Description
Spritz Cookies are classic German-American holiday treats made with a tender butter dough pressed into delicate shapes using a cookie press. These easy-to-make cookies are buttery, slightly sweet, and perfect for festive occasions, with an option to decorate with colored sugar or sprinkles for added cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Decoration (Optional)
- Colored sugar or sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature before baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which incorporates air for a tender cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until the dough is uniform and well combined, adding moisture and flavor to the dough.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the wet mixture, mixing just until the dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Prepare the Cookie Press: Load the dough into a cookie press fitted with your preferred disc shape for decorative cookie designs.
- Press Cookies onto Baking Sheet: Press the dough directly onto an ungreased baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Decorate: Optionally, sprinkle colored sugar or sprinkles on top of the cookies for festive decoration.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden brown, indicating they’re perfectly baked.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Do not chill the dough before using the cookie press to ensure smooth pressing and maintain shape integrity.
- For a flavor variation, substitute almond extract with lemon or peppermint extract.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- For longer storage, freeze the cookies in an airtight container.
