Spice Spritz Cookies Recipes

MY FAVORITE SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2 or 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• On low speed, beat in the flour and salt. Turn up to high speed and beat until completely combined.
• Follow cookie press manufacturer's directions to fit your cookie press with a decorative plate. Scrape some of the dough into your cookie press. Hold the cookie press perpendicular to the lined baking sheet and press out the cookies 2 inches (5 cm) apart. If desired, decorate the shaped cookie dough with sprinkles or press a chocolate chip into the center. Note: It's helpful to lightly brush the shaped cookie dough with water before adding sprinkles-this helps them stick.
• If the cookie dough becomes too soft as you work, chill the shaped cookie dough in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before baking.
• Bake until very lightly browned on the edges, 7-9 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, drizzle with melted chocolate.
• Cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

CLASSIC SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. 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. Decorate with currants.
• Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. To decorate cookies after baking, use a drop of corn syrup to attach decorations to cookies.

BEST SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Combine butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, mixing for about 15 seconds after each yolk. Add cream cheese and mix until well combined. Mix in nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt; beat until completely mixed. Add flour and stir just until incorporated.
• Fill a cookie press with dough and press out cookies, using your favorite shape, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

SPRITZ COOKIES WITH FOUR VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°.
• Combine all ingredients except flour in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour. Beat until well mixed. If dough is too soft, cover and refrigerate, 30 to 45 minutes.).
• Place dough into cookie press fitted with template. Form desired shapes 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
• Chocolate Chip Spritz: Add 1/4 cup coarsely grated semi-sweet chocolate to ingredients and proceed as directed above.
• Eggnog-Glazed Spritz: Add 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg to ingredients and proceed as directed above. Glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 tablespoons water and 1/4 teaspoon rum extract in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies.
• Spice Spritz: Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves to ingredients and proceed as directed above. Glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over warm cookies.
• Mint Kisses: Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract to ingredients and proceed as directed above. Immediately after removing cookies from oven, place 1 chocolate candy kiss on each cookie.

SPICE SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, egg, salt, spices and vanilla.
• Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, if necessary, until mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Add flour, beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well-mixed.
• If dough is too soft, cover and refrigerate until firm enough to form cookies, about 30-45 minutes.
• Place dough in cookie press, form shapes about 1 inch apart on cookie sheets, these cookies do not spread.
• Bake for 6-8 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
• For Glaze, in a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle or pipe over warm cookies.