Simple Spritz Cookies
If you have never made Spritz cookies before, you may not realize that these gorgeous little cookies, with all of their different shapes and colors, are some of the quickest and easiest Christmas cookies you can make. You may not realize that they take half the time of cut out cookies and only use ingredients you probably have on hand already. You may not realize that changing shapes is as simple as unscrewing a ring and putting a new stencil on – in a matter of a few seconds.
The end result is a clean tasting butter cookie that will bring oohs and ahhs from other folks who may not realize that it is even possible to make cookies like this at home because they’re so used to only seeing them in grocery stores.
They will then realize that a whiz you are in the kitchen 
You’ll need: Baking Powder, Milk, Egg, Vanilla Flavoring, Butter Flavoring (or almond*), All purpose flour, softened butter, and sugar.
*A lot of spritz cookie recipes call for almond flavoring so if you like almond flavoring you should definitely add it. If you are like me and really and truly dislike almond flavored things, you should skip it and add butter flavoring or another that you like in it’s place. Big fan of almonds, but not a cheerleader for the flavoring.
P.S. Speaking of things I’m not a fan of. I ate a snail in the Dominican Republic last week. Considering I’ve eaten an almond flavored cookie before, it just seemed fair. Won’t be doing that again but I had the opportunity and took it. I figure folks who eat snails just must not be good hunters. If you’ve got to settle for the slowest moving creature ya know…
You’re also going to need a cookie press. There isn’t any way around this if you want to make Spritz cookies but I can tell you how to get one pretty cheap There are all types available in all price ranges. Personally, I would stay away from anything plastic. This one has plastic parts but the majority of it, the parts that take the pressure, are stainless and that makes it work really well. This one retails for about $25 but if you get it at Michael’s Arts and Crafts or Hobby Lobby, you can use a coupon for 40-50% off. Michael’s has their coupon available online to print or you can get it on their phone app. Hobby Lobby also has theirs available online and if you’re in the store and want to use it you can just pull up their webpage and show the cashier the coupon. I got this one at Hobby Lobby. So I used a coupon and paid a little over $12 for a new one.
I already own a cookie press of course, but I have no idea where it is. Why? Well you see, we moved a little over 3 years ago. You know how, when you move, there are always those few boxes that never get unpacked? Yup. They’re in our attic and my original cookie press along with my vintage Davy Crockett coffee mug are in those. ~sighs~ Maybe my old one will be discovered by archeologists someday. If I’m lucky, just for fun, it’ll be discovered by archeologists who make up their own history and end up in a museum somewhere, with a sign that says it was the original cookie press of Davy Crockett himself.
You’re also going to need colorful sprinkles and a funnel if you want to do a cute little technique I’m going to show you later. Funnel is optional, cute sprinkles are a must
Place softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl.
And beat the mess out of it until it’s well blended and fluffy.
Add in egg, milk, and flavorings and beat again until well mixed.
Then add in flour and baking powder.
I sometimes add 1/4 teaspoon salt here as well. The original recipes don’t call for it but I find that little bit helps. It’s up to you. I add it when I think about it and don’t when I forget.
Mix that really well and you have your cookie dough!
Fill your cookie press (it will come with instructions to show you how) and fit it with your first shape stencil.
Press out until your cookie sheet is filled.
This one just has a trigger grip. I squeeze and one cookie comes out. Move it to another spot, squeeze, move it to another spot, squeeze….
It’s a pretty fast process.
Decorate cookies with colorful sprinkles before baking.
Oh and here is what I used that funnel for.
I made these little flowers and sprinkled them with yellow sugars first. Then…
I gently placed a funnel on top of the centers and poured in red sprinkles.
When you lift up the funnel it looks like this. It is a cute touch but only took a second or two for each one.
Low Maintenance but beautiful cookies!
Because not once have I ever looked at a recipe and said “Ya know, it looks good and all that, but I just wish it were more complicated!”
Enjoy your beautiful cookies!
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 + 1/2 cups softened butter (softened at room temp)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon butter flavoring (or other flavoring of your choice. Almond or Lemon would be nice)
Instructions
- In mixing bowl, place butter and sugar and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg, milk, and flavorings and beat again until well combined. Add in flour and baking powder and beat once more until a good dough is formed (will only take a minute or so), scraping down sides as needed.
- Place dough in cookie press and add a stencil to the bottom according to cookie press directions. Pipe out onto ungreased cookie sheets and sprinkle with colored sugars. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until just lightly browned around the edges. Repeat until all dough is used.
Print This Recipe
Don’t Forget The Apples…
Last week in the Dominican Republic I was at a school and the Spanish speaking team put on a skit about the true meaning if Christmas. A translator stood behind me quietly interpreting all they said. “What do you most look forward to at Christmas?” “The apples! The apples!” Some children shouted back.
The interpreter felt the need to explain so he told me that at Christmastime there is always enough food so children really look forward to eating because they know there will be enough for everyone.
Instead of fretting over lists and wrapping gifts, for them Christmas is about having enough, and the joy of knowing that.
I thought of our kids and folks in the US and how commercialized it has become. We aren’t bad people for wanting things. The sadness is when we look forward to the things so much that we don’t appreciate the spirit and experience of Christmas, not to mention the true meaning of unconditional and sacrificial love for each of one of us.
As I look down my list of gifts now though, I see those eyes of children light up when asked what their favorite thing about Christmas is and my heart says “The apples. Don’t forget the apples.”
Take joy in having enough today.
Don’t forget the apples.
Gratefully,
Christy
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Posted by Christy Jordan
on Dec 10 2012. Filed under Cookies, Dessert.
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I just found my Wilton Bite Size Cookie Press, I don’t even think they make them any more. I found two of them!!! Now to make the cookies.
Thanks for the recipe!!!!
Our local Aldi store had these cookie presses for $9!! Picked one up. Now to make the cookies!
My family has used this recipe and press for years. I have I think 3 at this time. My grandma’s , my mom’s, and the one I got for myself when I moved out on my own (It’s a mini press). The first two have the twist tops and take a little practice to get the shapes to come out right. Also, my dad also loved almonds but not the almond flavor and I seem to take after him. I haven’t made in in the last few years, both parents have passed and not in the mood. I think I may give it a try this year. The mini press is great because you can just pop a cookie in your mouth.
Ok lesson just learned. I made the dough and one batch of cookies and had to run to the store. So I put the dough in the fridge. When I returned and started baking again the dough wouldn’t stick to the pan to make the shape of the cookie. So cold is not good. It needs to be a bit warm and soft.
Yup. Room temp is perfect. Next time I’d just cover your bowl with foil if you’ll be right back or allow to come to room temp if gone for a while.
Those children’s comments really got me. I have pared down our gift list as I’ve been thinking about all the folks out of work, those who have lost their homes to “sandy” and decided we were going to be thankful for alot less this year. i think it’s going to be our best Christmas yet…
Christy – Your website is a delight and I have really enjoyed making some of your recipes from your cookbook. It was given to me as a present and I love it!!!! I have a question – do you use unsalted or salted butter in this recipe? Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas!
I use whatever I have on hand but if I were to buy butter just for this recipe I would use unsalted.
Hi Christy
Love your website. Where did you get the sugar & flour cannisters? My kitchen is decorated in red and these would look great in it. Thanks.
Hi Maryann! I actually made the canisters. You can learn more about them here: http://www.southernplate.com/2010/08/christys-qa-with-you.html
I gotta tell you … this is the BEST recipe I’ve ever used for these ‘fancy’ cookies – thank you so much for posting it the other day. I’ve made THREE batches since then. Seriously. We’ve got cookies stacked all over the kitchen and dining room, waiting to be packed in the gift box to which they’re assigned. (Not JUST the spritz cookies, of course, but they’re a mighty big portion of cookies for such little bitty bites of yumminess.) Thank you again!
Hey Christy! I make spritz every year for my son but last year I couldn’t find my recipe~ its made with powered sugar instead of granulated. Justin said the granulated onces just weren’t “right” to him. Any idea if I could just substitute in your recipe and or would I have to change or add anything? Thanks!
Btw,
Oops
Btw, LOVE the funnel hint!!
Christy, I bought an old metal cookie press from Ebay last year & found a recipe that I thought was pretty good, although you had to refrigerate the dough in between batches. Well, let me tell you, when I saw your recipe posted I tried it. This is the best recipe I have found for Spritz cookies! I didn’t have to refrigerate the dough, it held together beautifully. And–the cookies taste good too. I have tried many recipes over the past but this is definitely my go to one from now on in making Spritz cookies. Bless you my child. Thanks for posting it. Merry Christmas!
thanks to your tip, I purchased the same cookie press at Michael’s yesterday with a coupon, and made these cookies last night. I was amazed at how many cookies this recipe made….and they are soooo yummy! Merry Christmas to you Christy—thank you for all of your wonderful posts!
I tried to make these the other night. I halved the recipe and had trouble with it. At first the dough seemed a bit sticky but we tried it in the press anyway. They didn’t look pretty on top, they “pulled” when detaching from the press and had peaks on top. So i added more flour to my remaining dough, and that dough wouldn’t stick to the pan or detach from the press. So it all went in the trash. I guess I’ll make the whole recipe next time.
Just tried making them again. The first round worked but when I got those out of the oven and tried pressing more, they wouldn’t stick to the pan. Even tried a new pan and putting the dough in the fridge for 5 mins. Neither worked, so I ended up rolling balls and flattening them. Any ideas why I can’t get this to work??
Usually when I can’t get them to stick I just need to click my cookie press one extra time and it works. It may be a cookie press issue so try to press as if you’re pressing two cookies for one then release completely before lifting your press from the pan.
Danielle,
I have found that if you wash the cookie pan in between batches it works better. I think the sprinkles and decorations left from the previous batch keep them from sticking. Also, I found that keeping the dough at room temperature works best. I just leave the bowl and the cookie press out on the counter while the cookies are baking. My daughter and I have made 3 batches for friends, co-workers and family. Hope this helps…
I am SO glad I read this! I was in need ot a good cookie press after my Swedish cookie press bit the dust! Just starting to make my Spritz cookies now!!!
(Hmmm.. I wonder if I have fun sprinkles for mine…?)
I hope you enjoy the recipe Catherine and the cookie press!!
Thank you so much for this recipe. Found this recipe in a magazine over 40 years ago. I think it was Lady’s Home Journal. Well I lost it. Knew it had 2 tablespoons of milk but I forgot about the baking powder. I can’t wait to make these cookies next Christmas. Thank you again.
I hope you enjoy Jane!!!
Our recipe is very similar except we use pure almond extract instead of the butter flavoring. We like to bake the cookies for the shorter side of 9 minutes to ensure softness. Christy, was this a family recipe or one you found/created?