I just bought one this weekend! Used it twice now, and I love it! I got the Wilton one based off of Cook's Illustrated review on presses.

I have one that I use pretty much exclusively to make my grandmother's famous cheese straws. I'd love to find some other go-to recipes for it, too. I made these french cornmeal cookies once, too. They were good, but nothing compares to those cheese straws!

My mom has had hers since the early 80's, possibly before. She hates cooking and baking except for making Christmas cookies every year, and these are always my favorite.

Same as forkbytes, cheese straws only can be made in my family with a cookie press. Not a big fan of spritz cookies, but cheese straws totally. Only problem is the only one I could get at the time I got mine was electric (battery powered) and I find for a thick dough like cheese straws, it strains and doesn't have enough oomph to push it through. I so wish I had a manual one like my mom.

i have a question about cookie presses - every time i try to use them, my cookie doesn't stick to the pan! it just stays "on" the press!! Any ideas what I am doing wrong?

sounds like your dough is too dry. most spritz type cookies are fairly moist and should stick fine.

I bought mine two weeks ago!

jmorri26, I must share that in my family we will ONLY use an electric press for cheese straws! My grandmother insisted it was a requirement. In fact, mine is super old (70s at least) and plugs into the wall. I constantly live in fear of it dying, but it is a workhorse! Grandmother felt that a manual press wouldn't work, but I've not tried it. I must admit I'm suspicious that it wouldn't work! I think it would. But as long as my 70s press is with me, that's how I'll make them! :)

forkbytes, sounds like our grandmother's thought alike!

My mom's is ancient as well and every year she's terrified the plastic is going to finally crack. I don't think we've ever made cookies with the thing!

We have always made spritz cookies! This year we are going to try different decorating techniques though because our usual ones are getting, well, a bit old. I do wish I could have found some more websites and information on recipes and decorating for spritz christmas cookies... I was a little disappointed.

These cookies were a big part of my childhood. When I started helping my mom bake when I was 6 or 7, she would let me use her cookie press and then help decorate the cookies. Her press was pretty old and had copper die-plates; I bet she still has it.
My paternal grandmother would always make spritz cookies for Christmas Eve at her house. When she died, my grandfather tried to make them, but he wasn't really a baker and broke her press trying to squeeze the too-dry dough out of it. I think he eventually got the hang of it, though.

I haven't had these in quite a while, and I think I need to try to track a press down and engage in some cookie nostalgia.

ranyart - what a cute story about your grandparents! I inherited an old, metal cookie press from my grandmother, and use it every year. Decorating them with bright sprinkles is still my favorite part.

My mom and I make whipped shortbread cookies with her press every year. I always looks forward to it, its my favorite christmas tradition. Plus the cookies are delicious!

I bought a vintage manual Mirro aluminum cookie press this year and used it to make cheese straws and spritz cookies... both efforts were very successful.

I have an old metal one that works like a charm. Butter spritz cookies, yum.
If your cookies are sticking to the pan, your dough is too dry or too cold. And, remove the press from the pan very slowly.

my mother in law gave all of the sisters/sisters-in-law cookie presses last year for christmas, and while i appreciated the sentiment, it was maybe the meanest gift i've ever been given--i could NOT get the thing to work! either the cookies wouldn't stick to the pan, or it required way, way too much effort to push the dough through. i think my husband conveniently "lost" it after watching me swear and stress my way through making one batch of cookies with it last year.

my cookie press only comes out at Christmas time. It's pure nostalgia. I have the Wilton brand and it's great! I also had a problem this year with my cookies not sticking to the pan... will try and make sure the dough is softer and moister next time.

Hey all you cheese staw makers, does anyone have a favorite recipe they would share? I've never made them before, let alone with my cookie press!

I have an antique metal one. My cookies always spread out and lose their shape in the oven.. why is that?

I love spritz cookies, and helping to press out all the different shapes is one of my favorite holiday memories/traditions. My mom inherited her mother's cookie press and used to make dozens and dozens of cookies when I was growing up, giving my brother and I each several sheets to decorate with a rainbow assortment of sprinkles. The holiday baking has certainly slowed in recent years, but it really isn't Christmas until we bust out the press and bake some garishly decorated trees.

Cookies won't stick (release from the press) to a non-stick pan. When you press cookies, be sure your cookie pans are cool and that there is no grease on the pans. Cookies don't seem to stick to parchment either...need to be pressed directly onto the pan.

My Nana always made Jello spritz cookies in strawberry and lime as part of her cookie trays. Forkbyte - what make is your electric cookie gun? I've had no luck with manual guns.