Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for dispensing dough. The apparatus comprises a dough hopper (11) having a valve chamber (12) at its lower end into which dough from the hopper is metered and from which dough is eventually discharged by a valve unit (14). Dough is expelled from the valve chamber in response to downward strokes of a dispensing rod (30) attached to the valve unit. In the preferred embodiment, a dough former (72) is attached to the valve unit and is used to dispense multiple charges of dough. In an alternative embodiment, the valve unit is provided with a seat (27) having a discharge opening (19) through which dough is dispensed in a single charge.