Spritz Cookies are the ultimate classic holiday cookie — buttery, tender, and beautifully shaped, with a delicate crunch and a sweet, almond-kissed flavor that makes them impossible to resist. This recipe is a celebration of traditional cookie-press baking, where a simple, rich dough is piped into festive shapes and baked until golden, then decorated with chocolate, sprinkles, or sanding sugar for a picture-perfect treat. The magic begins with creaming the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, then adding the egg, vanilla, almond extract, and salt. Flour is mixed in just until incorporated, creating a soft, pliable dough that’s perfect for pressing. The dough is loaded into a cookie press and piped onto a cool baking sheet in whatever shapes you like — wreaths, trees, stars, or classic swirls.
The brilliance of these cookies lies in their versatility and the way they hold their shape beautifully in the oven. They’re perfect for holiday cookie platters, homemade gifts, or a fun baking activity with family. Whether you decorate them with melted chocolate, colorful sprinkles, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar, these Spritz Cookies are guaranteed to be a hit.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Buttery, tender, and delicious — the perfect classic cookie texture.
- Beautiful shapes — the cookie press makes stunning, uniform cookies.
- Almond-kissed flavor — a subtle, sweet almond note in every bite.
- Fun to decorate — chocolate, sprinkles, or sanding sugar make them festive.
- Perfect for the holidays — a timeless cookie for gifting and sharing.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1⅔ cups powdered sugar
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- Optional: chocolate chips, melted chocolate, sprinkles, sanding sugar, or nonpareils for decorating
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the oven rack in the center of the oven.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Add the egg, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt, mixing just until combined.
Step 4: Add Flour
Turn the mixer to low and add the flour, mixing just until incorporated.
Step 5: Press the Cookies
Fill the cookie press and press the cookies onto a cool baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
Step 6: Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for about 6 minutes, or until golden brown. Let the cookies cool for 3-4 minutes before moving them to a wire rack.
Step 7: Decorate
Wait for the cookies to fully cool before dunking or drizzling them with chocolate or powdered sugar glaze. Decorate with sprinkles, sanding sugar, or nonpareils immediately after. If you want to decorate without dunking or drizzling, simply speckle with sprinkles, sanding sugar, or nonpareils before placing them in the oven to bake.
TIPS
- Use a cool baking sheet — a warm pan can cause the dough to spread.
- Don’t overmix — mix just until the flour is incorporated to keep the cookies tender.
- Chill the dough if needed — if the dough is too soft to press, chill it for 15-20 minutes.
- Decorate before or after baking — sprinkles can be added before baking, while chocolate and glaze go on after cooling.
- Store properly — keep the cookies in an airtight container to maintain their crispness.
STORAGE OPTIONS
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Freezer: These cookies freeze well for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Spritz Cookies are a buttery, tender, and utterly delicious classic that’s perfect for any occasion. With their beautiful shapes and sweet almond flavor, they’re a cookie that everyone will love. Enjoy!
