Friday, May 29, 2009

Another Great Day for Accomplishments!

First I'd like to say thank you to those that have already reserved molds. We will not do any advertising for another couple months but until then we will sell molds by way of this blog. If you see a design you like please be sure to ask about the molds availability.

We were pleased with the results of our castings from last night. The weight and color are good but now we must wait a couple days before testing our molds to discover how their durability is. Pictured are some of the castings we made last night. Please note that the molds may not look the exact shade as are pictured here. I only take okay pictures but I do try to capture them as I see them. Just to give you an idea, all of the molds on this post are the same color but the camera gives them all a different look. The one most like the real color is the "Trumpeter" mold.

You may find it interesting to know also that the replica molds reflect the surface of the molds that the "Mother Molds" were made from. Wood may be dull unless it was waxed at some point, stone will be slightly shinny and other molds will as well reflect what the original was made from.

This Nativity Scene mold measures about 5 7/8" in diameter. Different times of the day today it looked either like a light pecan wood or like a light brown clay. Either way, it produces one great looking cookie. I posted a picture of the cookie produced from this mold yesterday.

This is a Springerle cookie mold with 20 different 18th century images and it measures about 8 1/4” x 5 3/8” and produces 20 different cookies that measures about 2” x 1” each. The images look to be of different professions. Well, at least most seem to be..


This mold measures about 8 1/8" x 4 3/4" and produces Springerle cookies that are about 1 3/4" x 1 1/4". They all have great details to them. The baker in the upper left looks particularly "experienced". The feathers on the birds are also seen well.

This mold I refer to as "The Colonial Hunter" and it measures about 2 7/8" x 2".

This is a new look for the "Trumpeter" mold and it measures about 1 7/8" in diameter and produces a cookie that is about 1 3/8" in diameter. This is a mold that has never before been available.

More work will be done with "Mother Molds" this weekend. Well, at least that's what I would like to work on this weekend.

ATB
Ken, The Springerle Baker

Thursday, May 28, 2009

New Materials and Components Arrive!

New materials arrived today that might make it possible for us to begin full production soon.
Yesterday I baked some Springerle cookies that I produced from our trial molds. The designs are all great with much detail and artistry. Here are two of the most impressive.



The Nativity scene pictured is a favorite at our bakery due to its size, depth and detail. The cookie
measures about 5 1/4" in diameter. Notice the
Kings with all their finery, the fruit on the tree, the angels in the clouds, the palm trees, the hinges on the door and window shutter, the brick work on the stable and the nicely cut deep border. We are wanting this mold to be available for purchase by late September.






The Queen is also a great cookie. The cookie measures about 9"tall x 3 1/2" wide at the base and is filled with details. Filigree, flowers, lace and jewels make up this beautiful representation of their Queen. Today was the first time I had baked this design. I had never before seen this particular design but it will become a Christmas standard for us at the bakery. Next I will see how she looks in Gingerbread. Painted with petal dust she would certainly be one of the most sought after holiday cookies!

More trials tomorrow. A new mixture was poured into a few molds today so I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow to see the results.

Comments or questions, please write.
Ken, The Springerle Baker

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Great results from our latest Mold Casting.

After several attempts, the formula combination I am looking for is close at hand. Today’s success was a hugh breakthrough for us. Several companies and individuals have given advice and materials towards our goal. Even with that we have had to make many sample molds with the different materials to get us to the point we are at today. All this takes quite a bit of time and patience.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Springerle Cookie Mold With 18th Century Images

Your opportunity to own a copy before they are in full production

This is the second mold I have produced and am now offering pre-production copies for sale. The original was in bad shape with numerous worm holes and flaws. I spent months "cleaning" up the first copy I produced from the original that was sent to me to be able to produce this working mold.

This mold is a resin copy that I make using FDA approved materials. It measures about 8 1/4” x 5 3/8” and produces 20 different cookies that measures about 2” x 1” each. These are a perfect sized cookie with detail. The images on this mold are of folks in different professions and some animals. Never before has this Springerle mold been available for purchase.
A perfect one bite size!

This mold will be made per order so please allow 14 days for delivery. Each mold will be dated and signed. The mold will be clear unless you request a dark copy. The Springerle produced from this mold are shown. The mold is shown from the backside. The front side is a little more frosted.
















Front View

Cost for this pre-production mold is $46.00 + $4.00 S/H.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Costs of Reproducing Antique Springerle Cookie Molds

I was once asked why resin copies were so expensive. At that time I had not dealt with resins or silicones but knew the materials could be expensive. Now that I am involved with reproducing old molds I can see the costs more clearly.

First there is the need to obtain the rights to copy an old mold that may be in a collection or museum. This can be very expensive as the owner would like a good sum up front to purchase the rights to their mold for a set time and or would like a percentage of each copy sold. Secondly, the cost associated with having the mold reproduced in silicone by a professional so that there is not any damage done to the original mold. With this, the materials and labor can prove expensive. Thirdly, having a resin formula produced to meet your requirements can be very expensive and then the resin itself is quite expensive.

Some mold reproductions are sealed and then stained and are quite good while others will have their finish wear off over time with use. This leaves a mottled looking mold with the bare resin exposed. The molds we are looking to produce will not have the stain but either be just a clear mold or tinted colored mold. My experience and that of others that have already used the molds being produced is that the doughs release quite readily from the mold without the addition of any extra powdered sugar being used on the mold.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Springerle Molds and Cookies


After years of baking Springerle and giving instruction to others I decided to produce unique Springerle cookie molds. I looked for a company that could produce the copies for me but I was not able to find one that could do what I required. I insisted on food safe resins and other components. The search for qualified folks that could tackle this project for me began. After months of research and correspondences I believe this new partnership will be able to deliver what I had been looking for.

At the present they are formulating the resin compounds they will be using to produce the replicas. Myself and a few others have used several of their prototype molds and we are very happy with them. The mold pictured here with the Springerle is one of them. The cookies measure about 1 1/4” in diameter and are very detailed. A small one bite size cookie with plenty of depth and detail.


These are quite impressive little Springerle with the trumpeter announcing good things. They were cut with a fluted cutter to add a little more to their overall design. Making these was the first time this mold had ever been used and the Springerle it produced will grace a table with other Springerle designs at a wedding reception this weekend.



A copy of this mold can be purchased for $24.00. S/H will be 4.00 for a total of $28.00. Contact me if you would like to be one of the first to own a copy of this great little mold. You may request the dark colored mold or the crystal clear mold. The clear mold is shown from the backside so that you can see how clear it will be. The mold will be made when ordered so please allow 14 days for delivery.








As alway's, if I can be of any help to you with your Springerle baking please let me know.

Ken, The Springerle Baker



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