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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
Making cookies is a timeless activity for both novice and advanced bakers to enjoy. Though the end result is usually a delightful treat, shaping the cookies to be even in size can be a messy and exhausting task. Luckily, similar to ice cream scoops, there are cookie scoops to help you make perfectly sized dough balls.
Best Overall
Oxo Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop
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Amazon
Handle is easy to squeeze
Durable
Various size options
Dough can get stuck behind wiper
Oxo has made a name for itself as a go-to brand for simple, quality, and relatively affordable kitchen tools that make life easier, and this cookie scoop fits that mold. It's made with a stainless steel scoop and nonslip spring-loaded handle, making it easy to push. The wiper in the scoop helps release even the most stubborn sticky dough onto a baking sheet without needing hands to intervene.
This medium-size scoop fits about 1.5 tablespoons of dough to make 2.75-inch evenly baked cookies. This scoop is also available in two additional sizes to help you with all of your baking and scooping needs: small, which holds about 1 tablespoon of dough, and large, which holds 3 tablespoons of dough. It's also dishwasher safe, so you can spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your delicious cookies. The only caveat about this scoop is that dough can get stuck between the scoop and wiper, so you may want to rinse it before putting it in the dishwasher to remove any hiding residue.
“I love that it comes in multiple sizes, is easy to grip and release with one hand, and the rubber handles make sure that your hands are never sore!” says Kristen Tomlan, founder of DŌ and author of “Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake & Share.” “Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe, which is a win!”
Price at time of publish: $17
Material: Stainless steel | Scoop Size: 1.5 tablespoons | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Budget
Wilton Stainless Steel Small Cookie Scoop
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Wilton
Sturdy design
Versatile
Easy to use
Won't last forever
Wilton is another well-known bakeware company many turn to when they need baking and kitchen utensils. Not only does the company make a variety of beautiful and bright baking decorations and containers, but it also offers tools to turn you into a baking master. This small stainless steel cookie scoop tops our list as the best budget option due to its size and dependability. It weighs around 0.2 pounds and features a spring handle that makes it simple to grip and squeeze.
This scoop holds nearly 4 teaspoons of cookie dough, helping you to make perfectly sized petite cookies. The fun doesn't stop with cookies, though; this scoop is great for making cake pops or using as a melon baller due to its small size.
Customers love how sturdy and easy it is to use and wash, especially because it's hand-wash only. It features a wiper inside to help scrape stubborn cookie dough without needing to use your hands. While most reviewers note this is a quality scoop for a low price, it may not be as long-lasting as others on the list. If you're looking to test out a cookie dough scoop for the first time or need a dependable model for an economical price, this is the scoop to choose.
Price at time of publish: $10
Material: Stainless steel | Scoop Size: 4 teaspoons | Dishwasher-Safe: No; hand-wash in warm soapy water
Best Set
Saebye Cookie Scoop Set
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Saebye
Versatile
Easy to squeeze
Fun colors
Not ideal for scooping ice cream
If you're an avid baker, you probably want multiple sizes of scoops on hand for all of your baking needs. In that case, Saebye's multipurpose cookie scoops will fit your needs. Whether you need a scoop to help you make evenly sized cookies, muffins, or cupcakes, or you need to scoop out mashed potatoes or fruit, this set is up for the challenge. It's best to avoid using these to scoop sub-zero ice cream, though, as they were designed to scoop softer items and may break.
These stainless steel scoops come in a set of three, including sizes small, medium, and large. The scoops are also stain-resistant to prevent rust. The colorful handles feature an ergonomic cog-and-ratchet release system, so you don't need to exert much pressure to squeeze the lever. Reviewers note how well the scoops work to create evenly sized cookies and that they don't make their hands sore even after scooping dozens of cookies. So if you’re looking for an affordable set of quality scoops, this is an excellent choice you’ll continually reach for in the kitchen.
Price at time of publish: $24
Material: Stainless steel | Scoop Size: 1.5 tablespoons (small), 2.8 tablespoons (medium), 1/3 cup (large) | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Small
Norpro Stainless Steel 25-Milliliter Scoop
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Norpro
Easily releases dough
Perfect for cake pops, melon balls
Polished finish
Inside sweeper can get stuck
Small cookie scoops are great to have in your kitchen for scooping up mini cookies, cake pops, or fruit. Norpro's 25-Millimeter Stainless Steel Scoop is our choice for the best small cookie scoop, as it holds a half-tablespoon of dough to make petite cookies. The stainless steel design makes it easy to cut through dough and melons, and the spring-action handle and high polish finish make food glide out of the scoop seamlessly. While it is dishwasher safe, the manufacturer's instructions recommend hand-washing it for longevity.
This straightforward cookie scoop comes in four additional sizes for various cooking and baking needs. Customers love how dependable this simple scoop is and that it makes evenly sized cookie dough balls without making a mess. One reviewer uses this scoop as their go-to for making mini meatballs for Italian wedding soup. You can even use it to delight your canine friends with no-fuss homemade dog treats. The only complaint about this scoop is that the inside sweeper can get stuck and stop scooping out the dough halfway through. So while this option may not become a family heirloom, its quality and size will keep you happily baking up beautifully rounded cookies.
Price at time of publish: $16
Material: Stainless steel | Scoop Size: 0.5 tablespoon | Dishwasher-Safe: Hand-washing recommended
Best Large
Gorilla Grip Premium Stainless Steel Spring-Loaded Scoop
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Amazon
Ergonomic soft handle
Versatile
Lots of color and size options
Not ideal for ice cream
Gorilla Grip's Premium Multi-Purpose Stainless Steel Scoop is your match if you're looking for a large and versatile cookie scoop with dough, mashed potatoes, meatballs, and more. This scoop holds 8 tablespoons of dough to make 4.5-inch cookies. Even though the scoop is large, it’s designed with an ergonomic soft grip and spring-loaded handle that makes it a breeze to squeeze without exhausting your hand.
This scoop comes in 12 colors, including black, turquoise, hot pink, and mint. If the 8-tablespoon scoop is too large for your needs, it's also available in seven other sizes. While it can be used to measure and scoop a variety of foods, many customers noted it's not the best for ice cream. Along with being easy to hold and use, it's also easy to clean by hand-washing or running through the dishwasher.
Price at time of publish: $14
Material: Stainless steel | Scoop Size: 8 tablespoons | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best With Push Button
Tellshun Rubber Ice Cream Scoop
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Amazon
Inexpensive
Versatile
Easy to clean
Dough can stick to it
This one is called an ice cream scoop, but it can also be used to shape and portion out cookies, meatballs, and even fruit. Rather than squeezing a handle, the back of the scoop is flexible and you simply push on it to release the cookie dough onto a baking sheet. And since there isn’t a metal wiper inside the scoop, it’s much easier to clean.
Unlike the other scoops in this roundup, a scoop size isn’t specified in the product listing, but one reviewer noted that it’s the perfect size for making large cookies. Plus, since it’s sold in a set of two, you can give one as a gift or get the job done twice as fast if you’re baking with friends or kids. When your fresh-baked cookies come out of the oven, you can use the same scoop (after washing it, of course) for ice cream to make sandwiches or sundaes.
Price at time of publish: $6
Material: Plastic, rubber | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best for Cupcakes
King Arthur Baking Company Scone and Muffin Scoop
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King Arthur Baking Company
Multipurpose
Lightweight
Great for scones
Pricey
You probably know King Arthur Baking Company for its top-rated flours, but its also sells high-quality baking utensils. The large Scone and Muffin Scoop helps dish up evenly sized cookies, cupcakes, muffins, and scones without the hassle or mess. The scoop holds about 1/4 cup of batter or dough, which is the perfect amount for most cupcakes and muffins. Its stainless steel design also makes it easy to transfer the batter onto a cookie sheet or into a baking cup.
Customers enjoy how easy the light blue plastic handle is to squeeze and how dependable this scoop is. While it's excellent for making giant cookies, it truly shines by measuring out batter to make evenly sized cupcakes and muffins—no longer will you have to deal with uneven cupcakes and questionable baking times. The only drawback to this cookie scoop is the price and shipping costs, but if you're a serious or professional baker, it's well worth it.
Price at time of publish: $20
Material: Stainless steel | Scoop Size: 1/4 cup | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Single-Handle Scoop
Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia Wood & Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop
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Target
Comfortable grip
Attractive wood handle
Single lever design
Must wash by hand
Not good for left-handed people
Another ice cream scoop that can also be used for cookie dough, this has a lovely wooden handle that is visually appealing and comfortable to hold in your right hand (sorry, lefties). “The single handle design as opposed to the double is easier to use and ideal for doughs as I find it is easier to squeeze and release with only your thumb as opposed to your whole hand,” says Elisa Marshall, co-founder and creative director of Maman restaurant and bakery in New York City. She adds that the scoop size is perfect for both ice cream and cookies.
Price at time of publish: $8
Material: Stainless steel, wood | Dishwasher-Safe: No
Our winner is the Oxo Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop, which features durable stainless steel in many sizes as well as a comfortable user experience. If you're looking for something cheaper, we recommend the Wilton Stainless Steel Small Cookie Scoop.
What to Look for in a Cookie Scoop
Size
Cookie scoops come in a variety of sizes ranging from small to large, so you'll need to pay attention to the scoop size before purchasing. Scoop capacity runs anywhere from 1.5 teaspoons to 8 tablespoons. Small scoops are good for making petite cookies or cake pops and can sometimes double as melon ballers. Larger scoops work for muffins, scones, and even meatballs.
Release Type
Most of the cookie scoops on this list include a lever release system, but it's important to consider how easy it is to squeeze shut. Some cookie scoops are designed to allow you to exert less pressure when squeezing the lever together, which is ideal for users who may experience hand weakness.
Material
Stainless steel is a popular material for cookie scoops due to its versatility and dependability. Not all stainless steel scoops are made equally, though. Some are made with higher-quality stainless steel, which tends to last longer and can scoop everything from dough to ice cream with ease. Other scoops have coatings that prevent rusting.
Ease of Cleaning
Not all cookie scoops are dishwasher safe, so you'll want to confirm how they need to be cleaned by reading the manufacturer's instructions if this is important to you. If a scoop isn't dishwasher safe, most can be easily cleaned by hand using soap and water with minimal elbow grease.
FAQs
How do you use a cookie scoop?
Cookie scoops vary in use, but many include a trigger or lever handle you press to release the dough. To use, scoop cookie dough in a bowl into the cookie dough scoop and then squeeze the lever to release the ball of dough onto a cookie sheet. Other cookie scoops are made with a push-button design. With this, you push the back of the scoop forward to push the dough out.
To help ensure even scoops (and evenly baked cookies), scrape the scoop against the side of the bowl to create a flat scoop of dough. Trung Vu, chef-instructor of Pastry and Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education, puts a glove on his non-scooping hand to more easily work the dough in or out of the scoop, especially if there are a lot of chunky mix-ins like chocolate or nuts.
How do you know what size cookie scoop you need?
This depends on your needs. Cookie scoops come in a variety of sizes, spanning from small to large. If you're looking for a scoop to make average-sized cookies (about 2.5 to 3 inches), a medium scoop is your best bet. Many of the scoop’s manufacturer descriptions note how much dough the scoops can hold and the cookie size once baked to help you visualize and determine the size you'll need.
How do you keep dough from sticking to a cookie scoop?
Stainless steel models work well to keep the dough from sticking to the inside of the cookie scoop. Models with a wiper on the inside of the scoop also help remove cookie dough. Additionally, you can add some cookie spray inside the scoop before you start to make it easier to remove the dough and prevent sticking.
What else can you use a cookie scoop for?
Many cookie scoops are versatile and do double duty in the kitchen. Small scoops can usually function as melon ballers, whereas larger ones work well for scooping out mashed potatoes, and some can even scoop out ice cream. It's important to read the manufacturer's guidelines on what you can use your cookie scoop for, as their functionality differs depending on the brand and size.
What’s the difference between a cookie scoop and an ice cream scoop?
In many cases, cookie scoops and ice cream scoops are interchangeable and can be used for both tasks. “To scoop cookies, a scoop simply needs to have the metal band that sweeps across the inside to release the dough,” Vu says. His favorite types of cookie scoops have a single thumb trigger, rather than the ones where you squeeze from both sides, as in his experience, the latter tends to be less reliable, detaching and falling apart more easily.
For ice cream, Vu prefers a scoop without a sweeping metal band, like this one from Zeroll. “These are my favorite scoops for ice cream as they allow you to make a perfectly round scoop,” he says. “However, these scoops would not work as well for dense cookie doughs.”
What can you use if you don’t have a cookie scoop?
Cookie scoops are a helpful tool, but they aren’t mandatory when making cookies. For uniform cookies, Vu recommends using a kitchen scale to weigh out consistent portions of dough, then using your hands to shape each piece of dough into a ball. “This method takes a great deal more time and is much less efficient than using a flat scoop of cookie dough,” he says.
What do the numbers on the scoop mean?
On some cookie dough scoops, you may notice a number engraved into them. “The numbers on the scoop refer to how many scoops will fill a quart (32 fluid ounces),” Vu says. “For instance, a #8 scoop would take 8 scoops to fill a 32-ounce container, making each scoop 4 fluid ounces. The larger the number, the smaller the scoop.” He notes that in addition to being numbered, scoops are usually color coded, as well. A #8 scoop, for example, will typically have a gray handle.
There is no one-size-fits-all cookie scoop, given that there are so many different cookie recipes out there, all with different textures and spread. “You can bake almost any cookie at any size that you like,” Vu says. “If you like larger cookies, perhaps try a #14 or #16. For a lot of my cookie recipes (but not all), a #30 black scoop will yield a cookie about 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter.” No matter what size you choose, he stresses the importance of consistent scooping, spacing the cookies out on the pan, not overcrowding the oven, and getting that baking time just right. “For me, golden brown around the edges but slightly underdone in the center is the perfect amount of bake for most cookies.”
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Kelsey Graham is a food and commerce writer with a passion for baking. She enjoys whipping up cookies, muffins, and cupcakes in her free time and always adds extra chocolate chips. Her life forever changed when she purchased the Oxo Good Grip Cookie Scoop years ago, and she’s been singing its praises to anyone who will listen ever since.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest, who updated this roundup, is a freelance journalist who specializes in food and drink content. She updated this story by interviewing baking experts to learn more about cookie scoops, and she’s always keen to share this knowledge with readers. She loves making and eating cookies––especially if they’re white chocolate macadamia nut.
Sources
Kristen Tomlan is the founder of DŌ and author of “Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake & Share.”
Trung Vu is a chef-instructor of Pastry and Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education.
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