Generally I tend to gravitate toward the new & improved things, but lately it seems that with kitchen gadgets I'm hanging on tighter than ever to some of the old ones. The faded brown and orange box of the cookie press has fascinated me for years. I love the 70's writing style on the box and the fact that the booklet of recipes and instructions spell the word cookie with a y instead of an ie. The Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company was the result of a merger between two competing Wisconsin aluminum companies in 1893. They began producing kitchen equipment in 1917 when they launched their flagship line of products, the Mirro Aluminum brand, and quickly became one of the largest producers of aluminum products in the United States. During WWII they retooled their factories to make aluminum products for the military and when the war ended in 1954, the company looked for a new market and branched out into aluminum toys as well. By the 1960's the Mirro brand of cookware was flourishing and the company was renamed to the Mirro Aluminum Company.

I'm guessing that mom purchased this press sometime in the early 70's; based on the box design and the fact that she was an active Room Mother during my early school years. I carried on that tradition with my son during his early years and will again with my daughter when she starts school. When all is said and done, this humble gadget will have created hundreds of smiles.



Using a cookie press is a simple procedure of filling the tube of the press with cookie dough and turning a knob on top of the tube, or pulling a trigger, to extrude the dough through the decorative plates at the other end. However, there are a few tricks to ensure the proper dough consistency.


Start with refrigerator temperature butter, then gradually cream in the sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Avoid over-creaming, as it will cause the mixture to increase in volume and become too soft to work with. Adding a Tablespoon of flour at a time will make the dough workable again, but as more flour is added the less tender and delicate the cookie will become.
While butter is traditionally used to make spritz cookies, margarine or shortening can be substituted. Neither will provide the same butter flavor, but cookies made with shortening will hold their shape better in the oven.

When properly creamed and mixed, the dough will be pliable, rather like soft putty, but will hold it's shape. It won't feel wet but doesn't crumble or separate when touched.






Always form your spritz cookies directly onto a cool, ungreased cookie sheet. I prefer to use parchment paper for all my baking, except spritz cookies, because when forming them the dough needs to adhere to the baking surface and parchment tends to lift up with the press. So, to reduce stress and time involved, I leave the cookie sheets bare.



Spritz cookies are versatile, in that they can be sprinkled, iced, decorated with candies, dipped in chocolate or made with tinted dough to match any occasion. If you choose to decorate them with sprinkles or candies, do it before baking. Bake the cookies until they are just set or only slightly brown. The result will be a tender, melt-in-your-mouth butter cookie.

Norwegian Butter Cookies by Kittencal Photo by *Tink


Pressed cookies are delicate, but they freeze very well when stacked between layers of waxed paper. This makes them top considerations for holiday baking, school bake sales or church functions because they can be made ahead and frozen until the day you need them. As the name implies, my… uh, I mean, Mom’s Mirro Cookie-Pastry Press isn't just for cookies. It also makes canapes, appetizers, cheese straws, crackers, meringue shells, cream puffs, eclairs and ladyfingers. If you have one of these overlooked kitchen gadgets sitting around, go ahead and pull it out; see how many smiles you can create!

[Susie D]

You made me want to dig mine out of the cabinet. Thanks for a terrific (& motivating) presentation.

[duonyte]

I agree, I have one sitting somewhere on a shelf, I'll have to find it.

[**Tinkerbell**]

Thank you both for stopping in!

[donnie27]

Hi Tink.........I have saved this for future reference. Great job of explaining and including the hints for successful cookies.

I have had this press for ? (probably 40 yrs. ) and really never learned to use it. But being the "I'll use this sometime" person I am, I couldn't throw it away.

Now I know why the cookies didn't stick to the pan.......I didn't put the press directly on the pan and I probably had greased the pan. Who knew ?

My GS will love it if I make him cookies he can decorate......and he's always ready for cookies.

Thank you again.....................Donna

[**Tinkerbell**]

Hi, Donna!
I'm so glad you found it helpful. This is one of the cookies that DD loves to decorate with me so I'm sure your DGS will love it too!
*Tink

[HotPepperRosemaryJelly]

I have that same cookie press and I finally gave in to the newer version and of course my DH's cousin told me about her electric one by Cuisinart!
So if this new one I bought isn't as easy as it claims...I am going to purchase the Cuisinart electric cookie press...for sure!

[**Tinkerbell**]

Oooh! An electric one sounds fun! I've only ever used this one and have been happy with it and for nostalgic reasons can't seem to give it up.

You know, after writing this demo I ended up using most of it for my newspaper column. When my mom read it she was because just a few days before she wondered to herself what she ever did with "that old thing"!

[HotPepperRosemaryJelly]

My MIL gave me mine and that is what I was using for many years and she used it for many many more!
I use her spritz recipe and it is a good one. I have found it is most important to not over bake them. I watch them like a hawk!
I dip the strips in white and dark chocolate and sprinkle candies on them at Christmas time! I make the ones that look kinda like a wreath... sprinkle green sprinkles and pipe red bows and then pipe red holly berries with green leaves.
Everyone loves them!
I use almond flavoring because I love the smell!!!!!

[**Tinkerbell**]

Almond is my favorite too! I especially like to use it in the dough when I make the wreaths with the maraschino cherries. Yum!

[HotPepperRosemaryJelly]

**Tinkerbell** wrote:
Almond is my favorite too! I especially like to use it in the dough when I make the wreaths with the maraschino cherries. Yum!

Oh! Now you're talkin'!!!! I make poinsettias too! Chrismas time is the time when I buy jars and jars of maraschino cherries!
We ought to do a cookie swap! Wouldn't that be fun!!!
I make tons of cookies all decorated and decorated truffles too...to send to the kids and for the mail lady and some good friends! It is my favorite time of the year! I feel like a professional baker and chocolatier!!!
The only downside is all the snow...which becomes very wearisome around February....
Every inch of counter top and table top is covered with my assembly line!
Jelly

[**Tinkerbell**]

I used to bake a lot for Christmas, but since we moved 500 miles away from our family & we usually drive or fly back home for the holiday, all my time is used up getting things organized and keeping the toddler in check. I usually make a couple treats but nothing like I used to now. And most of the time I just take the recipe to Seattle & make it there with my mom or my sister.

[HotPepperRosemaryJelly]

**Tinkerbell** wrote:
I used to bake a lot for Christmas, but since we moved 500 miles away from our family & we usually drive or fly back home for the holiday, all my time is used up getting things organized and keeping the toddler in check. I usually make a couple treats but nothing like I used to now. And most of the time I just take the recipe to Seattle & make it there with my mom or my sister.

I wish my kids in NC were only 500 miles away...sigh I miss them terribly. So it is care packages from their loving mom!
Seattle is a beautiful area! Was there once quite a few years back and I really loved it!
My DH has a childhood friend who lives there with his family. They come home every couple of years to see his mother.
Wish one of mine was still a toddler!!!!!
Take care!
Hugs, Jelly

[**Tinkerbell**]

HotPepperRosemaryJelly wrote:

Wish one of mine was still a toddler!!!!!
Take care!
Hugs, Jelly

Argh! Wash your mouth out!
No. Seriously, I have one I will gladly loan you for a few years. She is so much more work than DS was at this age. He's 17 now, so we had quite a few years to get used to an independent kid before we got the surprise that DD was on the way.
And, I'll be sure to wash my mouth out after I admit that she could just seem harder because I'm almost 18 years older...

[HotPepperRosemaryJelly]

**Tinkerbell** wrote:

HotPepperRosemaryJelly wrote:

Wish one of mine was still a toddler!!!!!
Take care!
Hugs, Jelly

Argh! Wash your mouth out!
No. Seriously, I have one I will gladly loan you for a few years. She is so much more work than DS was at this age. He's 17 now, so we had quite a few years to get used to an independent kid before we got the surprise that DD was on the way.
And, I'll be sure to wash my mouth out after I admit that she could just seem harder because I'm almost 18 years older...

Ah you are a great parent and she is sooooooo very lucky to have you!!!! She must have been a big surprise!
I'll take her anytime! You just rest, kick back and send her here!!!!
Maisy would just love her to pieces!!! She gets so bored with me sometimes.... She would love the action!
Jelly