The quickest way to make uniformly perfect butter cookies, known as spritz in the Scandinavian tradition, is with a cookie press. Especially during the holidays, spritz cookies become a family's favorite in such shapes as Christmas trees or snowflakes. The Wilton Pro Ultra II Deluxe has several advantages over other models. The clear barrel allows monitoring of the dough level inside, while the ergonomic, soft-grip trigger is a big improvement over uncomfortable metal handles, especially when multiple batches are made over the course of many hours. And, a non-slip ring on the bottom keeps the press upright on a cookie sheet without sliding around.

To use the cookie press, insert a shape disk, fill with room-temperature dough that is neither too soft nor too hard, and tighten the plunger rod. One squeeze of the trigger is usually enough to form a cookie. Sixteen disks with different shapes and four mini-shapes are included, along with an instruction and recipe booklet. After use, the press should be washed by hand in hot, soapy water and allowed to dry thoroughly before storing.