Spritz Cookies Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect buttery, crisp, and oh-so-pretty holiday treat, you’re going to love this Spritz Cookies Recipe. These little beauties are a staple in my kitchen every festive season — they’re quick to whip up, endlessly customizable, and just the right balance of tender and crunchy. Plus, they come out looking fancy with beautiful shapes, even if you’re a cookie press newbie. Stick with me, and I’ll share everything you need to know to nail this recipe every single time.

this …

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Spritz Cookies Recipe relies on simple, classic ingredients — but each one plays its part to create that iconic crisp edge with a tender center. Choosing quality butter and fresh extracts really makes the difference, and I’ll give you pro tips on each as we go.

• Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt in the recipe, and room temperature butter helps cream it smoothly with sugar for fluffier cookies.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and structure, while helping the dough hold together nicely when pressed.
• Egg: Acts as the binder and adds moisture without weighing down the dough.
• Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor base that enhances all other ingredients.
• Almond Extract: This little addition is a game-changer, adding a warm, nutty flavor that takes these cookies from simple to special.
• All-Purpose Flour: Spoon and level your flour to avoid dense cookies; the right amount keeps these spritz cookies light and delicate.
• Salt: Just a touch to balance sweetness and boost flavor.
• Optional Decorations: Gel food coloring, sprinkles, chocolate chips, or melted chocolate make these cookies festive and fun to customize.

Make It Your Way

One of the things I adore about this spritz cookies recipe is how easy it is to switch things up. Whether you want to make them festive with colors and sprinkles or try out a different extract, these cookies welcome creativity. The dough is forgiving, so have fun with it!

• Variation: I often swap almond extract for peppermint in December — it gives a refreshing twist that guests rave about. Once, I even added a bit of cinnamon for a cozy fall vibe, and it was just perfect.
• Food Coloring: Gel food coloring works best to tint the dough without changing its texture. I don’t add much; even one drop gives a nice soft shade.
• No Cookie Press? No worries! Grab a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe out the dough for similar shapes. Just add a splash of milk if the dough feels too stiff to pipe.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Spritz Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Chill Your Baking Sheets

I always line my baking sheets with silicone mats because parchment paper just doesn’t cut it with this dough. Here’s a little trick I learned after a few failed batches: while your oven heats to 350°F (177°C), pop those lined sheets in the fridge or freezer if you have space. Your dough presses out cleaner and sticks less when you work on a chilled surface — it’s a total game-changer for perfect shapes.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

Start by beating softened butter and sugar together on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. I often stop and scrape the bowl to avoid any clumps. The texture here is crucial — too few beats, and the cookies might turn out dense; overdo it, and you could risk the dough getting too warm.

Step 3: Add the Flavors and Dry Ingredients

Beat in the egg along with vanilla and almond extracts until the mixture is well combined. Then, switch to low speed and add the flour and salt gradually. Once incorporated, crank the mixer back up to high just long enough to get a smooth dough with no streaks of flour. Don’t overmix — just enough to bring it all together.

Step 4: Press Out Those Beautiful Cookies

Load your cookie press with dough according to the manufacturer’s instructions, pick your favorite decorative plate, and press perpendicular onto your chilled baking sheets. Space each cookie about 2 inches apart so they don’t merge while baking. If you want to sprinkle on decorations, lightly brush the shaped dough with water first; it really helps sprinkles stick better without falling off in the oven.

Step 5: Chill if Dough Gets Too Soft

Here’s a tip from my kitchen — if you find your dough warming up and becoming too soft to hold the shape as you work, pop the entire tray in the fridge for 10 minutes before baking. This pause lets everything firm up again so your spritz cookies bake into clean shapes.

Step 6: Bake to Light Golden Perfection

Bake the cookies for 7 to 9 minutes, just until the edges start to turn a very light golden brown. Keep an eye because they can go from perfect to overdone quickly! Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a rack. Sometimes, I’ll drizzle melted chocolate over the cooled cookies for an extra touch — just because I can.

How to Serve Spritz Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I love decorating these cookies with a sprinkle of colored sanding sugar or tiny nonpareils — it adds that festive sparkle without overpowering the delicate vanilla-almond flavor. For a grown-up twist, sometimes a drizzle of dark chocolate or a single chocolate chip pressed into the center of each cookie seals the deal.

Side Dishes

Spritz cookies pair beautifully with a steaming cup of chai or a classic mug of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream. They’re also perfect alongside a cheese board, adding a touch of sweetness to balance out salty and savory bites during a holiday gathering.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like to arrange my spritz cookies on a vintage tiered cake stand with clusters of fresh holly or rosemary sprigs for a rustic-chic vibe. Another favorite is packaging them in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons — they make perfect gifts that look homemade and heartfelt.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once baked and fully cooled, I store my spritz cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, where they stay fresh and crisp for up to a week. Be sure to separate layers with parchment paper if you’re stacking so they don’t stick together.

Freezing

You can freeze baked spritz cookies for up to three months by wrapping them well in plastic wrap and placing them inside a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. I recommend thawing them at room temp for an hour before serving — they taste just as fresh as the day they were baked.

Reheating

If your cookies soften a bit after storage, a quick 3-4 minute warm-up in a 325°F (160°C) oven does wonders to restore that fresh-baked snap. Just keep an eye so they don’t get too brown.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Spritz Cookies Recipe is one of those classics I return to year after year because it just works — and it feels like sharing a little tradition with those you love. The buttery flavor, the delicate crisp edges, and the chance to decorate them however you like make them a standout in my cookie jar. I hope you enjoy making (and eating) these as much as I do. Trust me, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be baking batches for every celebration on your calendar.

Print