Apparatus for making variously shaped pastry shells includes an annular baking ring supported on a horizontal lower plate to define an upward-facing female die. A gasket is disposed between the baking ring and the plate. An upper plate is positioned above and parallel to the lower plate, and includes a downward-facing male die configured to be inserted concentrically into the upper end of the female die and thereby define a die space having a flat floor and annular, vertical side walls between the dies. An annular collar is disposed concentrically about the male die and resiliently supported on the upper support plate such that, when the two plates are urged toward each other, the collar seals the upper and lower ends of the die space, and a volume of pastry dough disposed in the cavity of the female die is formed into a pastry shell conforming to the die space.