To be clear, I give the actual recipe 5 stars...the accompanying directions...not so much. I followed the ingredients to a 'T' but was careful about the directions. As others have said, whatever shape you put the cookies in to bake is the same they'll come out of the oven- they're not like chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies that you drop onto the sheet and they melt into circles as they bake. I mixed up the cookie ingredients, then rolled the dough into a log about an inch and a half wide and about 15 inches long, wrapped that in plastic wrap, and stuck it in the freezer for about half an hour. Once it came out, I sliced it somewhere between 1/4 and 1/8 inch thick then arranged those circles on the cookie sheet to bake. I haven't tried it yet, but the dough seemed like it would be soft enough for a cookie press as an alternative. Also, if you're looking for softer cookies (as in, not cracker crumbs) don't be worried. I took my cookies out of the oven as soon as I saw the first hint of browning (about 9 minutes)and was a little worried once they cooled that they were going to be crumbly and crunchy. Once I added the filling, rolled them in powdered sugar, and boxed them up for the night, they really softened into wonderful yummy little sandwiches. Definitely better after they had sat for a day.