Happy Holidays all I'm in dire need of some spritz cookie help. My husband bought me one of those battery operated cookie guns and I've been trying to make the spritz cookies with it. The recipe I used created nice soft dough(as recommended in the instructions) but no matter what I try I simply CAN NOT get the dough to release after pressing out the cookie. Any ideas? I've tried adding a bit more flour so it's not as "tacky" on the inside, floured the disc etc...nothing is working. Hope someone has the answer for me.
Thanks in advance for your replies!!!!!
searge

I gave up on those guns a long time ago. UGH! Too terribly frustrating for me. I use a piping bag and the large decorating tips for my spritz. I've learned to fill the piping bag only about 1/4 full. I think the warmth of my hands helps to soften the dough, which makes the piping a bit easier, but it still takes some strength to push it through. Good luck with your endeavor.

Make sure your disk with the cutout is facing the correct way. i have the one from Pampered Chef, and if the number isnt facing out, it wont release! Talk about frustrating!

HTH

I really hope someone has some great advice on this one. I too gave up on these a couple of years ago. I have the Wilton battery-operated press and 2 other manual presses and have never had any luck with any of them.

The thing I really want to use it for is cheese straws, but I cannot get it to work no matter what I do!!!

The trick is to use a pan with no non-stick coating and no parchment paper. Shiney pans work the best. This is the only cookie I use those large "air cushion" pans for.

If you can work through the initial frustrations, the spritz cookie go really fast and easy.

Good luck!

I used to make those with the old fashioned "caulk" type gun and I found that the gun had to be completely perpendicular to the pan with the entire end of the gun touching the pan. Then squeeze a fair amount of dough through it - don't go light or you won't get enough and it'll just stick to the gun.

Don't give up. After you do a few that come out just right you'll get a feel for it.

I don't know if the Brand of cookie press matters or not,
the one I use & really like is a Kuhn Rikon Clear Barrel Cookie Press.
I use this recipe with great success, from Cooks.com:

BUTTER SPRITZ COOKIES

Yield approximately 4 dozen.
Cream 1 cup butter. Add 1/2 cup sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract. Blend in 2 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour.

Optional~Add a few drops red food coloring to one third of dough. Green coloring to one third. Leave one third plain. Fill cookie press with each color or combine colors for rainbow effect. Form into desired shapes and decorate. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

I went on Amazon & read reviews & tips from other bakers for my brand, I suggest maybe do a search on your particular brand for tips too.

some tips from my instructions:
The cookie sheet must be clean, cold and not non-stick coated. Cookies will not stick to waxed paper or a greased cookie sheet. As cookies come out of oven, wash the sheet & cool before using again.

Do not chill dough prior to using this press (Kuhn Rikon)

Your dough may be too warm & that is why it is sticking to the barrel.
Are you allowing the Butter to come to room temp?

Hope you can figure it out They are fun & quick once you get it going

I'm not sure if this helps or not, but with mine I have to use a nonstick cookie sheet, or else when the dough comes out, it will not stick to the pan. Also, I found that parchment paper is not good to use.

Oh these do not work for me I bought the Wilton Cookie Press II and I can't get it to work.. The idea is great but not very nice to work with it!

I have the hand crank one and I use it all the time. Make sure your pan is grease free so the dough has something to stick to, make sure the end of the gun is pressed to the pan, not elevated at all. Sometime the first cookie takes two cranks but then it is fine after that. I just pick up the first one and reuse. Good Luck with it, if you get it to work you will love it. Also I use the recipe on the box and maybe add some different flavorings sometimes.

I have always had the same problem with no release from the press. I gave up making them, as it was so frustrating. Maybe it's the non-stick coating. All of my cookie sheets are non-stick... hmm - new cookie sheets?