Have you ever eaten those delectable sugar cookies with a swirl design? Well, those were made with a cookie press, and you can make those straight from your home! No more having to pay bakery prices for these cookies, and homemade is always better.
To do this, you’ll need a cookie press. A cookie press is a cylindrical tube filled with cookie dough that is pushed through an opening with a design or cookie shape. Many cookie presses come with stainless steel discs that have different designs so that you can make these spritz cookies for all occasions.
If you’re ready to make cookies, then you’ll need a cookie press, and we’ve got you covered. Choosing a cookie press on our list will ensure that you have chosen the best cookie press to make delicious cookies every time.
Best Overall Cookie Press
1. OXO Good Grips Cookie Press
Our pick for the best overall cookie press is the OXO Good Grips cookie press and for many good reasons.
First, it is affordable. We understand that cost can play an important role in making any purchase, and a cookie press is no different. It’s not cheaply made, nor is it too expensive that it is unaffordable.
Because it’s not cheaply made, it has a quality and functional design. It has a non-slip base that keeps the cookie press stable and in place as you press the cookie dough through the cookie disc. It also has an ergonomic lever that comfortably fits in your hand for making repetitive motions. This prevents fatigue and discomfort when pushing cookie dough through the nozzle.
The cylindrical tube is clear so you can see exactly how much cookie dough is left. The cylinder disassembles completely, and all components of the cookie press are dishwasher safe.
Included with the cookie press are 12 stainless steel discs, each with different designs to create different styles of cookies. An organizational carrying case stores all 12 stainless steel design discs when storing the cookie press. The designs include a daisy, flower, sunflower, fleur-de-lis, butterfly, bear, shell, leaf, heart, snowflake, tree, and wreath. There is something for every cookie making occasion.
Best Budget Cookie Press
2. Wilton Preferred Press Cookie Press
Wilton is one of the leading bakeware and baking accessory manufacturers, making this cookie press the best cookie press for those on a budget. It is affordable but lacks no quality or features.
It has a clear cylinder body that you will fill with cookie dough. This will also let you know when you need to refill the cookie dough tube when it runs low.
The cookie press's handle is a trigger-style handle that you will squeeze to press the cookie dough through the nozzle. This style of handle is similar to the type of handle you would use when pumping gas. It will be squeezed to push the cookie dough through the nozzle, rather than pressed using a lever.
There are 12 stainless steel design template discs for you to create 12 different cookie designs. The designs include a tree, snowman, heart, pumpkin, turkey, biscuit, flower, and starburst designs.
Wilton recommends handwashing the cookie press's body and accessories to preserve the quality and lifespan of the cookie press.
Best Premium Cookie Press
3. Marcato Atlas Cookie Press
This anodized steel and aluminum cookie press by Marcato is top-quality and has all of the features a cookie press can have. Because it’s made by Marcato, a company that is a world leader in manufacturing pasta makers, it should be no surprise that this cookie press is created with premium materials and flawless design.
First, it is made of anodized steel and aluminum, which is the top-rated material for bakeware and cookware. The cookie press body is solid, so you can’t see through it, but this makes the fluid motion of pressing cookies through the nozzle extremely smooth and precise, exactly how it should be.
Another feature that sets this cookie press apart from the rest is the adjustable nozzle tip that allows you to adjust the size of the cookies you are making. You can make 35 to 40 small cookies with a small size and 20 to 25 large cookies with a large size. Additionally, there are 20 discs included with the cookie press that each has a different design.
To press the cookie dough through the nozzle of the cookie press, you will push the ergonomic metal handle down. It has a solid base that will easily stay in place as you press the cookie dough through the nozzle.
4. Onmimy Cookie Press
Another cookie press for those on a budget is this cookie press set by Onmimy. For less than $20, you get a cookie press, 20 design discs, and four icing tips.
The cookie press body is made of stainless steel and aluminum, making it a quality cookie press without the large price tag. The tip of the cookie press can be adjusted to make small or large cookies.
The 20 stainless steel discs allow you to create different cookie designs, including stars, swirls, and shapes. There are four icing tips in four different sizes for you to easily ice the cookies once they have been baked and cooled.
To push the cookie dough through the nozzle of the cookie press, you will push down the lever-style handle of the cookie press. This is the same method you will use when piping icing through the cookie press.
If you need an inexpensive cookie press that comes with a variety of design discs and icing tips, then this cookie press by Onmimy is perfect for the job.
5. ZOAJU Stainless Steel Cookie Press Set
Another cookie press set with multiple discs and icing piping tips is this stainless steel kit by ZOAJU. It costs a little more than the Onmimy option, but it also comes with more piping tips with various designs.
The cylindrical body of the cookie press is made of stainless steel, and the handles and nozzles are made of plastic. When you want to use the cookie press discs, you will attach the cookie press nozzle to the cookie press body.
When you want to use the icing tips, you will attach the icing tip nozzle to the cookie press and then attach the tip of your choice. This makes it easy to switch between using the cookie press for cookies and piping icing.
There are 13 different cookie-cutter designs and eight different stainless steel icing tips, giving you a wide variety of cookie and icing designs.
The cookie dough or icing will be pushed through the nozzle tip of the cookie press by squeezing the trigger-like handle of the cookie press. The handle is made of stainless steel and is comfortable in the hand as it is squeezed.
6. Cuisinart Cookie Press Set
Cuisinart is a top culinary manufacturer of various cookware, bakeware, and kitchen utensils, so it’s no surprise that they have created a cookie press that has made it on our list.
The Cuisinart cookie press is made of plastic, so softer, thinner dough and icing is best used in this cookie press. The cookie press tube is clear so you can see just how much dough or icing you have left.
One of the neat aspects of this cookie press is the numbered discs that come with the cookie press. If you need to make cookies for a birthday or anniversary, you can do that with this cookie press by Cuisinart.
In addition to these nine numbered discs, there are also nine additional designs you can make, including swirls, trees, and flowers.
When you want to ice the cookies (or other desserts), you can use one of the six icing tips included with this cookie press set.
The cookie press is plastic and has a plastic squeeze handle that will push the cookie dough or icing through the nozzle of the cookie press.
7. Milaski Stainless Steel Cookie Press
The last cookie press on our list is this stainless steel option from Milaski. It is similar to the Onmimy stainless steel cookie press in design, discs, and icing tips.
There are 21 total discs that each have a different design. You can make flowers, trees, shapes, wreaths, and much more with these different designs. Each piping tip has a different diameter to pipe thin or thick icing through the nozzle. You can alternate between level 1 or level 2 cookies. Level 1 is for small cookies, and level 2 is for large cookies.
The body of the cookie press is stainless steel and has a push-down lever that will press the cookie dough through the nozzle of the cookie press. The cookie press can be disassembled and either dish-washed or washed by hand.
Cookie Press Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know
With so many options, how do you know which one to choose? Just ask yourself these few basic questions.
Do you want to see the dough inside the tube?
If seeing the dough inside the tube is important to you, then you’ll want to choose a cookie press with a clear body. Otherwise, you can choose a cookie press with a stainless steel or aluminum body that you can’t see through.
Do you want it to be dishwasher safe?
Not all cookie presses are dishwasher safe, so if this is important to you, you’ll have to make sure the cookie press you choose indicates that it can be placed in the dishwasher.
The good news is that cookie presses are easy to clean with warm water and dishwashing soap, so even if you have to choose a handwash-only option, it will be easy and quick to clean. But if dishwashing is important to you, then you’ll have to make sure it is dishwasher safe; otherwise, you will damage the cookie press.
Is a large variety of disc designs important to you?
Most cookie presses come with at least eight discs, but some can have 12, 16, or even 20 discs, so you need to ask yourself how important it is to have the most design discs?
You may only need a cookie press to create a traditional spritz cookie with a star or swirl design. This means you can get by with a cookie press with very few design discs, possibly allowing you to splurge for a cookie press that is more durable or has a higher quality.
If you want an endless supply of design discs, then you should opt for the cookie press that has a large number of discs.
Do you want icing tips included with the cookie press?
Some cookie presses come with icing or decorating tips included in the set. This may simply be an added bonus if you find a cookie press with discs that you like but don’t necessarily care that it includes icing tips.
On the other hand, icing tips included with the cookie press may be a requirement, and understandably so. Some cookies are best garnished with icing, so having icing tips included with the cookie press kit will make this process easy and effective.
Do you prefer a squeeze handle or push lever to press the dough?
The cookie press will have a squeeze handle design or a push lever design, so you should consider what would be the most comfortable option for you.
The push lever design has a lever on the back of the cookie press that will be pushed down to press the cookie dough through the nozzle. The squeeze handle design has a handle similar to a gas pump or a caulk gun.
Both designs effectively push the cookie dough through the tube; it just depends on how you prefer to press it. Had you rather push a lever or pull a handle? This is something you should ask yourself when choosing the best cookie press for you.
Is a manufacturer warranty important to you?
Some manufacturers offer a limited warranty on their cookie press. If resting assured with a manufacturer warranty is important to you, then you should opt for the cookie press that has a manufacturer warranty. If not, then you shouldn’t spend much time considering this factor.
Using a Cookie Press for More than Just Cookies
You can use a cookie press for more than just cookies, so don’t think that you will be stuck with a tool that you can only use for one thing "Cheese Crackers"
Instead of filling the tube with cookie dough, you can fill it with cheese cracker dough and press crackers through a disc or tip of your choice.
Instead of using a piping bag or two spoons to fill your deviled eggs, use the cookie press to pipe the filling into the eggs. You will have to make sure the cookie press has an attachable nozzle with an icing tip to do this.
Tips and Tricks for Using a Cookie Press
The cookie press is designed to make sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, and shortbread cookies. You should not use premade cookie dough or cookie dough that has large pieces or chunks, like chocolate chips, oatmeal, or nuts, as these pieces can get stuck in the small openings of the discs and clog the dough from pushing through the nozzle.
You also shouldn’t use dough that is too thick, as it may not come through the disc of the cookie press. It can also damage the internal components of the cookie press.
Because you will be pressing the cookie dough through an opening, the dough will need to come out in one piece. Air bubbles can keep this from happening. These pockets of air can mess up the design of the cookies that you are trying to create. To prevent this, you should add a little dough at a time and compact the dough into the tube. This will remove the air from the tube and give you a smooth cookie every time.
Make sure that you clean the cookie press at the manufacturer’s recommendation. Just because the cookie press may be made of dishwasher safe materials doesn’t mean that the manufacturer recommends that you should wash it in the dishwasher. Make sure that you know what the manufacturer’s recommendation is for dishwashing.
If you mess up some of the cookies, don’t stress! Just take the dough and put it back into the tube and try again!
Conclusion
If you haven’t added a cookie press to your kitchen equipment, now is the time. A cookie press can be used for more than just making flawless and delectable shortbread cookies every time (although we feel that’s a good enough reason to have one), but you can also make cheese straws, fill deviled eggs, or rice cakes and cookies.
Just remember that it may take a little practice in the beginning, but don’t give up. In a short amount of time, you’ll be making perfect cookies every time.
