Quick ‘n Jolly Festive Spritz Cookies Recipe for Holiday Bakers

Sweet, buttery spritz cookies with a festive spritz cookies recipe that dances with holiday cheer bring warmth to your kitchen.

These delicate, melt-in-your-mouth treats sparkle with nostalgia and simple elegance.

Traditional German baking techniques shine through each delightfully pressed cookie.

Crisp edges and tender centers create a perfect balance of texture that beckons everyone to the cookie plate.

The simple ingredients blend into magic with just a cookie press and a few moments of love.

Decorative sprinkles or colored sugar add a playful touch to these classic holiday favorites.

Bake these cookies and watch smiles bloom across faces eager for a sweet seasonal moment.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Calories: 130 kcal

Servings: 25

What Goes Into Festive Spritz Cookies

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, smooth foundation with clean dairy flavor, select high-quality European-style butter for superior texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create delicate, crisp cookie structure, choose fine-grain sugar for smoother blending.

• Large Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to tender cookie texture, ensure room temperature for better incorporation.
• Vanilla Extract: Delivers classic sweet aroma, opt for pure extract over imitation for authentic depth.
• Almond Extract: Introduces subtle nutty undertone, use sparingly to prevent overwhelming other flavors.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates cookie's foundational structure, sift to remove lumps and ensure smooth dough.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile, use fine kosher or table salt.
• Gel Icing Colors: Optional tool for personalized visual appeal, select gel-based colors for vibrant, concentrated hues without altering dough consistency.

Favorite Tools to Press and Bake Spritz Cookies

• Stand Mixer or Electric Mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to a light, fluffy consistency.
• Cookie Press: Critical tool for shaping these classic spritz cookies with precise, decorative designs.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Necessary for combining ingredients and mixing the dough smoothly.
• Rubber Spatula: Perfect for scraping down bowl sides and ensuring even mixing.
• Baking Sheets: Needed for pressing and baking the delicate cookies.
• Silicone Mats: Recommended for optimal cookie release and even baking.
• Gel Icing Colors: Optional but great for adding festive color to your cookies.
• Cooling Rack: Helps cookies cool evenly and prevent soggy bottoms.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.

How to Create Shapes and Swirls That Impress

• Oven Warmup

Crank up the oven to a toasty 350°F and grab those baking sheets ready for cookie magic.

• Butter Bliss

Grab your mixer and whip butter and sugar into a cloud-like dream, creating a fluffy foundation that’ll make your cookies irresistible.

• Egg and Flavor Fusion

Drop in the egg and splash of vanilla and almond goodness, blending everything into a smooth, silky mixture that promises deliciousness.

• Dough Formation

Gently fold in flour and salt, letting the ingredients dance together until a perfect cookie dough emerges. Don’t go overboard with mixing – gentle is the way.

• Color Adventure

Want a pop of color? Divide your dough and softly knead in vibrant gel colors, transforming plain dough into a festive canvas.

• Cookie Press Creativity

Load up your cookie press with dough and start pressing out beautiful shapes onto the baking sheets. Watch those delicate designs take shape!

• Sprinkle Sparkle

Shower your unbaked cookies with festive sprinkles, adding a touch of whimsy and crunch.

• Oven Love

Slide the sheets into the oven and bake until edges turn golden. Keep an eye out – 5-8 minutes is your sweet spot.

• Cooling Celebration

Let cookies rest briefly on the sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack. Once completely cool, stash in an airtight container for future munching.

Cookie Tips for Festive Colors and Toppings

• Spritz Success Secrets: Mastering Delicate Cookie Crafting
• Butter Temperature Trick: Use butter softened to room temperature but not melty. Cold butter won't cream properly, while overly warm butter creates flat, greasy cookies.
• Press Perfect Technique: Clean and dry your cookie press thoroughly between batches. Chill the press attachment for easier cookie release and more consistent shapes.
• Color Creativity: Gel food coloring works best for vibrant, even hues without altering dough consistency. Add color sparingly to maintain dough texture.
• Flavor Fusion: Experiment with different extract combinations like orange, lemon, or peppermint to create unique seasonal variations that surprise and delight taste buds.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Wrap unbaked dough in plastic and refrigerate for up to three days. Let dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before pressing to ensure smooth cookie formation.

Serving Spritz Cookies With Style and Simplicity

• Holiday Party Platter: Arrange these delicate spritz cookies on a festive ceramic tray, creating a colorful mosaic that showcases different shapes and colors. Cluster them artfully to make a stunning centerpiece.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Pair these buttery cookies with a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea or hot cocoa. Their delicate texture and subtle almond flavor complement warm beverages perfectly, making them an ideal midday treat.
• Gift-Worthy Presentation: Package these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with seasonal ribbons. Add a personalized gift tag for a charming homemade touch that friends and family will adore during holiday gatherings or as small thoughtful gifts.
• Dessert Buffet Star: Create a beautiful dessert display by arranging spritz cookies on tiered cake stands. Mix different colors and shapes to add visual interest, allowing guests to admire these delicate, elegant treats.

Best Way to Keep Spritz Cookies Crisp

• Smart Cookie Storage Solutions
• Seal and Shield: Store your spritz cookies in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain maximum freshness and prevent moisture from softening their delicate texture.
• Layering Magic: Place parchment paper between cookie layers to prevent sticking and preserve their beautiful shapes, keeping each spritz cookie looking pristine.
• Temperature Tactics: Keep your cookies at room temperature for up to 5 days, ensuring they remain crisp and delightful for quick snacking or unexpected guests.
• Freezing Finesse: Freeze unfrosted spritz cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, creating a delicious make-ahead treat that's ready whenever sweet cravings strike.

Crispy Spritz Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Festive spritz cookies dance with buttery richness, delivering classic holiday cheer through delicate pressed cookie shapes. Crisp, delicate edges and sweet vanilla notes invite winter celebrations while promising pure comfort for family gatherings.

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Ingredients

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• 2 ¼ cups (293 g / 10.4 oz) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (224 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup (155 g / 5.5 oz) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• ½ tsp salt
• Red gel icing color, optional
• Green gel icing color, optional
• Sprinkles for decorating

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Position an oven rack in the middle and preheat to 350°F. Line sheet trays with silicone baking mats to create an ideal surface for delicate spritz cookies.
2. Creaming: Whip butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale, developing a cloud-like volume that indicates thorough blending.
3. Liquid Integration: Incorporate egg, vanilla, and almond extracts into the butter mixture, stirring until the elements combine into a smooth, uniform consistency.
4. Dough Formation: Gradually sift flour and salt into the wet ingredients, folding gently to create a cohesive dough. Avoid overmixing to maintain the dough’s delicate texture.
5. Color Infusion: Divide the dough into sections and gently work gel food coloring through each portion, creating soft, even hues without compromising the dough’s structure.
6. Shaping and Decorating: Load a cookie press with dough, selecting intricate discs to create unique shapes. Press cookies onto prepared baking surfaces, spacing them minimally. Sprinkle decorative elements lightly across the unbaked cookies.
7. Baking and Cooling: Bake for 6-7 minutes in the preheated oven until edges show a subtle golden tinge. Allow cookies to rest briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to wire cooling racks to reach room temperature.
8. Storage: Once completely cooled, arrange cookies in an airtight container to preserve their delicate texture and festive charm.

Notes

• Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for a smooth, creamy mixture that incorporates air perfectly, creating light and delicate cookies.
• Color Mixing Technique: Add gel food coloring sparingly and knead gently to maintain dough’s texture, preventing overworking that could make cookies tough.
• Press with Precision: Keep cookie press clean and slightly chilled for crisp, defined shapes that release smoothly without sticking or distorting.
• Cooling is Crucial: Allow cookies to rest briefly on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack, preventing breakage and helping them set properly.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 30 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 16 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg