Step One for Using a Cookie Press - Combine Dry Ingredients for Cookie Dough

Like most other cookie recipes, it's best to begin by combining the dry ingredients. Either do this by measuring ingredients into a large bowl and mix with a wire whisk. A sifter may also be used to combine the ingredients.

How to Properly Measure Flour
Tip for Measuring Several Cups of Flour

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Step Two for Using a Cookie Press - Cream Butter and Sugar(s)

Cream the butter, margarine and/or shortening with the sugar(s) until completely combined.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Step Three for Using a Cookie Press - Add Eggs and Vanilla

Add the eggs one at a time and combine. Add vanilla and mix completely.

If you prefer to make colored butter cookies, this is the step where the food dye or coloring is added.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Step Four for Using a Cookie Press - Gradually Adding Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients until the dough is formed. It's not absolutely necessary, but I prefer to refrigerate the dough before going any further. The dough can be in the refrigerator for just the time it takes to preheat the oven and grease the cookie sheets. Or it can be in for a couple of days. This cookie dough may also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Step Five for Using a Cookie Press - Get Out Cookie Press

There are several cookies presses on the market. The one I own is an electric one. They both have their pros and cons. I find the non-electric becomes greasy and hard to "plunge" or push the dough out. The electric one, although much faster to dispense, the cord keeps getting in the way. There's also a battery-powered one, but I haven't tried it yet.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Step Six for Using a Cookie Press - Choose a Disc

All cookies presses come with several design disks. These at the ones that came with mine. Consult your booklet for the outcome of each disc.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Step Seven for Using a Cookie Press - Filling the Cookie Press

Preheat the oven according to the recipe. Extra lightly grease (spray and wipe-off the excess) the cookie sheets. Fill the cookie press either by spooning the dough into the container or by making cylinder-shaped piece of dough to fit in the tube.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Step Eight for Using a Cookie Press - Filling Baking Sheet

Using the cookie press, dispense dough on prepared baking sheet. Please keep in mind, not that much space is needed between most pressed cookies. They don't expand very much.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

Just before putting the cookies in the oven, decorate cookies with colored sugar, sprinkles, red hots and/or other decors.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format

The cookie press cookies are done when the edges turn brown. Remove from oven and cool on pan on wire rack for 2 minutes. Finish cooling off of pan and on wire rack. Keep in airtight container.

Recipe for Butter Cookies in standard format