The BEST Spritz Cookie Recipe (2024)

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Shelly 85 Comments

★★★★★5 from 25 reviews

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Buttery and festive, these Spritz Cookies are ready in just 20 minutes with a handful of pantry staples. A nostalgic classic cookie that’s a must-bake for every holiday cookie tray.

The BEST Spritz Cookie Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Is The Best Spritz Cookie Recipe
  • What ARE Spritz Cookies?
  • Ingredients
  • Tools
  • How To Make Spritz Cookies
  • How Do I Get My Spritz Cookie Dough Not To Stick To the Cookie Press?
  • Spritz Cookie Variations
  • Proper Storage
  • More Christmas Cookie Ideas
  • Get the Recipe

Why This Is The Best Spritz Cookie Recipe

  • A classic Christmas cookie. Isn’t there just something so cozy and special about a classic spritz cookie? It’s a Christmas cookie tray staple.
  • Super easy to make. The cookie press makes these beautiful cookies super simple to make. The dough comes together with just a few pantry staples and they bake in just 7 minutes.
  • Store well. One reason I love spritz cookies so much is that they store well at room temperature and you can freeze them too. Perfect for making in advance of the holiday rush!

Looking for more Christmas cookie recipes? Check out my easy sugar cookies, perfect snickerdoodles, and linzer cookie recipes too.

What ARE Spritz Cookies?

You might even ask what IS a spritz cookie? The word “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. Long story short, it’s basically a pressed sugar cookie, a lot like shortbread cookies.

Ingredients

Here’s an overview of what you’ll need to make these spritz cookies. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.

  • Room temperature butter – I use salted, but this is a personal preference
  • Powdered sugar – Sweetens the cookies.
  • Large egg
  • Almond extract – You can also use vanilla extract if you prefer.
  • Kosher salt
  • All purpose flour
  • Milk – I use a little milk in the glaze to get that perfect consistency.
  • Sprinkles – To decorate if you want!
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Tools

  • Cookie Press. All cookie presses are not created equal. After testing many brands, this OXO press has been my tried and true since I found it in 2017. It is fairly inexpensive, very easy to use, comes with a disk for making any design you would like: wreaths, swirls, trees, flowers etc. Plus it comes with a container to keep them in. It’s sturdy and comfortable in your hand!
  • Parchment paper. I really like to use parchment with the majority of my cookie baking, and this spritz cookie recipe is no different.
  • Cookie sheet. A high quality baking sheet is nice to own in general, but I have this THIS COOKIE SHEET is really nice for these cookies that you don’t want to brown too fast.

How To Make Spritz Cookies

Here’s a quick overview of how to make this spritz cookie recipe. See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.

The BEST Spritz Cookie Recipe (3)
The BEST Spritz Cookie Recipe (4)
  • Make the dough. Mix the butter and powdered sugar with a paddle attachment on medium speed. Mix in the egg, extract, and salt. Turn the speed to low and mix in the flour.
  • Press the cookies. Transfer about a cup of dough at a time to the cookie press. Press cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake. Bake for 6-7 minutes, until lightly golden on the edges. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  • Make the icing. Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk. Dip the cops of the cookies into the glaze and top with sprinkles if desired. Allow to set completely before storing.

How Do I Get My Spritz Cookie Dough Not To Stick To the Cookie Press?

This is the most frequently asked question I get about spritz cookies. And to give you an honest answer…I kind of don’t.

This spritz cookie dough isn’t sticky and it does come out in beautiful shapes but it doesn’t come off the press every single time.

I have made peace with this. As I have tweaked the dough recipe, I have found that the drier you make the dough, the more crumbly the cookie. And with a crumbly cookie, you don’t always get a perfectly shaped cookie. It’s a fine line folks!

If the cookie dough sticks to the press when you lift it off the baking sheet, just gently remove it and place it back on the baking sheet. No stress!

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Spritz Cookie Variations

There are so many ways to customize your spritz cookies. Here are a few ideas.

  • Add some color. Feel free to add a few drops of food coloring to your spritz cookie dough. I like to do this around the holidays with red and green.
  • Add spices. Try adding a little cinnamon or pumpkin spice to your dough to make these unique!
  • Switch up the extract. I add almond extract, but like I said you can add vanilla, or how about coconut extract, rum extract, or even lemon extract or add flavor to the cookie or the icing.
  • Add a chocolate twist. Trymelted chocolateor white chocolate and dip the bottoms or sides of the cookies. You could even drizzle the chocolate on top for a pretty presentation.
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Proper Storage

  • Room temperature. Once the glaze has hardened, you can stack your spritz cookies in an airtight container. Store for up to 5 days at room temperature.
  • Freeze. You can also freeze these spritz cookies for up to a month. Just bake, let cool, and transfer to an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature and enjoy!

More Christmas Cookie Ideas

  • 3 Ingredient Shortbread
  • Double Chocolate Mocha Cookies
  • Salted Caramel Pinwheel Cookies

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    The BEST Spritz Cookie Recipe (7)

    Perfect Spritz Cookies

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 25 reviews

    • Author: Shelly
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 6 minutes
    • Total Time: 16 minutes
    • Yield: 72 cookies 1x
    • Category: Cookies
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Dessert

    Rate

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    Description

    Buttery and festive, these Spritz Cookies are ready in just 20 minutes with a handful of pantry staples. A nostalgic classic cookie that’s a must-bake for every holiday cookie tray.

    Ingredients

    Scale

    • 1 cupbutter, room temperature
    • 1 1/2 cupspowdered sugar
    • 1egg
    • 1 teaspoonalmond extract (or vanilla if you prefer)
    • 1/2 teaspoonkosher salt
    • 2 1/2 cupsall purpose flour

    Icing

    • 1 cuppowdered sugar
    • 1 tablespoonmilk
    • 1/4 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract, if desired
    • sprinkles to decorate

    Instructions

    1. Cookies: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paperand set aside.
    2. In the bowl of yourstand mixerfitted with thepaddle attachment, mix the butter and powdered sugar on medium speed for 1 minute, until combined.
    3. Add in the egg, almond extract, and salt and mix for an additional minute, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
    4. Turn the mixer to low and add in the flour, mixing until just incorporated.
    5. Place about 1 cup of dough (depending on the size of your press) into the cookie press. Press cookies onto the baking sheet using the press. Arrange the cookies about 1 inch apart and bake for 6-7 minutes or until lightly golden at the edges.
    6. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
    7. Icing: Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Dip the tops of each cookie into the glaze. Sprinkle if desired. Allow the cookies to set completely before storing.

    Notes

    • Store airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days for best freshness.
    • You can freeze these cookies in a large, zip-top bag for up to a month. I don’t recommend freezing them if you have used glaze, as they become sticky as the glaze thaws. Glaze them when they’re at room temperature and allow to set.
    • I like to use 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. The combination is subtle and my personal favorite!

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    FAQs

    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.

    What consistency should spritz cookie dough be? ›

    *Perfect spritz dough has a soft malleable texture that is not too sticky or stiff. Creamed butter and sugar is the foundation of great spritz cookies.

    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.

    Should spritz cookies be baked on parchment paper? ›

    Don't use parchment paper or non-stick cookie sheets for spritz cookies. This dough needs something it can stick to a little in order to come off the press. The cookies have so much butter in them, I've never had a problem with them sticking to a regular cookie sheet when they bake.

    How do you get spritz cookies to work? ›

    Tips To Make the Best Spritz Cookies
    1. Cream Butter and Sugar. Be sure you cream butter and sugar well...it might take longer than you think! ...
    2. Add Your Egg. Add your egg ONLY after butter and sugar is fully creamed together.
    3. Avoid Overworking. ...
    4. Press! ...
    5. Skip the Grease. ...
    6. Decorate. ...
    7. Bake.

    How do you keep Spritz cookies from spreading? ›

    Chilling cookie dough helps prevent spreading. The colder the dough, the less the cookies will over-spread into greasy puddles. You'll have thicker, sturdier, and more solid cookies. Whenever I make cookies, I plan ahead and chill the cookie dough overnight.

    Why are my Spritz cookies going flat? ›

    INGREDIENTS MEASURED INCORRECTLY

    Common measuring mistakes like using too little flour or too much sugar can lead to a flat cookie, so always use measuring cups and spoons when adding dry and wet ingredients to your dough. Also, take note of how your recipe tells you to measure.

    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.

    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.

    What do I do if my spritz cookie dough is too dry? ›

    If your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly, you can try adding more fat to it. This could mean adding more butter, shortening, or oil to the dough. If you're using a recipe that calls for melted butter, you could also try using cold butter and grating it into the dough.

    Why are my spritz cookies spreading? ›

    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.

    Can you use sugar cookie dough in cookie press? ›

    This is a Classic Christmas Spritz Cookies Recipe, meaning the sugar cookie dough is spritzed or squirted through a cookie press in different designs. Nothing says Christmas like these cute and classic sugar cookies.

    Why are my cutout cookies puffy? ›

    Q: Why are my cookies so puffy and cakey? Whipping too much air into the dough. That fluffy texture you want in a cake results from beating a lot of air into the room temperature butter and sugar, and it does the same for cookies. So don't overdo it when you're creaming together the butter and sugar.

    What is the easiest cookie press to use? ›

    Wilton Preferred Cookie Press

    It's so easy to use that even my kids can do it! This cookie press has a metal base and plastic tube, and it comes with 12 disc shapes, including popular forms like a Christmas tree, wreath, snowman, pumpkin, turkey, heart, and more.

    Are cookie presses worth it? ›

    You sent the invitations for the holiday cookie decorating party, and now you must bake hundreds of cookies. A cookie press can make that onerous job a little easier. Once filled with dough, cookies can be rapidly squeezed onto a prepared baking sheet rather than spooning or scooping each by hand.

    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.

    Do you press cookies before or after baking? ›

    Flatten your cookies with a spatula when they first come out of the oven for perfect cookies every time.

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