The Marvellous Cookie Press

A cookie press is a great alternative to rolling out dough and using cookie cutters. The press is ideal when you don't have a lot of time but still want enticing, inviting cookies! I have mine for almost twenty years and I must have made a couple of thousand cookies.

Mine is made of metal and is very easy to use. The press can give me four different sizes which is really useful. Turning the cutting disks either up or down gives you flatter and larger cookies or  smaller, higher ones. My cookie press can also be adjusted under the lever, so one gets a single or a double portion of dough in each cookie, which means you can have little, delicate ones or more substantial ones.

My trusty cookie press with original
and substitute discs

A variety of discs come with the press, so it is ideal for making cookies for any occasion. Unfortunately some of my discs have gone missing over the years, so I added the plastic discs of another press which broke. Luckily they are the same size!

To create cookies with the cookie press the
dough has to be softer than the one used for
cookie cutters which would be too difficult
for the press to handle.

Here is the recipe which is so adaptable that you can use it for Christmas with the spice mix, change the spices to lemon or orange zest, add finely ground almonds or any traditional ingredient for your particular festivities.

Depending on the size of cookie you choose this recipe will make between 40 to 90 cookies!

Ingredients:                                                                                               
                                                                              
250 g softened butter, 100 g brown sugar, 125 ml treacle or molasses, 1 egg, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 450 g flour, 4 tsp spice mix (see previous post), 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder.                                                                                                                                   
Method:

Cream butter and sugar, then add treacle, egg and vanilla and mix until creamy. Sift the dry ingredients and add in three batches, mixing in first and second batch until completely absorbed. The third portion should be kneaded in. Wrap dough in clingfilm and allow to rest and chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 190 C.
Fill cookie press and make cookies on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in centre of oven for 7 to 10 minutes, depending on size chosen, or until slightly brown around the edges. Remove from oven and cool cookies on a cooling rack.


If you wish you can decorate the cookies with various icings or glazes, dribble with melted chocolate, add sprinkles or sugar beads to make them extra special.

Remember to remove the spice mix for other variations, but don't replace it with anything textured or grainy because then the cookies will not shape well.

When you try this recipe, please let me have feedback about taste, any difficulties or problems so I can make adjustments if necessary!

Just a few cookies fresh from the press!

I need a name for this recipe! Who can give me some good suggestions?