Christmas Spritz Cookies
This Spritz Cookie Recipe walks you through creating these exquisite treats, from the viewpoint of a spritz cookie novice. It will tell you everything you need to know about each step of the process so that you succeed at these festive delights the first time you ever make them.
Spritz Cookie Recipe
For years, I would see Spritz Cookies on cookie trays and think there was simply no way I would ever be able to make those myself. Too fussy, too much chance of failure, I thought.
But, in a moment of fearlessness a few years ago, I bought a cookie press and tried my hand at it using another recipe. The cookies ended up turning out fine, but there were a lot of missing details I wish I had known, since it was my first time making them.
I’m here today to walk you through how to make spritz cookies, from the viewpoint of a spritz cookie novice. Along the way, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about each step of the process so that you succeed at these cookies the first time you ever make them.
What are Spritz Cookies?
Spritz cookies are delicate, buttery little treats that are often the prettiest part of a cookie tin or platter. Their distinctive shapes and melt-in-your-mouth texture make them a favorite for Christmas.
The name “spritz” comes from German word “spritzen,” meaning to squirt or spray, which describes how these cookies are made using a cookie press or piping bag.
Why you will love this recipe for Spritz Cookies
- This is a meticulously crafted spritz cookie recipe from a culinary school graduate, taking into account the science behind each ingredient, to ensure your success.
- The combination of vanilla and almond extracts create a nuanced flavor that’s both familiar and intriguing.
- You’ll have so much fun decorating these using sprinkles and icing.
Spritz Cookie Ingredients
- flour – the main structure of the cookies.
- egg – this adds moisture and structure to the cookie dough.
- vanilla extract – adds a warm, sweet flavor.
- almond extract – introduces a subtle nuttiness that complements the vanilla. If you’re not familiar with baking with this ingredient, Simply Recipes has an ingredient guide for almond extract that is very informative.
- granulated sugar – sweetens the dough.
- butter – adds richness and flavor.
- salt – balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- baking powder – the leavening agent that helps this spritz cookie recipe rise.
- food coloring – to add festive colors to the dough.
- sprinkles – these are an optional element to add texture, color and a playful element to the cookies.
- icing – another optional element that enhances the visual appeal of the cookies.
How to make Spritz Cookies with a Cookie Press
1. CREAM. Preheat your oven, and beat the flour and sugar together until well combined.
2. ADD. Add the egg and the extracts to the flour mixture and beat until combined.
3. FLOUR. Add the flour, baking powder and salt, and beat that in.
4. DIVIDE. Divide the dough evenly into three bowls.
5. COLOR. Add drops of red food coloring to one bowl and mix until the dough is red. Repeat the process with green food coloring. Leave the last bowl of dough without food coloring.
6. PREPARE PRESS. Remove the bottom cylinder of your cookie press and place the shaped disc of your choice on the bottom of the press, then screw the cylinder back on to hold the disc in place.
7. FILL PRESS. Remove the top of your cookie press. Take some of your green cookie dough and roll it into a log about 2 inches in diameter. Fit it into the cookie press, then replace the top of the cookie press.
8. PRESS! On one baking sheet, hold the cookie press straight down, so that the cookie press is touching the baking sheet. Press down on the cookie press trigger and hold for 5 seconds (or until you feel the dough give way). Lift the cookie press straight up and you should have a spritz cookie on the pan!
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9. REPEAT. Repeat the process with the remaining green dough. Then, remove the shaped disc from the press and wipe out the inside of the press with a paper towel. Select a new shaped disc and install it on your press.
10. REPEAT SOME MORE. Repeat steps 7 through 9 with the red dough, and then the uncolored dough, choosing a new shape disc for each color.
11. DECORATE. Once all the dough is pressed, you can decorate the cookies with your choice of sprinkles now (recommended), or after baking.
12. BAKE. Transfer the baking pans to the oven and bake until the bottoms of the cookies are light golden brown. Transfer the pans to a wire cooling rack and allow the cookies to cool completely on the pans.
Best Spritz Cookie Press
Invest in a high-quality cookie press with a variety of disc options so you can make several shapes of this spritz cookies recipe.
The Wilton Cookie Press Set [affiliate link] is what we’ve used for the photos you see here. We’ve found that it’s durable and easy to use.
How to make Spritz Cookies without Press
If you do not have a cookie press, you can use a large piping bag and large piping tip for this spritz cookie recipe.
You may need to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk to your cookie dough to help it squeeze through the piping tip.
Go slow when piping the cookies and pull up quickly when releasing the cookie from the piping bag/tip.
Decorating Spritz Cookies
If desired, you can decorate the finished, cooled cookies with icing (I like the tubes of “Writing Gel” from the baking aisle for this).
You can also add sprinkles after baking by brushing the cookies with melted butter and then adding the sprinkles.
How to store Christmas Spritz Cookies
Store spritz cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Can you freeze Spritz Cookies?
Yes, these cookies freeze beautifully! Freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
You can also freeze the dough itself, before baking, for up to 3 months. Just allow it to thaw in the fridge the day before you plan on using it.
Spritz Cookie Home Chef Tips
- You can make these cookies in other flavors by using 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract or rum extract in place of the almond extract.
- Letting your egg come to room temperature before making the dough is crucial for a smooth dough and the best spritz cookie recipe.
- Gel food coloring is the best choice here, because it allows you to turn the dough vibrant colors without watering down the consistency.
Best Recipe for Spritz Cookies FAQs
Spritz cookies are a type of butter cookie, distinguised by their preparation using a cookie press.
To avoid the cookies lifting from the baking sheet, use an ungreased baking sheet. Make sure to not use parchment or wax paper either! If you’re still having trouble getting the cookies to stick to the baking sheet, place the baking sheet in the fridge for 15 minutes, then try again.
Apply the sprinkles right after pressing the cookies, when the dough is tacky, before baking. Gently press them on for better adherence, if needed. Or, if you want to add sprinkles after baking, brush cookies with melted butter then add your sprinkles. This will help the sprinkles stick to the cookies (and add an extra richness as well).
Your dough may be too soft or too sticky. Insure you are measuring all ingredients properly. If it’s still too soft, try refrigerating the dough for 20 minutes before trying again.
This may happen if you haven’t measured for this spritz cookies recipe accurately, and your dough has turned out too dry. Add 1 tablespoon of milk to your dough and remix. This extra moisture should allow the dough to adhere to itself, creating the perfect texture for spritz cookies.
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Spritz Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter 12 tablespoons
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon finely ground sea salt
- Red and green gel food coloring
- Sprinkles for decorating (optional)
- Icing “Writing Gel” tubes, for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. You will need 2 to 3 ungreased and unlined baking sheets for this recipe. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar at medium speed 1 to 2 minutes, or until smooth.
- Add egg, almond extract and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
- Add flour, baking powder and salt and beat until just combined.
- Divide the dough into three medium bowls.
- Add drops of red food coloring to one bowl and mix with hand mixer or wooden spoon until dough is red. Repeat process with green food coloring. Leave last bowl of dough without food coloring.
- Prepare your cookie press by removing the bottom cylinder and placing the shaped disc of your choice on the bottom of the press, then screw the cylinder back on to hold the disc in place.
- Remove the top of the cookie press. Take some of your green cookie dough and roll it into a log about 2 inches in diameter. Fit it into the cookie press, then replace the top of the cookie press.
- On one baking sheet, hold the cookie press straight down, so that the cookie press is touching the baking sheet. Press down on the cookie press trigger and hold for 5 seconds (or until you feel the dough give way). Lift the cookie press straight up and you should have a spritz cookie on the pan!
- Repeat with remaining green dough. Then, remove the shaped disc from the press and wipe out the inside of the press with a paper towel. Select a new shaped disc and install it on your press.
- Repeat steps 7 through 9 with red dough.
- Repeat steps 7 through 9 with uncolored dough.
- Once all dough is pressed, you can decorate cookies with your choice of sprinkles now (recommended), or after baking.
- Transfer baking pans to oven and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until bottoms of cookies are light golden brown.
- Transfer pans to wire cooling rack and allow cookies to cool completely on pans.
- If desired, you can decorate the finished, cooled cookies with icing (I like the tubes of "Writing Gel" from the baking aisle for this). You can also add sprinkles after baking by brushing the cookies with melted butter and then adding the sprinkles.
Notes
- You can make these cookies in other flavors by using 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract or rum extract in place of the almond extract.
- Letting your egg come to room temperature before making the dough is crucial for a smooth dough and the best spritz cookie recipe.
- Gel food coloring is the best choice here, because it allows you to turn the dough vibrant colors without watering down the consistency.
