Please forgive the typos, I thought I had checked it carefully!

Here's one that's similar.

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: Star Cookie Stamp

I don't know if you'd be interested in this one or not, but Gene Wilson makes some of the most beautiful molds and stamps I've seen. (I do have quite a few of his designs, so I've definitely seen them in person.)

On the page I've linked to he has a star cookie mold. Just scroll down the page.

Also, he offers a large collection of stamps. Just click on the links at the bottom of the page to see "Xmas stamps" and "More Stamps." I didn't see a star but I did see a six-pointed snowflake.

I know he has other designs, but this close to Christmas his stock is low. Up to recently he's done all his work individually, so production is limited.

House on the Hill (www.houseonthehill.net) has several springerle stars but the demand has been so high they're not shipping out any more molds until mid-January.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Gene Wilson's Cookie Molds and Stamps

Rycraft is another source. I started collecting them in 1972. -Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Rycraft Cookie Stamps

Thank you for responding. I had found those sites when 'Googling' cookie stamps, but I can not tell by looking at them how deep the designs are. I have a set of acrylic stamps and they are very shallow, so that the design is hardly noticeable on the baked cookie. For some unknown reason, I would really like to have the exact same stamp as shown with the recipe, but it looks like I am going to have to settle for 'similiar'. Oh well. Those of you that have used the stamps from the sites you suggested, do they make nice, clear, high-relief designs?
By the way, I think the Gene Wilson stamps are pure works of art! Not sure I could ever bring myself to actually USE one. ;>)
Thanks,
Rusty

Gene Wilson stamps and molds do make very clear relief designs. You'll get the highest relief with the springerle and speculaas molds. His speculaas are quite deep. The same is true for House on the Hill molds.

Gene Wilson's designs are works of art. He was asked to create a special series of designs for the Smithsonian (National Museum of the American Indian) and cookies made from his molds are sold in their gift shop. He's also made designs for Disney.

I hadn't looked at his site for a while. I'm guessing he's gradually phasing out of the business. He is older, he's quit doing custom molds and some molds his great-nephew worked on. So anyone who likes his designs should probably get them soon. He is an exceptional craftsman.

The recipe has as much to do with the clarity of the design as the stamp does. I have some shortbread recipes I love but they're too delicate to take a good impression. I still make them but I don't bother with molds. It would be a waste of effort.

Thanks, Grainlady, for the Ryecraft link. I especially like their recipe and tips page.

Carol

I bought some cookie stamps from Gene Wilson and they are indeed beautiful. The little booklet that came with them explained that using margarine instead of butter makes a better impression or easier to remove the stamp (I can't remember which), and since I never use margarine I haven't used them much -- however I did make some shortbread cookies that I rolled into balls and coated with sugar then stamped with the stamp and they came out well. I think they are a treasure to have and use so I don't regret getting them.

I just found a new site with lots of stars. You might see something you like here. These are resin molds.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Celestial Cookie Molds

Thank you, Carol. I hadn't seen that site before. I think I will email them & ask how deep the designs are.
Jenn, I was really surprised to read that margarine is recommended. Almost all margarines now have such a high water content, I wouldn't think them at all suitable for this type of cookie.
I used the BHG Brown Sugar Shortbread recipe that was featured in the link I originally posted, so I really expected it to be the right kind of recipe for the cookie stamps. I do think the problem was in the acrylic stamps, not the recipe. They are very good cookies, they just don't look like I wanted them to. The designs in the acrylic stamps are very shallow, I'm kind of disappointed in myself for not noticing that before I bought them!
Lesson learned: Pay more attention to details when buying new 'gadgets' !
Rusty

I think you'll find those stars are plenty deep enough. That company was started by the husband of the original owner of House on the Hill. The business was sold when she got cancer but on a trip to Switzerland his interest revived. So the name may be new but it's a company with a lot of history.

Two things come to mind about deep designs aside from the mold itself. One is the cookie dough. Humidity (water content) makes a big difference. If you develop a recipe that really works for you and have a scales, I'd transpose it to weight. Volume isn't very helpful except for those really skilled bakers who know by feel when the dough is "just right" and adjust with every batch.

Secondly, a good impression takes a fair amount of pressure. A lot of springerle makers press the designs on a lower table or counter to get more leverage. One guy even got up ON the counter and KNEELED on the mold. That may be extreme, but you can't be dainty with these things.

Getting a good impression also is dependent on the amount/type of leavening (the recipe) and the accuracy of a slow oven so the dough doesn't spread too much.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Basically it's practice and figuring out what works for you.

Carol

Thank you again, Carol. I am an experienced baker, it's just the cookie stamps that are new to me. Again, I am very sure that the designs in the acrylic stamps I bought in such a hurry are just very shallow! I will order one from the site you linked to, forego the email asking for depth of design. I will probably order from a couple others, too. I have a tendency to almost go overboard when I get into a new (to me) area of baking, or any other craft or art, too, for that matter! :-)

Boy, do I understand about going overboard!

Carol