springerle molds

[cheffy]

I'm interested in making a springle mold before Christmas. Any help and direction would be appreciated.
Thanks

[AlArchie]

Cheffe, what the heck is a springle mold? If it's anything like one of the old wooden butter molds, I've seen books on the history and making of them. I think I saw them at the old Amish hardware store, Lehman's, in Kidron, Ohio. and maybe in the Ace hardware in Shipshewana, Ind.

Check the book section at www.lehmans.com Hope that these are still available for you.

You may have to email or call them to ask if what you want is in one of their books. I'm sure they would be willing to work with you in finding what you are looking for.


Al

[Irish]

Cheffy, you can use just about any simple pattern or design that you want for springle molds. I have four antique rolling pin molds that are made our of maple but I have carved them in basswood as well.

For a flat press mold you will want the wood blank fairly thick, at least 3/4" to avoid warping from being washed then stored. Once the mold pattern has been carved it is a simple task to add a handle. Drill a dowel hole into the center of the top side of the press going about half way into the wood without drilling through the carving. Get a wood drawer knob and drill it out to match the dowel size. Cut your dowel pin to fit and glue it together.

Remember when you do the carving ... if you spoon carve it, you carve the image down into the wood the cookie image will be raised. If you high carve it as you normally would do a relief carving the cookie will be inverse.

The trick to springle molds in not the wood or the carving it's the dough!!! How well you have dried the dough is what determines how well the cookie presses and keeps that press during baking.

Oh ... and springles never last very long around here no matter what the design

Susan

[mdallensr]

This site gives some details about the molds. The rolling pins would be neat to do as well. Mike


http://www.fantes.com/springerle.htm#mold

[AlArchie]

Well, I just got myself edjamacated! Thanks, Susan and Mike! Here I thought I was giving some "marginal" advice, but those other posts really gave good info. Come to think of it, I've seen those rolling pins, in fact my mother had one, but I've just never heard or seen the term springerle.....might have been called anise cookies around our place.

al