Richard J Hay, 8428 Doncaster Ave, West Islip, NY 11795

5340598, Aug 23, 1994

Oct 15, 1993

8/137528

Richard C. Hay - Kinnelon NJ
Chris Pappas - Ridgewood NJ
Harry J. Bergstrom - Mendham NJ
Richard D. Fazzolare - Randolph NJ

Nabisco, Inc. - Parsippany NJ

A21D 800

426496

Spherical baked goods, such as, cookies, crackers and snacks, are produced on a mass production basis by feeding a farinaceous dough or other food composition to one or a plurality of dies which shape it into ropes. The shaped extrudate ropes obtained from each die are cut by a cutting means, such as, a reciprocating cutter, which severs and shapes the rope into substantially spherical, cylindrical or rounded pieces. The doughs which are cut into substantially spherical, cylindrical or rounded pieces can be raw, partially cooked or baked, or fully cooked. A spherical or rounded shape is maintained or obtained upon subsequent baking or leavening of the substantially spherical dough pieces by continuously moving them relative to the oven conveyer so as to avoid flattening of the dough piece due to spreading. The baked pieces are sufficiently rounded or spherical so as to permit continuous application of confectionery coatings of substantially uniform thickness by pan coating techniques.