After testing the OXO Good Grips Cookie Press across three holiday baking sessions and dozens of spritz batches, I can say this: the best cookie presses save your wrists, deliver identical shapes, and turn out crisp, bakery-style spritz in minutes. The OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Set takes the top spot for its lever mechanism and 12 stainless steel discs, while the Wilton Simple Success wins on price for casual bakers who only pull it out once a year.
Cookie presses are absolutely worth it if you bake for the holidays or love cheese straws. I compared 7 popular models for shape consistency, hand comfort, cleanup, and disc versatility, and put each through a real spritz dough test plus a thicker cheese straw batch. If your old trigger gun leaves your hand aching or your cookies arrive as sad blobs, this guide will help you find the right press for your kitchen.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks at a Glance
OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Set
- Lever-style
- 12 stainless steel discs
- non-slip base
- storage case
All 7 Best Cookie Presses Compared
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Set |
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| Wilton Simple Success |
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 Marcato Design Line |
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 Kuhn Rikon Clear Cookie Press |
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 Wilton Cookie Press Set 2104-0-0034 |
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 Reifier 14-Piece Cookie Press Set |
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 MTOGALT 21-Piece Cookie Press Set |
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1. OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Cookie Press Set – Editor’s Choice
- Comfortable large lever reduces hand fatigue
- 12 stainless steel discs in versatile designs
- clear barrel shows dough level
- non-slip base keeps it steady
- includes compact storage case
- easy to take apart for cleaning
- dishwasher-safe discs
- Cookies run on the petite side
- first cookie often comes out larger
- requires cold ungreased cookie sheets
The OXO Good Grips is the cookie press I keep reaching for after three holiday seasons of use. The lever mechanism is the standout feature: instead of squeezing a stiff trigger, you simply press down with your whole palm. I baked 60 spritz cookies in one session and my hand never cramped, a real contrast to the trigger-style Wilton I tried alongside it.
Shape consistency was excellent once I learned the cold-sheet trick. With the metal discs, every wreath, tree, and snowflake had crisp edges and held its detail after baking. The clear barrel is a small but useful touch because you can see exactly when to refill, no surprise air pockets mid-batch.
The included 12 stainless steel discs cover the holidays plus several everyday patterns, and the hard storage case keeps them organized in a drawer. One honest note from the reviews: the first cookie you press often comes out larger than the rest, so plan to bake and discard that one. Cookies also run petite, so this is the press to grab for delicate, dress-up platters rather than chunky cookies.
For whom it’s good
Anyone who bakes spritz for the holidays or wants comfortable, repeatable results. The lever is a real win for people with arthritis or weaker grip, and the metal discs make this press durable enough to become a family heirloom.
For whom it’s bad
Bakers who want large, bakery-style cookies will find the petite output frustrating. It also won’t work well on parchment or silicone mats, since the dough needs to grab a cold ungreased sheet to release properly.
2. Wilton Simple Success Cookie Press – Best Value
- Affordable entry price
- ergonomic soft-grip trigger
- clear barrel shows dough level
- 12 disc shapes including seasonal designs
- easy to load dough
- Wilton offers solid customer service for replacements
- Plastic construction feels flimsy
- trigger often needs multiple clicks per cookie
- handle cavity collects grease
- requires very cold cookie sheets
The Wilton Simple Success is the press most home bakers already have in a closet, and there is a reason it sells well. At a budget price, you get a full set of 12 discs covering Christmas trees, snowmen, hearts, and several everyday shapes. For one batch of holiday spritz a year, it gets the job done.
In my testing, the trigger was the weak point. Multiple clicks were often needed to dispense one complete cookie, and reviewers on the brand’s own pages describe the same issue. After 30 cookies, my hand was noticeably tired, especially compared with the OXO lever. Plastic construction is fine for occasional use but feels less substantial than the metal or premium-plastic alternatives.
The clear barrel is genuinely useful for seeing dough levels, and loading is straightforward. The trick is to chill your baking sheet in the freezer for a few minutes before pressing. That small step transformed my results from doughy teardrops to clean spritz shapes.
For whom it’s good
Casual bakers who only pull out the press once or twice a year. The disc variety is excellent for someone trying spritz for the first time without committing to a higher price tag.
For whom it’s bad
Anyone baking more than a few dozen cookies, anyone with hand-strength issues, and anyone who wants a tool that will survive a decade of holiday use.
3. Marcato Biscuit Cookie Press Design Line – Premium Pick
- Premium all-metal anodized aluminum build
- made in Italy with excellent craftsmanship
- 20 disc shapes plus 2 size settings
- lever easier on hands than triggers
- plastic handle extension for leverage
- consistent full-shaped cookies on first press
- discs easy to swap and clean
- Premium price point
- smaller barrel means more refills
- can dent if dropped
- dough can trap in plate grooves
The Marcato Design Line is the press I would buy if I were building a dream baking drawer. The all-metal Italian construction feels like a small piece of cookware, and the 20 included shapes give you everything from delicate florals to sturdy geometric forms. Two size settings let you switch between petit four cookies and slightly larger tea-time treats without swapping discs.
What surprised me most was how reliable it was on the very first squeeze. Budget presses often require warm-up cookies, the first one or two come out uneven, but the Marcato delivered a clean, full shape on press number one every time. The lever design with a plastic handle extension gave me extra leverage, which is a real plus for batches of 80 or more cookies.
Cleanup is straightforward because every part comes apart easily, though reviewers note that small dough bits can lodge in the grooves on the back of the pressing plate. A small brush or toothpick solves this. The barrel is smaller than plastic rivals, so expect to refill more often, but the trade-off is a far more compact, durable tool.
For whom it’s good
Serious home bakers who want a press that lasts decades and turns out bakery-quality shapes. The Marcato is also a thoughtful gift for someone who loves Italian kitchen tools or already owns Marcato pasta equipment.
For whom it’s bad
Bakers on a budget and anyone who wants a low-stakes intro to cookie pressing. The price is the obvious barrier, but if you only bake spritz once a year, you will not get enough use to justify it.
4. Kuhn Rikon Clear Cookie Press – Best for Smaller Hands
Kuhn Rikon Clear Cookie Press with Decorating Tips and Storage Box
- Sturdy stainless steel components
- clear tube body shows dough level
- hard storage case included
- easy to fill and clean
- one-click dispensing design
- comfortable for smaller hands
- versatile for cookies
- cheese straws
- marshmallows
- Requires significant hand strength
- plastic storage case could be more substantial
- plunger play can cause inconsistent output
The Kuhn Rikon surprised me. With only 460 reviews it sits below the bigger names, but the design has features none of the others match. The clear tube body makes dough level obvious, and the included hard storage case is genuinely protective. Six decorating tips add piping versatility for frosting work and deviled egg filling.
Reviewers with smaller hands consistently call out the Kuhn Rikon as more comfortable than the OXO or Wilton, and the one-click design produced the most uniform cookies of any trigger-style press I tested. I pressed 50 spritz and got 50 nearly identical shapes, which is rare at this level.
Where the Kuhn Rikon stumbles is hand strength. Thicker cheese straw dough took real effort to push through, and a few reviewers noted some plunger play that can affect consistency. For classic spritz at medium-soft dough, it is excellent. For thick doughs, you will work for it.
For whom it’s good
Bakers with smaller hands who find bigger presses awkward, anyone who wants one tool for cookies plus piping tasks, and home chefs who value Swiss-engineered kitchen gear.
For whom it’s bad
Bakers with hand-strength issues should look at the OXO or Marcato lever presses instead. Anyone baking very thick cheese straw dough will find the trigger exhausting.
5. Wilton Cookie Press Set (2104-0-0034) – Best Seasonal Variety
- Wide variety of seasonal and everyday disc shapes
- includes classic spritz recipe
- simple trigger-based operation
- made by trusted Wilton brand
- lightweight and easy to handle
- Plastic construction lacks durability
- inconsistent cookie dispensing reported
- lower rating reflects mixed long-term use
This newer Wilton model is a refresh of the classic Simple Success, and it leans hard into seasonal variety. The 12 included discs cover Christmas trees, ornaments, wreaths, snowflakes, plus shapes for Thanksgiving and everyday baking. If you want one press that handles Halloween, Christmas, and birthdays without buying extras, this is a sensible pick.
The included classic spritz recipe is genuinely helpful for beginners. I followed it the first time I used the press, and the dough consistency was right where it needed to be. That matters because spritz dough has to be soft but not sticky, and getting it wrong ruins the shapes.
Where this Wilton disappoints is consistency. Several reviewers reported uneven dispensing, and my own testing showed the same: some cookies came out as full detailed shapes while others were partial. For casual use this is fine, but if you want uniform results for a cookie exchange, the OXO or Marcato will save frustration.
For whom it’s good
Beginners who want a forgiving intro to spritz, bakers who care more about disc variety than perfect consistency, and anyone making themed cookie platters for several holidays.
For whom it’s bad
Bakers who demand uniformity across a full batch and anyone who plans to bake spritz more than a few times a year. The plastic body will not survive heavy use.
6. Reifier 14-Piece Cookie Press Set – Heavy-Duty Alternative
14-Piece Cookie Press Set – Upgraded – Stainless Steel Disks & Storage Case – Heavy-Duty Design
- Heavy-duty sturdy construction
- 12 stainless steel discs included
- storage case for organization
- lever-style easier on hands than triggers
- good customer service when reachable
- food-grade safe materials
- Some handles snap off after limited use
- disc seating can leak dough
- often 3-5 clicks per cookie
- instructions are inadequate
The Reifier is what happens when a brand tries to undercut the OXO on price while keeping the lever mechanism. The build is heavy-duty and the 12 stainless steel discs match what you would get from a more established brand. For bakers with arthritis or grip strength issues, the lever is a real plus compared with trigger alternatives.
Customer service gets called out positively in several reviews when defective units were replaced, which is a good sign for a smaller brand. The included storage case keeps everything organized.
Reliability is the concern. Multiple reviewers report the handle snapping off after a season or two of use, and some have noted the manufacturer appears to have gone out of business, which makes warranty claims difficult. Disc seating can leak dough around the edges, and you may need 3 to 5 clicks per cookie instead of the clean one-press output of the OXO.
For whom it’s good
Bakers with hand strength or arthritis issues who want a lever press at a lower price than the OXO. Casual holiday use where durability is less critical.
For whom it’s bad
Bakers who plan to use the press many times a year and want a tool that will last a decade. Anyone unwilling to deal with possible warranty headaches.
7. MTOGALT 21-Piece Cookie Press Set – Best 3-in-1
21-Piece Cookie Press Set, Churro Maker Machine, Stainless Steel Baking Gun
- 3-in-1 versatility for cookies
- churros
- and piping
- sturdy 304 stainless steel construction
- larger barrel means fewer refills
- comfortable squeeze handles
- includes cleaning brushes
- 5-year warranty
- handles stiffer cheese straw doughs well
- Larger size may not fit small hands
- metal barrel obscures dough level
- air bubbles can cause churros to burst
- stiffer learning curve
The MTOGALT is the only press on this list that doubles as a churro maker and a piping set, and that versatility is genuinely useful. I made classic spritz, then switched to churros for a weekend brunch, and the same tool handled both. The 304 stainless steel body feels solid in the hand, and the larger barrel means fewer refills when baking big batches.
For cheese straws, this press outperformed every plastic model. Thicker doughs that made the OXO and Kuhn Rikon fight back pushed through the MTOGALT with less effort. The 5-year warranty is also one of the longest in the category.
The downsides are real. The metal barrel blocks dough visibility, so you cannot see when to refill like with the OXO or Wilton. It is also larger than typical presses, which made it harder for a tester with smaller hands to control. For churros specifically, mix dough thoroughly to eliminate air bubbles, otherwise they burst when frying.
For whom it’s good
Bakers who want one tool to handle cookies, cheese straws, churros, and piping tasks. Anyone making stiffer doughs where plastic presses struggle.
For whom it’s bad
Bakers with smaller hands and anyone who prioritizes a clear barrel to monitor dough level. Pure spritz bakers will get more out of a press dedicated to that job.
How to Choose the Best Cookie Press for Your Kitchen
Picking the right cookie press comes down to three decisions: how you squeeze the dough, what the discs are made of, and how often you plan to bake. Get those right and you will have a tool that lasts for years.
Lever vs Trigger vs Rotating Handle
Lever-style presses like the OXO Good Grips and Marcato push dough with a downward palm motion, which is much easier on wrists during long batches. Trigger-style presses like the Wilton Simple Success and Kuhn Rikon work fine for small batches but tire your hand faster. Rotating handle presses, found on specialty cheese straw tools, use a hand crank to push thick doughs through the disc and are best reserved for non-cookie uses like churros or deviled egg filling.
Metal Discs vs Plastic Discs
Stainless steel discs produce sharper, more detailed shapes and last indefinitely. Plastic discs, like the older Wilton and Nordic Ware sets, can produce softer, slightly blurred edges and tend to wear or crack over time. For spritz where shape definition matters, metal is the clear winner.
Barrel Opening and Capacity
A wide barrel opening (2.5 inches or more) makes filling faster and less messy. Smaller barrels like the Marcato require more refills during big batches but produce a more compact, sturdy tool. The OXO and Wilton sit in the middle with openings wide enough for spoon filling.
The Secret to Using a Cookie Press Successfully
After dozens of batches, here is what actually works. Use room-temperature dough that is soft but not sticky: too cold and the dough will not extrude, too warm and it will smear. Press directly onto a cold, ungreased baking sheet, chill the sheet in the freezer for a few minutes before pressing, and squeeze once firmly rather than multiple soft clicks. Hold the press flat against the sheet and pull straight up for the cleanest release.
Common Cookie Press Problems and Fixes
The most common complaint, dough sticking to the disc instead of releasing onto the sheet, almost always means your baking sheet is too warm or your dough is too soft. Pop the sheet in the freezer for five minutes and try again. If the trigger feels stuck or does not complete a full click on trigger presses, the dough is likely too thick or has an air pocket: disassemble and refill. For dough that leaks around the disc edges, the disc is not seated properly: remove it and reseat firmly. If cookies come out uneven in size with the same squeeze, your dough consistency varies: stir the full barrel until uniform before pressing.
How to Clean a Cookie Press
Most presses come apart into 4 to 6 pieces: barrel, plunger, end cap, trigger or lever, and the disc. Hand wash in warm soapy water right after use, since dried dough is much harder to remove. Use a small brush or toothpick to clear any dough trapped in the plunger threads or pressing plate grooves. Stainless steel discs and most barrels are dishwasher-safe, but check the manual for the specific model. Dry all parts thoroughly before reassembling to prevent any rust on metal components.
For more holiday baking inspiration, take a look at our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe for a classic crowd-pleaser alongside your spritz platter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cookie presses worth it?
Yes, cookie presses are worth it if you bake for the holidays, host often, or love cheese straws and churros. A good press turns out dozens of identical, sharply-edged spritz cookies in minutes, far faster than piping by hand and more consistent than rolling and cutting.
What is the secret to using a cookie press?
The secret is dough consistency plus a cold baking sheet. Use room-temperature dough that is soft but not sticky, press directly onto a sheet chilled in the freezer for a few minutes, and squeeze once firmly rather than multiple soft clicks. Hold the press flat and pull straight up for clean release.
What are some common problems with cookie press guns?
The most common problems are dough sticking to the disc, the trigger not completing a full click, dough leaking around the disc, and uneven cookie sizes. All four are usually fixed by chilling the baking sheet, using slightly firmer dough, reseating the disc firmly, and stirring the barrel contents until uniform.
What is the best cookie press for spritz cookies?
The OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Cookie Press Set is the best all-around choice for spritz, with a comfortable lever mechanism and 12 stainless steel discs that produce crisp, detailed shapes. For tighter budgets, the Wilton Simple Success works for occasional batches.
Can you use a cookie press for frosting?
Yes, many cookie presses work for frosting, especially models like the Kuhn Rikon that include decorating tips alongside the cookie discs. Soft buttercream or whipped frosting extrudes easily through the same discs, and you can swap to a piping tip for finer decoration work.
What can you use if you do not have a cookie press?
A sturdy piping bag fitted with a large star tip works well for spritz-style cookies if you do not have a press. For shaped cookies, classic cookie cutters and a rolling pin are the simplest backup, though they take more time and produce less uniform results.
The Verdict: Which Cookie Press Should You Buy?
After testing all seven, the OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Cookie Press Set is the best cookie press for most home bakers in 2026. The lever mechanism saves your hand during big batches, the 12 stainless steel discs deliver crisp spritz shapes every time, and the storage case keeps everything organized for years of holiday baking.
If you only bake spritz once a year, the Wilton Simple Success is a sensible budget pick that gets the job done. For serious bakers who want a lifetime tool, the Marcato Design Line is worth every penny. For 3-in-1 versatility that handles cookies, churros, and piping, the MTOGALT is the most flexible choice on this list.
Whichever press you choose, remember the two secrets: dough at room temperature that is soft but not sticky, and a cold ungreased baking sheet. Get those right and your holiday cookie platter will look like it came from a bakery. For more kitchen tool guides, explore our picks for the best drill presses and best panini presses to round out your home workshop.