Spritz Cookie Recipe (2024)

This Spritz Cookie Recipe gives you rich, buttery cookies made with a cookie press for a decorative design. And, you can add colors and sprinkles to dress them up even more, just like my Butter Cookies! Be sure to also check out more of my cookie recipes.

Spritz Cookie Recipe (1)

Spritz Cookie Recipe

Spritz cookies are cookies that fall somewhere between sugar cookies and shortbread. They are made with a cookie press, which lets you make cute designs and shapes. They are perfect for any sort of celebration since they are so customizable for any occasion.

Spritz Cookie Recipe (2)

Cookies Ingredients

Butter: It is important that the unsalted butter is softened to about 65°F. If you need to soften it in a hurry, cut it into pieces. This will take about 15 minutes. Softened butter allows it to be creamed properly.

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Almond Extract: Almond extract gives spritz cookies their unique flavor. And, don’t worry about using imitation almond extract if you have a nut allergy; no nuts are in it.

Flour: When adding the all-purpose flour, fold it in by hand just until mixed. This will keep the gluten from being overdeveloped.

Decorative Options: To add some color to the cookies, add gel food coloring. (Liquid food coloring can affect the texture of the dough.) Feel free to add sprinkles or cookie decorating sugar, too.

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What is a Spritz Cookie?

Spritz cookies, or Spritzgebäck, are buttery cookies that are sometimes called butter spritz or pressed butter cookies. They are simple to make with just a few ingredients and a cookie press. But, I will also let you know how to make the cookies without a cookie press.

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Best Pan for Spritz Cookies

Use an unlined, light-colored sheet pan for the best results when making the cookies. (If using a darker colored pan, decrease the baking time by a minute or two.) In addition, place the pans in the refrigerator to chill as you make the dough. The room temperature dough will stick to the cold cookie sheet much better.

I don’t recommend silicone or parchment paper for this recipe. If you use them, the dough will spread, which will affect the perfectly shaped cookies.

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Can I Make these Cookies Without a Cookie Press?

Yes! A cookie press is a device used to make pressed cookies. However, if you don’t have one, you can still make these cookies. Use a piping bag fitted with a star tip (or your decorating tip of choice) and pipe the dough onto the baking sheets.

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How to Freeze Spritz Cookies

To freeze the baked cookies, first, let them cool completely. Next, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and transfer them to the freezer for an hour or so. Once frozen, store the cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to a month. Let them thaw are room temperature before enjoying.

Spritz Cookie Recipe (8)

Spritz Cookie Recipe

This Spritz Cookie Recipe gives you rich, buttery cookies made with a cookie press for a decorative design.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 ¼ cups (281 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • gel food coloring, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place two large light-colored baking sheets in the refrigerator to chill as you make the cookie dough.

  • In a large mixing bowl add butter and sugar. Use a hand mixer to cream together until creamy (about 5 minutes).

  • Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix in until well combined.

  • Add the flour and salt. Mix the dough until just combined. (Do not overmix.)

  • If using food coloring, gently fold a few drops of the food coloring into the dough.

Directions for Cookie Press

  • Add the dough to the cookie press with your desired shape, filling it with as much dough as it will hold. To start the press, double-press the first cookie so that there is some dough still sticking out of the press. Then, continue to press out the cookies onto the chilled baking sheets.

Directions for No Cookie Press

  • If you don’t have a press, you can pipe the spritz cookies. Add a decorating tip of choice to a heavy-duty pastry bag and fill the bag with the dough. Before piping, make sure to remove any pockets of air in the dough. Pipe dough onto the baking sheets.

  • If using decorations like sprinkles or decorating sugar, add as desired.

  • Bake 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are set, but not browned.

  • Let the cookies cool slightly (5-10 minutes) before removing them from the pan to continue cooling on a wire rack or parchment paper.

  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 38kcal

Course: Dessert

Keyword: Spritz Cookie Recipe

Servings: 95 cookies

Calories: 38

Author: Amanda Rettke–iambaker.net

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Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.

Categorized in: Cookies, Dessert

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion – With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Spritz Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a spritz cookie and a butter cookie? ›

What is the difference between spritz and butter cookies? These cookies are nearly identical, except for one ingredient: egg. Egg makes the Spritz cookie dough a bit easier to work with, but it also helps the cookies keep their shape when baked.

What is the trick to using a cookie press? ›

Here are some tips whether you're using a manual or electric cookie press.
  1. Allow sufficient time. ...
  2. Use only cookie press recipes. ...
  3. Don't grease your cookie sheet. ...
  4. Remove air from the press. ...
  5. Hold the press flat on the baking sheet. ...
  6. Don't overload the cookies. ...
  7. Practice. ...
  8. Pause before lifting.
Oct 30, 2019

What is a spritz cookie made of? ›

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon. Stir in flour, salt, egg, almond extract and a few drops of food color. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet.

Should you use parchment paper when baking Spritz cookies? ›

No do not use parchment paper and do not grease the cookie sheet either. Spritz are butter cookies so they need something grippy to grip onto. And since there is so much butter in the recipe they come off the cookie sheet very easily.

What is the best cookie sheet for spritz cookies? ›

Insulated Cookie Sheets

Pros: Cookie sheets are insulated to prevent the bottoms of the cookies from browning too much or too quickly and are ideal for when you're baking thin or delicate cookies, or treats should be lightly colored, such as spritz cookies and shortbread.

Why do my spritz cookies taste like flour? ›

Generally that floury taste can be attributed to several things. Too much flour, bad recipe, improper mixing or underbaking, but the most common culprit is too much flour. Too much flour is most usually caused by scooping with the measuring cup and is probably the most common kitchen mistake made today.

Why won t my spritz cookies come out of the press? ›

Place it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 minutes and try again. Butter is highly recommended when making Spritz cookie dough. If margarine or solid vegetable shortening is used, the dough may turn out too soft to release from the press.

Can I use premade cookie dough in a cookie press? ›

Loading the Cookie Press

To save time, buy premade cookie dough that comes in a log shape. Avoid using cookie dough that has big pieces like chocolate chips or nuts in it.

Why won't my Spritz cookie dough stick to the pan? ›

Make sure your egg is at room temperature. DO NOT refrigerate the dough before pressing. Make sure the dough is warm, not cold. If it's not tacky, it will not stick to the pan.

Is there a trick to making spritz cookies? ›

Helpful Hints and Tips for Perfect Spritz Cookies:

Do not chill the dough before using. The dough should be at room temperature so it can be piped through the press. If your cookies start to spread or your kitchen is warm, try chilling the pans in the refrigerator for a few minutes before piping the cookies on the pan.

Why are my spritz cookies tough? ›

Simply adding the flour to the stand mixer and beating it in runs the risk of overdeveloping gluten and giving you a tough or dense cookie (not what you want after all that work with the creaming). Instead, the best method is to add the flour and mix it in by hand, stopping as soon as no dry flour remains.

Why are my spritz cookies hard? ›

*If your dough feels too stiff and like it would be difficult to press, add vanilla extract or water (a teaspoon at a time) until you achieve a soft, workable dough. *If your cookies are not sticking to the cookie sheet well, try refrigerating the pans for 10 to 15 minutes to chill them.

Why are my spritz cookies going flat? ›

Kitchens tend to heat up during any baking extravaganza, meaning the butter you leave on the counter to soften might get too soft. If this happens, the butter will melt faster in the oven and your cookies will flatten before they can set. Thirty minutes is usually enough counter time to soften butter.

Why did my spritz cookies spread in the oven? ›

Warm Cookie Sheets

If you're batch baking your cookies, make sure you're placing cookie dough on cooled cookie sheets. If the cookie sheets are too warm, they can cause the cookies to spread.

How do you keep spritz cookies from spreading? ›

1) Don't grease your baking pan — line it instead

“For the best results, choose a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to line your pan,” Dawn recommends. “Simply greasing your pan — basically adding fat to it — will encourage your cookies to spread.” (Check out our side-by-side test baking to see for yourself.)

Why is it called a spritz cookie? ›

The name spritz comes from the German word spritzen, meaning "to squirt" because the soft dough is squirted or pushed through a cookie press to make fancy designs. Butter is responsible for the tender, rich texture and flavor of these incredible cookies.

What is the difference between spritz cookies and shortbread cookies? ›

Spritz cookies have one additional ingredient that shortbread cookies are missing: egg. Adding egg yolk to the dough makes it a bit easier to work with and helps the the cookies hold their cute shapes.

What is the difference between sugar cookies and spritz cookies? ›

Mainly texture. Sugar cookie dough is firm enough to be rolled out and cut. Spritz dough has to be soft enough to extrude through a press.

Why are they called butter cookies? ›

Butter cookies, also known as Danish butter cookies, are cookies originating in Denmark consisting of butter, flour, and sugar. They are similar to shortbread cookies. The butter cookie is often categorized as a "crisp cookie" due to its texture, caused in part by the quantity of butter and sugar.

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