It’s no secret that most professional bakers use ice cream scoops to make sure their cookies and cupcakes are perfectly proportioned.
With so many options on the market, however, choosing the best scoop for your needs can be a challenge.
As a fellow cook and avid consumer of baked goods, I figured it might be helpful to put together a list of my 6 favorite scoops for baking cookies and cupcakes.
If you’re looking for the quick answer to “the best cookie scoop”. Check out the OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop at Amazon.
| Best Ice Cream Scoop for Baking Cookies | Why We Like It |
|---|---|
| 1. OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop | has an easy squeeze handle and is dishwasher safe |
| 2. Zeroll Universal EZ Disher Food/Ice Cream Scoop | comes in various scoop sizes for perfect portions |
| 3. Jenaluca Ice Cream, Cookie, and Melon Scoop – 3 Piece Set | are built for professional results and make a great gift |
| 4. Tovolo Cupcake Scoop | silicone stopper cleans scoop after every dip |
| 5. Norpro Stainless Steel Scoop | has strong steel frame and quick scooping action |
| 6. Apexstone Cookie Scoop Set of 3 | come with plastic ergonomic grips and are durable |
| 7. Wilton 417-1112 Cookie Scoop | is great for a budget |
| 8. Vollrath #6 Stainless Steel Disher | huge size is great for giant cookies or cupcakes |
| 9. Tiger Chef 9-piece Ice Cream Scooper Set | set includes a variety of sizes and colors |
| 10. Zesproska Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop with Trigger | is perfect for both right- and left-handed scoopers |
Best scoops for your cookies
Using a regular kitchen spoon to measure portions of cookie dough was a frequent source of frustration for me. No matter how careful I was, I’d end up with uneven batches of chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter cookies. Using an ice cream scoop makes it so much easier to guarantee your baked goods are always the perfect size.
Mix up even the thickest cookie dough with ease, with the best hand mixer for cookie dough!
Ice Cream/Cookie Scoops Save Time
It probably doesn’t seem like such a stretch when I tell you that cookie scoops make for a more uniform batch of cookies. But a there is a benefit of these scoops that fly under the radar for most; they tend to save you time in multiple ways.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that your typical spoon used for soups and cereals never seems to cut through the cookie dough with ease. You end up having to force the spoon through the dough. Not only is this terrible for your silverware, it’s also incredibly time-consuming.
By the way, you aren’t just saving time when you are prepping your cookie dough. These spoons will save time during the cleanup process as well – no messy hands.
Drop spoons are much thicker, stronger and many of them have a mechanism that drops the dough out of the spoon for you. Get one of these and you’ll never have to fight to make the perfect batch of cookies again – at least not in shape and size.
Not all Drop Spoons are the Same
First of all, what is a drop spoon? Simply put, drop spoons let you scoop the cookie dough and then release the dough (or drop) from the spoon by pressing the lever. Most of us know them by their more normal name – cookie spoons.
Of course, you can’t simply get one cookie scoop and expect to be able to use it in every situation. Among other things, you’ve got to take into account the size of the cookies you are baking.
Some scoops are more sturdy than others. Some can be put in the dishwasher without worry. And then, you’ve got others that eject cookie dough for you, keeping your hands clean and saving even more time. My recommendation; find a scoop that has all three of the qualities.
What size scoop, makes what size cookie?
This is an important thing to know when deciding which cookie scoop you need to purchase (Ideally you would have more than one size scoop though). The three most common size cookie scoops that you will find are:
- Small: 2 Teaspoons
- Medium: 1.5 Tablespoons
- Large: 3 Tablespoons
The small scoop results in cookies that are right around 2-inches, the medium scoop gives you a 3-inch cookie, and the large scoop makes a 4-inch cookie.
Of course, there are other size scoops, but these are the three most common sizes you will find.
OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop
This scoop is one of the most useful tools on this list (and from a reputable big brand name too). The OXO Good Grips cookie scoop is specifically designed for use with cookie batter. It holds 1.5 tbs of dough and has an easy squeeze handle that will cut through even the thickest of batters. It’s also dishwasher safe, so no more hand-washing dough out of nooks and crannies!
Zeroll Universal EZ Disher Food/Ice Cream Scoop
If you like to make cookies of various sizes, the scoops by Zeroll might be exactly what you need. There are 13 capacities to choose from, and the manufacturer provides a handy size chart on their website. And they’re so reasonably priced, you might as well buy a few. Whether you want minis for the lunchbox or jumbos for the school bake sale, you’re set with a Zeroll set! Also, the stainless steel scoop is a breeze to clean (hand-washing recommended).
Send your kids off to school with one of the best lunch boxes for your child’s lunch!
Jenaluca Ice Cream, Cookie, and Melon Scoop – 3-Piece Set
Looking for that perfect gift for the baker in your life? This set comes with several scoops in an elegant, recyclable package. The food-grade stainless steel scoops are built for professional results and, with Jenaluca’s unique Cog and Ratchet system, there are no springs to get stuck. These scoops are dishwasher safe, eco-friendly, and won’t rust on you!
Scoop For your Cupcakes:
There’s nothing worse than pulling a finished batch of cupcakes out of the oven, only to realize you overfilled the cups. Especially if you intend on selling them, sloppy cupcakes just won’t do—you can only hide so much with frosting. Luckily, the ice cream scoop swoops (or should I say, scoops?) in once again to save the day!
Sending cookies to a loved one in the mail? You might want to check out this post, full of helpful strategies for packing cookies for shipping.
Tovolo Cupcake Scoop
This unique scooper is a bit different than the rest. While you could use it for cookies and ice cream, it’s especially great for cupcakes. It ensures the equal distribution of batter every time and, with a silicone stopper that completely clears the scoop, you don’t have to worry about the build-up you get in models with metal wire scrapers. The curved scoop makes it easy to control the batter, so filling is incredibly simple. And, once you’re done making perfectly proportioned cupcakes, this scoop can be thrown into the washer for easy cleaning. What’s not to love?
Norpro Stainless Steel Scoop
This scoop is a great option if you’re looking for a tool that can do double duty. Its steel frame and quick, easy scooping action makes filling muffin tins a breeze. It can also help you get even cookies or that perfect scoop of ice cream. The heavy-duty, spring-loaded scoop is great at clearing out any food, and the stainless steel body fits well into most hands. However, unlike most of the other scoops on this list, the Norpro should be hand-washed. It comes in a variety of sizes, so you might want to grab one of each!
Apexstone Cookie Scoop Set of 3
Apexstone’s stainless steel scoops have ergonomic grips. These durable scoops are made with dishwasher-safe, food-grade material. They’re the perfect sizes for filling cupcake cups, but are also recommended for portioning ice cream, cookies, melon, meatballs, mashed potatoes, and more!
If you bake a lot, consider grabbing these sturdy, comfortable models that can scoop cupcake batter all day long.
Any avid baker needs a great set of mixing bowls. Read about my favorite mixing bowls and my top picks for cooking sheets for baking cookies.
A few more awesome scoops
I know, I know, the title says “The Six” best ice cream scoops. But there are so many great tools out there for us to use. Here are some honorable mentions, that didn’t make the cut, but are still worth investing in.
Wilton 417-1112 Cookie Scoop
This didn’t make the top six list (mostly because it calls for being hand-washed). But it’s a nice ice cream scoop if you aren’t looking to spend in the double digits to get one.
It has a spring to control the blade that scoops the cookie dough out of the spoon, and the stainless steel build is sturdy enough to stand up and get the job done.
Unfortunately, when using this for the more sticky dough, you will have to manually pull the handles apart to release the cookie dough. It works just fine for everything else though.
Vollrath #6 Stainless Steel Disher
This scoop right here is a behemoth, and it is my go-to scoop when I’m in the mood for giant cookies. And I’m talking GIANT. Holding 10.6 tablespoons of cookie dough, this makes a cookie more than a foot in diameter – yummm.
Obviously, this probably is not what this scoop is for, it’s just what I use it for. This size is excellent for cupcakes portions though.
Tiger Chef 9-piece Ice Cream Scooper Set
Next up on the honorable mentions list is this nine-piece set from Tiger Chef. This set has every size you will need and a ton of different colors. There is no release trigger for dropping the scoop, instead, you simply squeeze your hand to activate the lever. It’s so much easier on your hands.
Zesproska Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop with Trigger
I like this scoop because rather than having the trigger on the right side of the spoon, it is located at the top of it. All the left-handed folk out there understand why this is awesome.
As for the spoon itself, it’s just your normal ice cream scoop. It’s strong enough to handle the job on even the hardest ingredients.
Multiple Uses
There are some rules in my kitchen, one of them being: If I spend money on a kitchen tool, it must have more than one use. Ice cream spoons are one of those all-important tools that find themselves useful in a multitude of situations.
Pancakes
When you’re using an ice cream scoop (for any type of food) you get the perfect portion every time, you cannot mess this up. And believe me, this is a lifesaver when cooking for siblings always bickering about who gets the “big” piece. Use your large ice cream scoop to make perfectly proportioned, and perfectly shaped pancakes. That’s one less meal that you have to hear your children arguing.
Meat Balls
Another great use for your new scoop spoon is when making meatballs. Not only will you never again have to get ground beef (or turkey) on your hands again. It’s as simple as, scoop, drop and you have the perfect meatball every time. Use any sized spoon you desire for this.
Melon Ball
These are perfect for spring and summertime drinks. Use the small ice cream scoop to scoop perfect spheres from your favorite melons, throw them in the freezer and, in few short hours you have a fun, delicious way to chill your drinks.
A helping of yum!
Pick up one of these scoops to create beautiful baked goods, every time. All of them are great, versatile tools that will be a welcome addition to any kitchen!
If yogurt is a favorite ingredient for your cookies you should find out how long it will last outside the fridge.
For more excellent baking products, see my recommendations on the best cookie sheets for convection ovens and the best rolling pin for cookie dough. You might also enjoy this post on my top pick for cookies presses perfect for making spritz.
Keep your oven spotless and ready for all your pastries with the most effective oven cleaner!
Take your baking skills to the next level! Visit this post to learn how to make the prettiest filled cupcakes.
Image credit via Flickr Creative Commons: Angela W. and Sara J.
Alexis DeAnda is a food fanatic, library card user, and cast iron hunter, in that order. She has been cooking for anyone that will taste it ever since her mom let her make doughnuts on Saturday mornings at the age of 7.