Basic Cookie Press Dough Recipes

BASIC PRESSED & BALL COOKIE DOUGH (1950)

Steps:

• 1. Cream the butter , shortening and the sugar. Add egg yolks and the flavoring. Beat until light and fluffy. Sift together the dry ingredients and gradually add to the shortening mixture , blend thoroughly. Fill cookie press , form dough on unoiled cookie sheet. BAKE in a moderate oven 375° for 6-8 minutes. Yields 7 dozen posted by Mrs. Roy M.Carlson , Lake Bronson, Minn.
• 2. The following decorative designs can be applied to any of the designs. Colored sugars (or a blend of them), red-hots silver balls, finely ground coconut or nuts and grated chocolate make effective toppings if they are sprinkled on the cookies before they are baked. Grated lemon or orange rinds blended with small quantity of granulated sugar gives a pleasing finishing touch. If desired, the basic recipe dough may be tinted by blending in a few drops of vegetable coloring.
• 3. Plain Ball cookies are made of the basic pressed and balled cookie dough recipe. To form the balls , roll 1 teaspoon chilled dough between palms of hands. Space balls 3" apart on lightly oiled cookie sheet , BAKE in a moderate oven 350° for 12-15 minutes.
• 4. VARIATIONS:
• 5. CEREAL: Use 1 teaspoon of the chilled dough to form each ball. Dip into lightly beaten egg white ,coat lightly with crushed cereal flakes. Space balls 3" apart on lightly oiled cookie sheet , BAKE in a moderate oven 350° for 12-15 minutes.--- Mrs. H.T. James , Silver Springs, Md.
• 6. CHOCOLATE: Use 1 teaspoon of the chilled dough to form each ball. Roll into grated semi-sweet chocolate. Space balls 3" apart on lightly oiled cookie sheet , BAKE in a moderate oven 350° for 12-15 minutes.--Mrs. W.L.Bourne, Humboldt, Neb.
• 7. COCONUT: Use 1 teaspoon of the chilled dough to form each ball. Dip into lightly beaten egg white ,coat lightly with finely chopped coconut. Space balls 3" apart on lightly oiled cookie sheet , BAKE in a moderate oven 350° for 10-12 minutes.--Dorthy Watson, Topeka, Kan.
• 8. DATE: Add 1/2 cup chopped dates to the basic dough recipe just before chilling. Blend thoroughly , chill several hours. Use 1 teaspoon of the chilled dough to form each ball. Space balls 3" apart on lightly oiled cookie sheet , BAKE in a moderate oven 350° for 12-15 minutes.--Mrs. Alvie W. Dow, Belvidere, Neb.
• 9. RAISIN: Add 1/2 cup chopped raisins to the basic dough recipe just before chilling. Blend thoroughly , chill several hours. Use 1 teaspoon of the chilled dough to form each ball. Space balls 3" apart on lightly oiled cookie sheet , BAKE in a moderate oven 350° for 12-15 minutes.--Mrs. M.G. Loftis, Battle Creek, Iowa.
• 10. NUT: Use 1 teaspoon of the chilled dough to form each ball. Dip into lightly beaten egg white ,coat lightly with finely chopped nuts , Space balls 3" apart on lightly oiled cookie sheet , BAKE in a moderate oven 350° for 12-15 minutes.--Mrs. Maurice Devening, New Castle, Ind.
• 11. The Household magazine decorated balls in the following ways. Indentations were made in the center of the unbaked balls. To obtain variety, chocolate bits , red-hots , small assorted decorative candies and chopped candied fruits were used.
• 12. If you do not own a cookie press , you can form your own designs, Here's a few suggestions: The ball may be formed into flat cookies with the bottom of a water glass which has been dipped in cold water and than in sugar. If the bottom of the glass has a sharply cut design , a pleasing effect is given to the cookie. If a fork is used to flatten the ball, crisscross or parallel lines give a decorative touch. Pecans or English walnuts halves used to flatten the balls leave an interesting design. If desired the nut halves may be baked on the cookies. Flattened ball cookies may be decorated as suggested for pressed cookies.

COOKIE PRESS COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, flour, salt, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.
• Fill a cookie press with the dough, and turn out cookies 1 to 2 inches apart onto an unbuttered baking sheet. Sprinkle cookies with colored sanding sugars.
• Bake until the cookies are lightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes. To ensure even baking, rotate sheet halfway through the baking process. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.

BASIC COOKIE PRESS DOUGH

Steps:

• Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg, almond flavoring, and vanilla beat well. Add flour, salt, and baking powder mix well.NOTE: A little more flour may be added if dough needs to be stiffer for press.

BASIC COOKIE DOUGH WITH 6 VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Put butter, granulated and light brown sugar, the baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Beat with mixer on medium speed 3 minutes or until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well blended.
• Reduce mixer speed to low; gradually beat in flour until blended. Divide dough in half (about 1 3/4 cups per portion). Prepare each portion as directed in recipes.
• Chocolate Chunk Cookies: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have baking sheets ready. Put 1 portion (1/2 recipe) basic cookie dough, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks, 1/2 cup each pecans and walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped, and 1/4 cup semisweet or milk chocolate mini M & Ms baking bits in a large bowl; stir until blended. Drop heaping measuring tablespoons dough 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes until golden brown. Cool on baking sheet on a wire rack 2 minutes before removing to rack to cool completely.
• Lemon Wedges: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have baking sheets ready. Put 1 portion (1/2 recipe) basic cookie dough, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel and 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract in a large bowl; stir until blended. Roll 1/4 cup portions into balls. Place 4 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press into 4 inch circles. Bake 13 to 15 minutes until light brown. While hot, remove circles with a broad spatula to a cutting board. Cut each circle into 6 wedges. Transfer wedges to a rack to cool completely. Whisk 3/4 cup confectioners sugar and 1 tablespoon water until smooth, adding more water if needed until just thin enough to drizzle. Place a piece of wax paper under cookies on rack. Drizzle cookies with sugar mixture; let stand until drizzle sets.
• Berry Crumb Bars: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 inch square baking pan with foil, letting foil extend above pan on opposite sides. With floured fingers, pat 1 1/4 cups dough (from 1/2 recipe chilled basic cookie dough) over bottom of prepared pan. Put 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped and 1/3 cup raspberry preserves in a small bowl; stir until well blended. Spread on dough to within 1/2 inch of edges of pan. Add coconut to remaining dough; stir until blended. Break off small pieces and place randomly on cranberry mixture. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until top is browned. Cool in pan on wire rack. Holding foil ends, lift onto cutting board. Cut into 18 bars.
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have baking sheets ready. Put 1 portion (1/2 recipe) basic cookie dough, 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned oatmeal, 1/2 cup honey-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped and 1/3 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter in a large bowl; stir until blended. Drop level measuring tablespoons 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Cool on sheet on wire racks 2 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely.
• Spicy Snickerdoodles: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have baking sheets ready. Put 1 portion (1/2 recipe) basic cookie dough, 3 tablespoons cornmeal, 2 tablespoons molasses, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon ginger in a large bowl; stir until blended. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm. Place 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a shallow bowl. Shape scant tablespoons dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in sugar to coat. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with decorating sugar. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until edges are browned. Cool on sheet on wire racks 2 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely.
• Chocolate Toffee Brownies: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with foil, letting foil extend above pan at opposite sides. Put 1 portion (1/2 recipe) basic cookie dough and 6 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, melted, and cooled in a large bowl; stir until blended. Coarsely chop three 1.4 ounce Skor bars. Add 2/3 of the chopped candy bars to dough mixture; stir to combine. Spoon into lined pan; spread to cover bottom. Combine remaining candy bars, 1/3 cup milk chocloate chips, 1/3 cup pecans, chopped and 1/4 cup mini marshmallows in a small bowl. Sprinkle over dough; then press lightly to adhere. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Holding foil ends, lift onto cutting board. Cut square brownies using a serrated knife.

COOKIE PRESS BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolks, 2 tablespoons water, flour, salt and vanilla. Chill the dough.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• Fill the cookie press and shape the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush the top of each cookie with the egg whites mixed with 2 tablespoons of the water. Decorate as desired.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) until the cookies are golden brown on top, about 10 minutes.

COOKIE-PRESS COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, flour, salt, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.
• Fill a cookie press with the dough, and turn out cookies 1 to 2 inches apart onto an unbuttered baking sheet. Sprinkle cookies with colored sanding sugars.
• Bake until the cookies are lightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes. To ensure even baking, rotate sheet halfway through the baking process. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.

BASIC BUTTER COOKIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Place flour, sugar, butter, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; process until mixture is the texture of coarse meal.
• In a small bowl, lightly beat egg yolks and vanilla; with motor running, add to food processor. Process just until a dough forms.

BASIC SPRITZ COOKIE DOUGH FOR PRESSED COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Cream shortening, butter and sugar well. Beat in egg and vanilla Sift together dry ingredients. Gradually blend dry ingredients with butter mixture. Fill cookie press and form cookies on ungreased cookie sheets. (I line my cookie sheets with parchment paper.) Bake at 375 degree F. 10-12 minutes. Yield 60-70 cookies.

BASIC COOKIE DOUGH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk 7-1/2 cups flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture, adding more flour if necessary. Divide dough into four 2-cup portions. Refrigerate, covered, until needed., Basic Cookie Dough may be used to prepare the following recipes: Crumb-Topped Date Bars, Cherry Surprise Cookies, Chocolate Mallow Cookies or Jelly Sandwich Cookies.