Vintage Mirro Cookie Press & Recipe, ReStore Shopping Trip

I came across this vintage Mirro 358-AM Cookie-Pastry Press while looking around the houseware department of the ReStore shop at their Herndon-Reston location. As best as I can tell with my online research, this cookie-pastry press was made in the 1950’s. This set is nice because it is still in its original box and online probably sells for about $30 to $90. However, I don’t remember if this set had all the disc attachments. I, also, don’t recall its price at in the ReStore shop.

To use a cookie press, the dough has to be slightly softer than regular cookie dough. The disc attachments can be shaped in a tree, circular pattern, snowflake, heart, star, wreath, etc. Around the holidays, you often see cookies made with the tree pattern disc. The cookie dough might be colored with green food coloring.

To operate this vintage press you need to turn the handle a couple of times. With newer cookie presses, the handle is given one trigger squeeze and the needed amount of cookie dough is automatically pressed out. Since the cookies are so thin, it only takes about 6 minutes to bake a tray of pressed cookies. Also, no leavening agents like baking soda or baking power are used in the dough.

This vintage press can, also, be used with a choux dough recipe to pipe out eclairs and cream puffs shells.

History of the Mirro Aluminum Company

The Mirro Aluminum Company was in business from 1909 until 2003 and has a long history. Their factory was located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. At one time, Mirro was the world’s largest producer of aluminum cooking items.

During World War II, the company retooled its machines and produced some items for military use.

In 1954-1955 the company wanted to expand its toy line, so it introduced a Sno-Coaster. The Sno-Coaster had a flying saucer shape and it captured the imagination of people fascinated by UFO’s and flying saucers. The Sno-Coaster was made of aluminum with fabric looking handles attached to it and was 25-inches in diameter.

The Mirro Aluminum Company was sold to the Nowell Corporation in 1983. The company then closed the US factory and moved its production overseas.

Recipe for Spritz Soft Cookie Dough to be Used in a Cookie Press

• 1 Cup of Butter (two sticks) softened
• 1 1/4 Cups of Confectioners or Powered Sugar
• 2 1/2 Cups of All Purpose Flour
• 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 of Almond Extract
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Using an electric beater whip the butter and powered sugar together scraping down sides frequently.
3. Add egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt. Mix together.
4. Slowly add the all-purpose flour to the mixture and mix well scraping down the sides frequently.
5. Using a spatula, fill the cookie press container with the dough and screw on the lid with the disc attachment you want to use. Follow the cookie press directions for use.
6. On an ungreased baking sheet, bake cookies for 6 to 8 minutes. The cookies will bake quickly but be careful not to brown the edges.

I hope you enjoyed this cookie filled trip down memory lane.

A Special Thank You to Paul and Liz at the Habitat for Humanity, ReStore shops for the nice emails. Also, a Big Thank You for allowing me to photograph items in your store for my blog.