Spritz cookies are tasty little cuties that remind me of holidays. They are like a sugar cookie and a shortbread had a baby and it came out all pretty and yummy. They add a touch of colour to any cookie tray and fill in the spots where you need a little bit of flavour and eye catching morsels to go with tea.
I bought my first spritz machine this year. I have to tell you...these things are so fun!! Okay, yes, I am a cookie dork, but these press machines can make the cutest little cookies! So much easier than rolling out sugar cookie dough, cutting out dough, baking and decorating with frosting etc. Spritz cookies...you load the machine with your dough and whichever design disc...click the button once and boom! You have a cookie on a sheet! Add a few sprinkles and into the oven for 6 or 7 minutes and you're done!
I recommend a non-stick cookie sheet with no parchment paper. This is the only cookie for which I recommend you not using parchment. The cookie just doesn't stick to the parchment when you click the button. But when you do it straight on to the cookie sheet, it adheres right away.
The cookies don't need a lot of space or chilling to make the magic happen either. You just preheat the oven to 400°F, make the dough, load the machine, press, decorate, and bake. They don't spread and no chilling is required.
I really hope you enjoy this recipe. I got it from my mom. We both enjoy a mix of vanilla and almond extract in the recipe, but you can make it with either or if you prefer a different flavour profile. You can also add a touch of food colouring at the end if you want to make red or green...or if you want to change things up and make them for other occasions.
Happy baking!
Ingredients
1 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 cups flour
(Loads my cookie press 4 times)
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F
Cream butter and sugar with paddle in stand mixer
Add the egg, salt and extracts
Slowly add in the flour
Load the press with a quarter of the dough per pan
Select which disc you want for the shape
Click according to the directions
Decorate with sprinkles etc
Bake for 6 to 9 minutes
Leave for a few minutes on the pan for a bit more colour
Cool and enjoy!