WHAT’S FOR A SWEET DESSERT?
Spritz Butter Cookies
Array/5
COOK TIME
7-8 min
TOTAL TIME
18 min
SERVINGS
16-24 cookies
These festive Spritz Butter Cookies are a holiday tradition that’s close to my heart, bringing back childhood memories of baking alongside my mom every Christmas. Their buttery texture, bright colors, and fun shapes make them as much fun to create as they are to eat. Grab some sprinkles and make sweet memories of your own!
Every time I make these butter Spritz cookies, I’m transported right back to my childhood. I can still picture myself sitting on the counter with my mom, carefully choosing the perfect sprinkle for each colorful buttery cookie. The “gun” that created those fun shapes was my favorite part, and the joy of baking together made those moments unforgettable. These cookies weren’t just a treat. They were the heart of our holiday traditions!
Now, I get to relive those sweet memories with my own daughter, and it’s just as magical. She’s more into enthusiastically dumping sprinkles than carefully picking them, but the joy is all the same. Watching her excitement reminds me of how special this simple tradition can be. These cookies are a little piece of holiday magic, and they’re easy to make!
What are Spritz Butter Cookies?
Spritz Butter Cookies have always been a holiday staple in my family. These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are made by pressing dough through a cookie press to create fun and festive shapes, stars, wreaths, trees, and more. The name comes from the German word spritzen, meaning “to squirt,” which perfectly describes how the dough transforms into those intricate designs. What I love most about these colorful butter cookies is how simple yet creative they are. A few basic ingredients come together to make a dough that you can color, shape, and decorate however you like!
A spritz cookie maker, also known as a cookie press, is a simple tool designed to create beautifully shaped cookies. It works by pressing the soft cookie dough through a patterned disc, forming intricate shapes like stars, wreaths, and trees directly onto your baking sheet. Most cookie presses come with a variety of interchangeable discs so that you can switch up your designs for different occasions. You can find spritz cookie makers at kitchenware stores or online at Amazon and specialty baking shops. This ONE is my favorite!
Why They Make The Best Christmas Cookies
They’re buttery and delicious. The melt-in-your-mouth texture and light sweetness make them a standout on any holiday cookie tray.
Customizable. Add your favorite food coloring and sprinkles to match your holiday vibe, from classic red and green to pastels.
Quick and easy to make. With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, these cookies are perfect for last-minute baking or fun with the kids.
Perfect for creating holiday traditions. Making these cookies is a hands-on, creative activity that’s ideal for bonding with family and making sweet memories.
They look impressive with minimal effort. Thanks to the cookie press, you’ll have beautifully shaped cookies that look like they came straight from a bakery.
Great for gifting and sharing. Pack them up in festive tins or boxes for a homemade holiday gift.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Butter – Gives them their rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture, so make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing.
Sugar – Adds just the right amount of sweetness and helps create a light crispness when baked.
Egg yolks – These provide structure and richness, giving the cookies their tender crumb. Save the egg whites for another recipe or holiday treat.
Vanilla extract – Brings a warm, cozy flavor to the cookies that perfectly complements the buttery dough.
All-purpose flour – Binds everything together to form the soft, pliable dough that’s perfect for pressing into shapes.
Salt – A pinch of salt enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness and adding a little depth to the cookies.
Food coloring – Adds festive flair to the cookies. Gel food coloring works great for vibrant colors without thinning out the dough.
Sprinkles – The ultimate finishing touch for holiday magic! Choose your favorite shapes, colors, or even sanding sugar to make these cookies pop.
Step By Step Instructions
Cream the butter and sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1 cup of softened butter and ¾ cup of sugar together on medium-high speed. Mix until the mixture is light, creamy, and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
Incorporate the wet ingredients: Add three egg yolks and one teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Continue beating on medium speed for about 2 minutes until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and fully combined.
Add the dry ingredients: Gradually add 2 cups of all-purpose flour and ½ teaspoon of salt, one cup at a time, to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed after each addition to avoid overworking the dough. The final dough should be slightly thick and sticky, which is ideal for pressing into shapes.
Divide and color the dough: Divide the dough evenly into 3-4 small bowls. Add a few drops of your desired gel food coloring to each bowl and gently mix with a spatula until the colors are evenly distributed without overworking.
Shape the cookies: Fill your Spritz cookie maker with the prepared dough, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Choose your favorite holiday-themed discs, such as stars, wreaths, or trees, and press the dough directly onto an ungreased baking sheet. Leave enough space between each cookie for even baking.
Decorate before baking: Top each cookie with sprinkles of your choice. This step is best done before baking so the sprinkles adhere to the cookies during baking, creating a beautiful, festive finish.
Bake to and cool: Preheat your oven to 400°F and bake the cookies for about 7 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Keep an eye on them, as these delicate cookies bake quickly. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1-2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Making Without A Cookie Press
Option A: Piping with a pastry bag: You can use cake-decorating supplies to create unique shapes and designs. Fill a heavy-duty pastry bag fitted with a large, decorative piping tip (like a star or flower tip) with your prepared cookie dough. The dough may be a bit thick, so make sure to use a strong piping bag to avoid tearing. Pipe the dough directly onto an ungreased baking sheet, forming festive shapes like swirls, rosettes, or simple rounds. Once piped, add your favorite sprinkles and bake as directed.
Option B: Rolling and cutting: For a more traditional approach, roll out your dough and use cookie cutters to create shapes. Lightly flour a clean surface and roll the dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use holiday-themed cookie cutters to cut out your shapes, then carefully transfer them to a baking sheet. Decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar before baking.
Expert Tips
Use room-temperature butter for a smooth and creamy dough that mixes evenly and creates the perfect texture for shaping.
Work in small batches when coloring the dough to keep it from drying out as you mix in the food coloring.
Press the cookies directly onto the baking sheet. Parchment paper or silicone mats can make it harder for the dough to stick while shaping.
Keep the cookie press upright and apply steady, even pressure to form clean, consistent shapes with each press.
If the dough isn’t releasing easily from the press, check that it’s the right consistency; a slightly sticky dough works best for creating shapes.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a minute or two before transferring them to a wire rack to prevent breaking while they’re still warm.
Bake one test cookie first to check the oven temperature and timing, especially if it’s your first time using a cookie press.
Store leftover dough in the refrigerator between batches to keep it from softening too much and losing its shape when pressed.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Store the butter cookies in an airtight container, layering them between sheets of waxed or parchment paper to protect their shapes. Keep them at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate them for up to a week.
Freezing: Freeze baked cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet to harden, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag, layering with waxed paper. They can be frozen for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.
FAQ
What should I do if the dough is too thick to press through the cookie press?
If the dough feels too thick, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly.
Can I reuse the scraps of dough after rolling or pressing?
Yes, you can gather the scraps, reshape them into a ball, and reuse them. Just make sure not to overwork the dough, as this can make the cookies tougher.
How do I stop my cookies from spreading too much in the oven?
To prevent spreading, chill your shaped cookies on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes in the fridge before baking. This helps them keep their intricate shapes.
How can I avoid breaking the cookies when removing them from the baking sheet?
Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 1-2 minutes to firm up slightly before carefully transferring them to a wire rack with a spatula.
Should spritz cookies be decorated before or after baking?
You definitely want to add sprinkles before you bake these cookies. If you wait until after the cookies are baked before adding sprinkles, it will be a lot harder to get the sprinkles to stick to the surface of the cookies.
How do you get sprinkles to stick to butter cookies?Simply putting the sprinkles on before baking goes a long way toward helping sprinkles stick to Spritz cookies. But if you need a little more help getting your sprinkles to stick, you could try a light egg wash before applying the sprinkles. If all else fails, frosting can fix just about any sprinkle mishap.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
Print
Spritz Butter Cookies
Classic Christmas cookie and all the memories. Butter cookie topped with all the sprinkles and colors.
Ingredients
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, room temp
3/4 cup sugar
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
food coloring, colors of your choice
your favorite type of sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- In a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until creamy.
- Add the egg yolks and vanilla. Beat again for about 2 minutes on medium speed until fluffy.
- Add the salt and flour, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Dough will be slightly thick and sticky.
- Divide the dough into 3-4 parts and place in separate small bowls. Add a few drops of desired colors of food coloring into each part of dough, Mix with spatula until desired color.
- Use Spritz cookie maker as directed to make your holiday shapes onto your cookie sheet. Top with your favorite types of sprinkles Then bake at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes. Cool completely.
Notes
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2 Responses
Your colors are so pretty on your spritz. I’m going to make next year and try these pretty colors. FYI…..I love smart chicken.
Thank you! These are a definite favorite tradition every year and the colors are so fun. PS- SO happy to hear you love Smart Chicken too!!