Cody Casey
Making cookies with a Wilton shape pan is a fun and easy way to create impressive-looking treats. Wilton offers a range of shaped cookie pans, from holiday-themed designs to more classic shapes, that can be used with a variety of cookie dough recipes. The pans are typically non-stick, making it convenient to bake and decorate cookies without the need for rolling pins and cookie cutters. With a Wilton shape pan, anyone can make beautifully shaped cookies that are perfect for any occasion. In this guide, we will explore the different types of Wilton shape pans available and provide step-by-step instructions on how to make the most of these pans to create delicious and visually appealing cookies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pan Type | Non-stick |
| Pan Shape | Heart, Holiday Shapes (Gingerbread man, Christmas tree, snowman), Barcelona, Venetian, Parisian, etc. |
| Dough | Cookie dough, cake mixes, butter/shortbread, chocolate chip |
| Preparation | Roll dough into a ball, push into the pan's shaped cavity, fill 2/3 full |
| Baking Time | 9-10 minutes or until light brown, 15-20 minutes until light golden brown |
| Cooling Time | 5 minutes |
| Decorations | Cookie icing, sprinkles, sugar |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the dough
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until they are well blended. Then, beat in the egg and any desired extracts; mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and salt, and then gradually add this to the butter mixture. Beat until the mixture forms a smooth dough. If you are using a recipe that requires chocolate chips or other additional ingredients, be sure to fold these in now.
Next, you will need to prepare your Wilton shape pan. Lightly spray the cavities with your chosen spray to create a non-stick surface. This step will ensure that your cookies can be easily removed from the pan once baked. If you don't have a spray, you can use a light coating of vegetable oil or another neutral-flavored oil.
Now it's time to fill the pan with the dough. Roll the dough into small balls with your hands, and then gently press them into the pan's cavities. Fill each cavity about two-thirds full, leaving some space for the cookies to spread during baking. If you want a "sparkly" finish on your cookies, you can sprinkle a little sugar on top of the dough before baking.
Finally, bake your cookies according to your recipe's instructions. The baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of your cookies, but on average, they should take around 9-10 minutes in the oven. Keep a close eye on them to ensure they don't over-bake. Your cookies are ready when they are lightly browned around the edges.
Once they are baked, let the cookies cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, turn the pan over and lightly tap it to remove the cookies gently. Place them on a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating or serving.
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Pressing the dough into the pan
When you're ready to press the dough into the Wilton shape pan, first make sure you've sprayed the cavities with vegetable pan spray or Wilton Bake Easy spray. You can also use cooking spray, which works just fine and helps to prevent the cookies from sticking to the pan.
Next, roll the dough into small balls with your hands. Then, press the dough into the cavities, filling them about 2/3 full. Be sure to press the dough into the pan's shaped cavities firmly and evenly. If you're using a Wilton Heart Shaped Cookie Pan, you can oil your hands and pat the dough into the pan almost to the edges.
If you're using a premade cookie dough, simply press the dough into the pan. It's important to fill the cavities appropriately to ensure even baking and prevent the cookies from sticking to the pan.
Once the dough is in the pan, you're ready to bake your cookies! Follow the baking instructions for your specific cookie recipe, but as a general guideline, bake the cookies for 9-10 minutes or until they are light brown around the edges.
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Baking the cookies
To bake cookies with a Wilton shape pan, you can use a premade cookie dough or make your own. If you are making your own, a sugar cookie recipe is recommended. To make the sugar cookie dough, start by beating butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Then, beat in an egg and extracts, and mix well. Finally, combine flour and salt, and add this to the butter mixture. Beat until well blended.
Once you have your dough, prepare your Wilton shape pan by spraying the cavities with vegetable pan spray, Wilton Bake Easy spray, or cooking spray. This will help prevent the cookies from sticking to the pan. Then, roll the dough into small balls with your hands and press them into the pan's cavities, filling them about 2/3 full.
Bake your cookies for 9-10 minutes or until they are light brown around the edges. If you are using a larger pan, such as a 13x9 inch pan, you may need to bake your cookies for longer, up to 15-20 minutes.
After baking, let the cookies cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, turn the pan over and lightly tap it to remove the cookies. Place the cookies on a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
If you want to add some sparkle to your cookies, you can sprinkle them with sugar before baking. Alternatively, you can decorate your cookies after they have cooled with cookie icing, sprinkles, or frosting. For example, you can attach holly and ribbon-shaped cookies together with frosting to create a beautiful cookie wreath.
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$14.64
Removing the cookies from the pan
When removing cookies from a Wilton shape pan, there are a few key steps to follow to ensure the cookies come out intact and retain their shape. Firstly, it is important to allow the cookies to cool in the pan for around 5 minutes. This helps them to set and makes them less likely to break when handled. Once the cookies have cooled slightly, you can begin the process of removing them. Turn the pan over and lightly tap it to release the cookies. They should come out fairly easily, but if they are resistant, you can use a spatula to gently loosen the edges.
For sugar cookies, in particular, there are a few additional tips to keep in mind. Firstly, when preparing the dough, ensure that you dust your work surface with flour to prevent sticking. This will make it easier to remove the cookies from the pan later. Additionally, when cutting out the cookie shapes, dip your cookie cutters in flour between each cut. The flour will help seal the edges of the cookies, improving their ability to hold their shape during baking.
When transferring the cookies from your work surface to the baking pan, use a cookie spatula to lift them gently and prevent tearing. Place them onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 to 1½ inches apart. If any cookies do tear during this process, simply return the dough to the bowl and re-roll it with the scraps. Try to avoid re-rolling the dough multiple times, as this can make the cookies tougher due to the development of gluten.
Finally, when removing the cookies from the oven, it is important to act promptly. Allow them to cool for a brief period, but do not leave them in the pan for too long, as this can cause them to stick. For softer cookies, slightly underbake them and allow them to finish on the hot pan. By following these steps, you can ensure that your cookies come out of the Wilton shape pan with ease and retain their desired shape.
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Decorating the cookies
Wilton's cookie pans are designed to make cookie decoration easy and fun. The pans emboss designs onto the cookies, providing the perfect outline to follow with your icing. You can tint your icing to create an unexpected palette, or stick to traditional colours, such as black and white for a snowman.
You can also decorate your cookies with sprinkles, or dip them in sprinkles before the icing dries. If you want a clean look, use a toothpick to push sugars or icing back into place. Wilton's pans come with decorating instructions, so you can create impressive centrepieces, such as a wreath made of holly and ribbon-shaped cookies.
If you are feeling creative, you can also try using cake mixes in the pans, as some customers have found success with this method. You can also experiment with different cookie recipes, such as butter/shortbread, or gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free dough.
Wilton also provides some great techniques and tools to help you decorate your cookies, so you don't have to be a professional baker to produce fabulous-looking sugar cookies.
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Frequently asked questions
You can spray the cavities with vegetable pan spray or Wilton Bake Easy spray.
Roll the dough into a small ball and press it into the pan's shaped cavity. You can fill the cavities up to 2/3 full.
Bake your cookies for 9-10 minutes or until light brown around the edges.
