How do large-scale production lines in factories shape cookies? What kind of molds are used?

The primary methods include:

1. Rotary Molding – This method is used for soft doughs like shortbread. A rotating drum with engraved cavities (molds) presses the dough into shape before releasing it onto the conveyor belt.
2. Wire-Cut Molding – For chunkier or softer doughs (like chocolate chip cookies), dough is extruded through a nozzle and then cut by a fast-moving wire.
3. Depositing – A machine drops precise amounts of semi-liquid dough onto a baking tray. This is common for drop cookies like macarons and madeleines.
4. Sheeting & Cutting – The dough is rolled into a flat sheet and then cut into shapes using rotating or stamping cutters, similar to a cookie cutter.
5. Injection Molding – Used for highly detailed cookie shapes, where dough is injected into a mold and then released onto the production line.

Each of these methods ensures high efficiency and uniformity in industrial cookie production.