Spritz cookies are buttery and sweet pressed cookies. They are festive and so fun to make, with all kinds of shapes!
You can create a variety of gorgeous patterns and toppings. These are stunning cookies to display and make a great addition to your holiday spread. We love handing out these bite size beauties to our neighbors! For more perfectly merry cookies try Christmas Thumbprint Cookies, Peppermint Sugar Cookies, and Holiday Blossom Cookies.
What is a spritz cookie?
Spritz cookies are similar to both sugar cookies and shortbread cookies. They are buttery and show off a beautiful intricate design.
The term “Spritz” is taken from the German word that means to squirt. As you “squirt” out each beautiful cookie you can see how it lives up to its name.
These cookies instantly transport me to my childhood. We made these every year during Christmas time. I love to color the dough and creating magical shapes. They are the BEST warm out of the oven, but they also make a perfectly delish dipping cookie to go with your milk.
Using a Cookie Press
To get the best spritz cookie I recommend purchasing a cookie press. There are several brands. Read the reviews and choose one that has several decorative shape options.
Don’t have a decorative cookie press? If you don’t have a cookie press you can try using a piping bag with different decorative tips. The dough is on the thicker side, so you may want to choose a larger tip and squeeze firmly. The dough does not spread much at all so the shape you pipe out will be the shape of the baked cookie. For this reason, when you pipe out the dough be sure that all parts are touching.
Pressing Tips:
- The biggest tip I can recommend is to use a PLAIN, UNGREASED, COLD cookie sheet. You want the bottom of the cookie to stick to the baking sheet so it won’t get stuck in the cookie press.
- Go ahead and click the cookie press a couple of times to help the dough release easier.
How to Make Spritz Cookies
PREP. Preheat the oven to 400.
DOUGH. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth. Add the flour and salt to the bowl and mix until combined. It really helps to make sure the cookie dough is about the texture of soft play dough.
COLOR. Add gel food coloring to the dough if desired.
PRESS. Add the dough to a cookie press with the desired shape of plate attached. Press the cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.
(Note: If you try to bake them on a greased or lined baking sheet, the dough will stick to the cookie press instead and won’t stay on the sheet.)
BAKE. Bake 6-8 minutes, until cooked through but not browned. Let cool before serving.
Variations
One obvious way to get various types of cookies is to use the different shapes that come with the cookie press. The Other is to add color and decorations.
- Color the dough: Use gel food coloring and not the liquid coloring. You only need a couple of drops of the gel whereas you would need several drops of the liquid which then thins out the dough. Colored cookies tend to brown more quickly than plain cookies so watch carefully.
- Add different sprinkles, sparkling sugar, finely chopped nuts before baking
- Drizzle with glaze or chocolate after baking
Making Ahead and Storing
MAKE AHEAD: You can make the dough ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Simply allow it to come to room temperature (30-40 minutes) before pressing and baking.
If you want to freeze the dough you have two options: First, roll the dough into a log, wrap with plastic and again with foil then freeze. You can also stamp out the dough into shapes, place the dough into the freezer. Once frozen, place the shaped dough into a freezer safe bag. Frozen dough can keep for up to 3 months. To bake: Allow the dough to thaw to room temperature before baking.
STORAGE: Spritz cookies store really well, so they are great for shipping to family and friends who live far away. Keep in an airtight conditioner for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
An easy way to package them to give away is to purchase a holiday tin. You can find inexpensive ones at the dollar store and walmart. Fill the tin with cupcake liners and then stack the cookies in the liners. If you decide to ship these to faraway friends, I recommend freezing them and then placing the frozen cookies into the package to ship.
Serve these cookies with a Warm Drink:
- Caramel Apple Cider
- Mexican Hot Chocolate
- Mint Hot Cocoa
- Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa
- Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
For more cookies, try:
Spritz Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
for the cookies:
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
for decorating:
- gel food coloring
- colorful sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, almond extract, and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth. Add the flour and salt to the bowl and mix until combined. Add gel food coloring to the dough if desired.
- Add the dough to a cookie press with the desired shape of plate attached. Press the cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.
- Bake 6-8 minutes, until cooked through but not browned. Let cool before serving.
First time ever using a cookie press and it worked perfectly!
Family Favorite!!!!!
Have an older recipe that called for 3 egg yolks. Tried this one to save on eggs…not very impressed. I will be going back to my old recipe.