The Best Cookie Scoops for Bakers

A cookie scoop is a must-have tool for home bakers who know that consistent, uniform size is the key to even baking and perfect results. Even if no one is shouting “On your marks, get set, bake!” in your kitchen, the right cookie scoop will speed up your baking time and give you “Star Baker”-quality cookies every time.

A scoop is great for any cookie recipe—fill it with dough, then use a spatula or the side of your bowl to shape a dome that’s flat on the bottom. Plop the precisely measured dollops onto your baking sheet, and voilà, you have professional-looking cookies.

For cooks who are careful not to fill their kitchens with utensils that are made to do only one thing, don’t forget that a cookie scoop can be used for multiple purposes, like portioning muffins or cupcakes, scooping ice cream, cleaning seeds from melons, stuffing peppers, making meatballs or falafel, or artfully plating dinner sides like mashed potatoes.

Essential Cookie Scoop Features

When choosing a scoop for your next baking spree, think about these essential features:

• Size: Cookie scoops sizes are numbered, with smaller numbers assigned to larger scoops. These numbers also roughly correspond to tablespoons: #16=4 tbsp.; #20=3 tbsp; #30=2 tbsp; #40=1.5 tbsp; #60=1 tbsp; and #100=about 0.5 tbsp. The width of the baked cookie will depend on how much it spreads during baking; the spread will depend on the type of cookie dough, the oven temperature, and the kind of pan you’re using, among other things, but scoop size will give you a general idea of expected cookie size. A typical cookie size uses a #40 or 1.5 tbsp cookie scoop. A #16 scoop will give you a really big cookie, or a #100 can be used for tiny little cookies that make great garnishes or decorations for your desserts.
• Design: Scoops should have a rounded head to create the desired half-dome shape of cookie dough. They can be a one-piece scoop, or they can have a mechanical design, with a squeeze-release lever that works by squeezing the handle or by pressing a trigger with your thumb. Look for scoops that have handles sized to keep your hand from tiring when whipping up big batches of your favorite cookies.
• Durability: Scoops should be made of high-quality, sturdy materials like stainless steel, never made with anything brittle or tarnish-prone, and they should be dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

Here are some stellar scoops that will make your cookies look like a professional baker made them!

Best Overall: Solula Professional Cookie Scoop

The Saluda Professional Cookie Scoop is made of 18/8 stainless steel and comes in a wide selection of sizes, from #10 to #100. The dough slides out effortlessly with a handle squeeze, making scooping perfect portions quick, clean, and easy! It’s dishwasher safe for your convenience.

Best Grip: Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop

The soft, comfortable, no-slip grip makes the stainless steel OXO Good Grips cookie scoop perfect for those recipes that make your hands buttery or oily. It comes in large, medium, and small sizes—the medium is equivalent to a #40 scoop. It’s dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Best With Trigger: Chee Mong Cookie Scoop

The Chee Mong set of three polished stainless steel cookie scoops have a cog and ratchet mechanism that releases dough with the press of your thumb on a side trigger for less pressure on your wrist and hand. The small scoop is 1.5 tbsp or a #40, the medium is #24 or 2.5 tbsp, and the large is just over 5 tbsp, a #10. They’re dishwasher safe.

Also Great: Spring Chef Ice Cream Scoop

 

 

If squeezing with your hand or pressing with your thumb is difficult for you, try the Spring Chef scoop with an ergonomic, cushioned handle to shape your dough. It comes in seven decorative colors, and it’s dishwasher safe. Plus, you can use it for scooping ice cream and cupcake batter, too.