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Spritz Butter Cookies are simple to make with a cookie press, and are buttery, sweet and delicious. They are perfect for holidays or any other celebration, and they make great homemade gifts!
It's that time of year again!! Christmas Cookies and a whole lot of them! I am in charge of bringing all the goodies to our family Christmas gatherings, and I like to give tins full of cookies to my neighbors, friends and as teacher gifts. Basically, I need a gazillion amount of cookies during the holidays. I don't mind either because if you haven't noticed yet that I have baking addiction, the holiday season will surely prove it. Starting with one of my favorites... Spritz Butter Cookies. They are buttery, almondy and full of sweet goodness! I know you can virtually taste them, can't you?
This post was originally posted on 12/01/2015 and updated on 12/07/2020.
What are Spritz Cookies?
Spritz cookies are like a sugar cookie but more buttery and so delicious. Spritz cookies are made with a cookie press, and with the addition of eggs to the recipe the cookies will hold their shape when baked. If you want to know a little history, these cookies are Scandinavian and the word spritz comes from the German word "spritzen" which means, to squirt, resembling the cookie dough being pushed "or squirted" through the cookie press.
Spritz Butter Cookie Ingredients
- Salted Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Unbleached All Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Almond Extract
- Green Food Coloring-Dye Free, or your desired colors
- Red and Green Sugar Sprinkles-Dye Free
Do I have to use Almond Extract?
Nope, you can swap out the almond for pure vanilla extract, peppermint, maple, or even lemon. Whichever you prefer.
How to Make Spritz Butter Cookies with Cookie Press
Step 1: Make the Dough
In a stand mixer or with a hand beater, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg. Next, beat in the almond extract. Now add the baking powder and half of the flour, mix just until combined. Add remaining flour and mix until completely incorporated.
Step 2: Color the Dough
If you would like to color the dough, this is when you would do it. Separate the dough in half, leaving half the dough in the mixer and add green food coloring to dough. Either use the mixer to mix it together or a rubber spatula.
Step 3: Shape the Cookies
Add the dough to your cookie press fitted with the shaped disk of choice. Press cookies ½ inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle cookies with colored sugar sprinkles. (I personally like the Wilton Cookie Press. I've had it for years, its durable, affordable and easy to use.)
Step 4: Bake the Cookies
Place cookies on center rack in a 375° oven and bake for 7-10 minutes just until the edges are starting to turn a light golden brown. Let cookies cool on cookie sheets for only 1-2 minutes and then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Do NOT let them cool any longer or they will stick to the pan when trying to remove them and the cookies may crack and break.
How to Make Spritz Without a Cookie Press
If you don't have a cookie press you can still make these cookies. You can use a piping bag with a large star tip. You may have to add a few tablespoons of milk to the dough so the cookies are the right consistency to pipe. Or you can roll the dough into ½ inch balls, roll in sugar or sprinkles, and then press the cookies down with the bottom of a drinking glass or the palm of your hand.
How to Store and Freeze Spritz Cookies
These cookies store well in an air tight container on the counter up to 5 days. They also can be frozen. Freeze them in a freeze safe air tight container, label and dated. These delicious cookies will last 3-4 months in the freezer.
I always start making my cookies right after Thanksgiving. I keep them in tightly sealed freezer safe containers in my porch or garage where it isn't heated. They usually end up freezing, which is perfect to keep them fresh for a longer period of time. Bring them to room temperature before eating and enjoy! Some are even good to eat frozen... (But, I wouldn't know anything about that... I would have had to eat frozen cookies to know that, and that just wouldn't be right, because the cookies are for the Christmas gatherings ONLY! Well, that's what I tell the kids to keep their paws off, my paws on the other hand get a bit sticky sometimes!) I could eat the entire tub of these Spritz Butter Cookies! Secretly.... I think I have once or twice!
More Holiday Cookies to Make!
- Sugar Cookie Cut Outs
- Peanut Butter Temptations
- Frosted Pumpkin Drops
- Gingerbread Men
- Confetti Sugar Cookies
- White Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Drops
- Lemon & White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Give the gift of homemade cookies or treat yourself with these Spritz Butter Cookies and let me know how much your and everyone else loves them in the comments below! Pictures encouraged on Instagram with the hashtag #heathershomemadekitchen You can also follow me on Social Media to see what other crazy things my family and I are doing! If you like what you see, please share with your friends and family!
Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later!
Spritz Butter Cookies
Equipment
- Cookie Press
Ingredients
- 2 cups salted butter, 4 sticks, softened
- 1⅓ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 4½ cups unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons pure almond extract
- Green food coloring-dye free, optional
- Red and green sugar sprinkles-dye free, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- In a stand mixer or with hand beater in large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each egg.
- Add almond extract and mix.
- Add baking powder, and half of the flour. Mix just until combined.
- Add remaining flour and mix until well combined.
- Divide dough in half, leaving half in the mixer.
- Add green food coloring to the dough in the mixer, mix until desired green color. (You now have green dough and white dough)
- Using a cookie press fitted with your desired shaped disk, press cookies ½ inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles.
- Bake for 7-10 minutes just until the edges are set or turning a very light brown.
- Cool on baking sheet 1-2 minutes and remove to wire cooling rack to cool completely.
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