So, have you finished baking all your holiday cookies yet?
What? You want to bake, but just don’t have the time?
Well, there’s no need to panic or go cookie-less.
Take a deep breath, and focus. How about a compromise?
When the going gets tough, the tough use a cookie press!
Every household should have one of these. You can find them at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, or Williams-Sonoma, or any good kitchen store. Believe me, it’s worth the investment (and with some presses costing less than $30, they won’t break the bank).
Once you load your "cookie gun," you can shoot out dozens of cookies in minutes. You have the options of adding a few drops of food coloring to the dough, or decorating with sprinkles or sugars.
There’s no dough rolling, getting flour all over your counter, or making little balls by hand, or pre-chilling before baking. A big time-saver!
In case your cookie press doesn’t come with recipes, here are two of my favorites:
photo by Wendy Copley.
CHRISTMAS TREES
(makes 6-7 dozen)
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp salt
2-1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
green food coloring
1. Cream butter and sugar well. Beat in egg and almond extract.
2. Gradually blend in dry ingredients which have been sifted together and tint dough with a few drops of green food coloring, if you like. Mix well.
3. Fill cookie press. Form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets, using tree plate.
4. Decorate with tiny candies. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
5. Remove at once to cooling rack.
ORANGE CRISPS
(makes 6-7 dozen)
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 T orange juice
1 tsp grated orange rind
1 egg
2-1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1. Cream butter and sugars well.
2. Add orange juice and grated orange rind. Beat in egg.
3. Gradually blend in flour, baking soda and salt which have been sifted together.
4. Fill cookie press. Form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake.
5. Remove at once to cooling racks.
And don’t forget — we’re still Cookie-partying here at alphabet soup! Tomorrow, I’ll feature yet another recipe shared by one of our guests. We’d love to taste what you’ve been baking this holiday. Post your favorite recipe on your blog, then leave the link in the comments, or email your recipe to: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot com).
COMING ON FRIDAY: Live Journal’s
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brings
some lumberjacks to the party! You won’t want to miss this! Do you think the gnomes will be jealous?
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
I have one of those! Didn’t use it this year for some reason. I guess it’s not too late!
I used to sell Pampered Chef so my kitchen is full of the stuff. 🙂
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Oh, Jama – I think I need you to be my mom.
I have one of those cookie presses – somewhere. But I’d much rather come to your house for cookies.
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No, it’s never too late! If you’re done with Christmas cookies, consider taking it out anyway, and when Valentine’s Day rolls around, make some cookies with the heart plate. Or better still, make some when I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME comes out! You’ll need some heart cookies for your book launch party . . .
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Oh dear, I hope I’m not old enough to be your mom! But you’re always invited to come over for some tea and cookies :). You may bring your dog, or bark yourself, if you like!
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I’ve never owned a cookie press. But you make it sound so easy. And I have a 20% off coupon for Bed, Bath & Beyond. Tempting…
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Get thee there, NOW!! And have fun :)!
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I’ve never tried a cookie press–I think the idea of having to clean out all the crevices is enough of a deterrent for me.
The cookies sound delicious! I think I’ll have to try the orange crisps.
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I’ve had three cookie presses, and not a single one has shot out lots of cookies ever. I need a specific model recommendation.
Also, I posted a cookie recipe today.
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Sorry to hear about the cookie press frustration. I have two, and they’re both quite old, so I’m not sure they’re still selling them. One is a Mirro brand (old style, with larger cylinder), and the other one, which I use most of the time now, is a Hoan (all plastic). I found the Hoan at a bargain kitchen store for only $7 (reg. price $12).
If the dough is sticking to the sheets, make sure they are cooled well between bakings. The other crucial thing is the consistency of the dough. I add the flour gradually until I get the consistency I want, regardless of what the recipe calls for. Dough that is too dry and crumbly, or too wet will cause problems.
It’s also easier to get the cookies to adhere to the sheet when it comes out of the press, if you don’t use parchment paper.
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I imagine the orange crisps would turn out okay without a press.
As for cleaning the press, a good soak in hot water before placing it in the dishwasher should help.
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