Spritz Cookie Recipe
A Spritz Cookie Recipe can be used to make festive, buttery cookies that everyone loves! With loads of cookie press disks from which to choose, color, and sprinkle options, they can be tailored for any holiday or event!
These rich Buttery Spritz Cookies are easy to make once you learn a few tricks about how to make the dough and use the cookie press.
Why You’ll Love Spritz Cookies
- The batter is super easy to make and with my tips, you’ll be able to make spritz cookies for any occasion!
- Adding gel food coloring is a simple way to jazz them up! Plus there are scads of discs that come with your cookie press to make flowers, Christmas trees, wreaths, snowflakes, etc.
- These are perfect for those with picky palates—the sweet buttery flavor is enhanced with vanilla extract and a smidgen of almond extract.
My dear mother-in-law gave me a cookie press many moons ago. She was a kind and thoughtful gift giver and she knew I loved kitchen gadgets. But this is one gadget that is lost somewhere in my house. Probably deep in one of my pantries. Which is just one of the reasons I was delighted to partner with OXO again this year for their #OXOGoodCookies campaign. OXO has been my go-to brand for quality kitchen tools for years.
Bill, AKA the picky hubby, raved, and I mean raved about these vanilla spritz cookies. I think I’ve finally found the perfect spritz recipe, rich, buttery and so easy to pop a dozen in your mouth in record time!
Tips for Making the Best Spritz Cookie Recipe
- Start with a good, tried and true recipe that uses butter, real vanilla extract, etc.
- Remember that the dough must be soft and tacky for it to stick to the baking sheet, meaning at room temperature.
- Have your butter and egg at room temperature for the best incorporation into the dough, and so they don’t cool down the dough.
- Have your cookie sheet cold which will help the room temperature dough stick.
- Use smooth, metal cookie sheets. OXO makes a metal textured cookie sheet that works well, too.
- Do not grease or place a parchment sheet on your baking sheet. The dough needs to go directly on the baking sheet.
- When you make the dough, make sure to cream the butter and sugar well. It will be easiest to do in a stand mixer since you’ll be beating for 3-4 minutes.
- Use gel food coloring, not liquid as this recipe was not calibrated for any extra liquid in the dough. Plus, gel food coloring will be more vibrant.
- Use a toothpick to add gel coloring to the dough. Add, then mix in and repeat until you get the depth of color desired.
- If you don’t plan to glaze your cookies after baking, apply any sprinkles before baking as they won’t stick to the baked cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
The word spritz comes from the German word, Spritzen, which means to squirt. You are essentially squirting the dough through the cookie press when making spritz cookies.
Color your dough with gel food coloring instead of liquid food coloring. The color will be deeper and the gel will not water down the cookie dough which can affect how the cookies look when pressed and how they bake. Also, you may also decorate the cookies before baking with sprinkles or colored.
Remove the bottom ring from your cookie press and insert your desired cookie disk and reattach the ring to the barrel of the gun.
Pull up the plunger, then remove the top of the cookie press so you can fill the barrel with cookie dough.
Load the cookie dough into the barrel and reattach the top of the cookie press.
Press down on the lever until the dough is visible coming out of the disk. Remove excess dough so that there is none on the exterior of the disk.
Hold the cookie press flat against the cold baking sheet. Press on the lever to release the first cookie (which usually is a bit misshapen. Just save that dough to reuse).
Continue pressing out cookies until your cookie sheet is filled.
Note: Spritz cookies don’t spread much so they can be placed close to each other on the baking sheet.
There are a few reasons. The dough must be warm enough that it’s tacky/sticky so it will stick to the cookie sheet. A cold cookie sheet will adhere to the room temperature dough best, so pop a couple in the freezer while you’re making the dough.
Yes, they freeze well for up to 3 months. Cool completely and store in an airtight container or a freezer-safe Ziploc bag with any excess air removed.
Yes, you can always use a piping bag and tip to make stars or wreath shapes.
You May Also Like
- Cranberry White Chocolate Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
- Linzer Cookie Recipe
- Chewy Butterscotch Cookies
- How to Freeze Cookie Dough
- More of my Best Cookie Recipes
Best Spritz Cookie Recipe
Classic spritz cookies that can be jazzed up for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Gel food coloring, optional
- Sprinkles and colored sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place one or two smooth metal baking sheets in the freezer.
- With the whisk attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, scraping the inside of the bowl as needed, for about 4 minutes.
- Add the egg and mix until incorporated.
- Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts.
- Replace the whisk attachment with the paddle attachment (or use a wooden spoon)
- Mix in the salt, then the flour with the paddle attachment, just until combined (do not overmix).
- If using gel food coloring, divide the dough into separate bowls, one for each color. Use a toothpick to remove some of the gel coloring and add it to one of the bowls of dough. Mix to incorporate, adding more food coloring as needed to reach the desired color. Repeat with the rest of your dough.
- Fill your cookie press and pipe cookies about 1 ½ inches apart.
- Wipe out your press and repeat if using more than one colored dough.
- Decorate with sprinkles or sugars if desired.
- Bake for 5-8 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing to cooling rack.
Notes
Use gel food coloring, not liquid.
Decorate before baking.
Do not chill the dough.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
64Serving Size:
3 cookiesAmount Per Serving: Calories: 113Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 72mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 0gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g
25 Comments on “Spritz Cookie Recipe”
Spritz cookies are so European, my dear Mom made them frequently. She bought me my cookie press but when we renovated the kitchen, 15 years ago, I donated it because I hadn’t used it in ages! I’ve probably stood in front of a cookie press in a store at least 15 times, thinking about rebuying it!
very pretty cookies I guess great minds think alike I just made some and now I wished I saw this recipe first these are beautiful I didn’t tint mine. Great job Liz love them.
You always give the most detailed posts when it comes to techniques and they are much appreciated.
You know I love me some spritz!!! And may just have a new Easter one coming up:@) Your cookies are very pretty and colorful!
These turned out amazing and made our cookie platter so beautiful.
I made these with the hooligans and they absolutely loved them. So fun to make!
My kids finished a whole batch in minutes! I will definitely make it again!
Spritz cookies are the easiest cookies to make and are so good. Many years ago my husband gave me an electric cookie press and I got lots of use from it. Since then I’ve tried a few off brands to no avail. Looks like it’s time to get OXO’s cookie press so I can make these beauties. Thanks for baking for such a worthy cause.
Spritz cookies are just filled with buttery deliciousness. I have saw our spritz cookie devices when I was packing but now need to find out what box it might be in. Kitchen chaos! LOL
So pretty, love the spritz shapes!
That is a great cause for XOX to involved with. Our son Jon was 6 years old when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was one of the hardest times in our lives.
My mom made these cookies when I was a kid. They were always one of my favorites.
Your post reminds me that a cousin brought me one from her holiday to US. I don’t know if it is the same company but I need to give it a try.
Just printed.
These, my dear, are like tasting my childhood))!!
thank you. x
My Mom got given a cookie press many moons ago and none of us used it, but now that I’m seeing these gorgeous little morsels I think I’m going to see if I can find it. Funny how we have to see something before inspiration hits to make it (well, maybe that’s just me!!!) Would love to try this recipe.
That’s so great that OXO does that for Kids with Cancer. I have taught groups of children at the Ronald McDonald House how to make gingerbread houses during the holidays and was an emotional wreck afterwards. While my heart is in it to help I realize I need to do it more at a distance because I’m instantly attached and heartbroken for these children.
It’s nice to know you can help make a difference in a child’s life.
What a fun set of tools OXO donated to you. Your cookies look marvelous and I’m sure quite tasty.
Nice post!
Dear Lizzy, Such a pretty and tasty cookie. It is actually cool enough here to enjoy a good cookie with a cup of tea. Have a wonderful long weekend. xoxo Catherine
My cookie press is ancient; it belonged to my grandma. I’ll have to check out the OXO press–especially now that I know they’re involved in such an important cause. Your spritz are just beautiful!
Inused to have a cookie spritz but due to a lack of use, gave it away! Now, i yearn to have it back, but that OXO ine looks like a Mercedes model compared to my metal one! What a great product.
Spritz cookies were my mother’s favorites and she made some good ones! Love these Liz!
These are just so adorable and love the colored sprinkles. I had one from my grandmother too, all ,metal, was a pain to use. The OXO looks so much easier. And great for there strong support.
Love your Classic Vanilla Spritz Cookies! I grew up thinking that Spritz Cookies were for Christmas only – you make me crave that delicious buttery crispness with an afternoon tea. I like how yours are decorated in pastels. Not just for Christmas!
I have tried so many times with my electric spritz cookie maker and have had no luck .. I going to try your recipe. Mine always sticks and I end up making round cookie balls yours are perfect Liz!
I worked in a restaurant kitchen one summer in college and they had a huge bin of spritz cookies. I ate my weight in them that summer and have loved them ever since. Your cookies look like the ones I fell in love with!
Classic, cute and delicious!!
Love
o how pretty are they! Good kitchen gadgets make life so much easier :-))