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Spritz Cookies Recipe

Create a new holiday tradition with this classic Spritz Cookies Recipe. These buttery cookies can be easily dressed up with sprinkles or different colors of dough! 

I was provided with The Pampered Chef baking products to review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Spritz cookies lined up on a wire baking sheet

I love this time of year — the traditions, the lights and decorations, the spirit of the season… the cookies. Not necessarily in the order.  I love it even more now that I get to experience it with my kids and see this special time of year through their eyes. 

Some of my favorite memories of Christmas time as a child were baking in the kitchen with my mom.  She was always baking something; either for my dad to take with him to work or for our school parties.  (Back when you could bring your own goodies, before all of the sugar regulations we have now!)  My friends at school looked forward to her treats all year.

After my husband became a firefighter, my oldest daughter and I started a new tradition of baking cookies for the firefighters on shift in our neighborhood on Christmas Eve.  We spend the day baking together and package them up to deliver on our way to church that evening.  We make a new recipe every year, and I’ve already discovered the one we will make this year — this Spritz Cookies Recipe.

green and white Spritz cookies on a baking rack

Why Are They Called Spritz Cookies?

Spritz cookies are actually a type of German Christmas cookie made of flour, butter, sugar and eggs called Spritzgeback.  The word spritz originated from the German word, “spritzen,” which means “to squirt” in English.  These Classic Spritz Cookies are made by literally squirting the dough through a cookie press.

What’s Needed for Spritz Cookies? 

These Christmas spritz cookies come together with few ingredients: 

  • Butter
  • Granulated sugar
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour
  • Sprinkles (optional) 
  • Gel food coloring (optional) 

How to Make Spritz Cookies With a Press 

This Spritz Cookies Recipe was SO easy to make using The Pampered Chef’s Spritz Cookie Press.  I usually shy away from these types of cookies because I’ve always been disappointed with the cookie presses I’ve used in the past.

This cookie press rotates instead of the typical ratchet style, and it has a much wider barrel that lets you see exactly how much dough is left.  It comes with 9 metal disks with different designs for cookies, and 1 disk to rice potatoes.  It was so easy to fill, change out disks, and even easier to clean.

Here are the basic steps to making these butter spritz cookies: 

  1. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla. 
  2. Add the flour and mix just until combined. 
  3. Add the dough to the cookie press and press the dough onto a silicon baking mat. 
  4. Decorate cookies with sprinkles, if using. 
  5. Bake until done. 
butter spritz cookies shaped as white flowers and green trees

Can I Make Spritz Cookies Without a Press? 

If you don’t have a cookie press to make these Classic Spritz Cookies, you can use a pastry bag instead!  Just fill the pastry bag with the cookie dough and use a star tip to create a swirl design.  Get creative — you really can’t go wrong.  Just remember to keep an eye on them while baking as different sized cookies may take different amounts of time to bake.

Tips for Making Butter Spritz Cookies 

  • The butter needs to be softened to room temperature before being creamed together with the sugar. 
  • If you want to color the cookies, add the gel food coloring after the dough is combined, but be careful not to over-mix.
  • Note that the cookie dough will be quite soft once it’s mixed together. That’s what you want, so don’t refrigerate the dough. 

More Easy Cookie Recipes:

green and white Spritz cookies on a baking rack

Classic Spritz Cookies

3.96 from 43 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 32
Calories: 152kcal
Author: Emily Grace

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups butter , softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • colored sugar or sprinkles (optional)
  • gel food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter at medium speed until creamy.
  • Add egg and vanilla; beat well, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Add the flour and mix on low speed until just combined. (Dough will be soft, do not refrigerate!)
  • Fit the cookie press with desired disk and fill with dough.
  • Press dough onto cookie sheet lined with a silicon baking mat.
  • Decorate cookies with sugar or sprinkles as desired.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until very lightly golden brown.
  • Allow to cool for two minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
  • Repeat with remaining dough.

Notes

Add the gel food coloring after the dough is combined if you wish to add color, but be careful not to over-mix.

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 78mg | Potassium: 19mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.7mg
Did you make this recipe? Mention @GraceGoodEats or tag #graceandgoodeats!
Recipe Rating




Sujatha Yalamanchili

Wednesday 1st of September 2021

Has anyone tried substituting butter for shortening? I was thinking this would make a wonderful gift to the deployed soldiers but I am not sure if the cookies will be good in sitting in extreme warm temperatures and a long transit (as long as 2 months).

Lauren Nagel

Wednesday 18th of December 2019

These are so beautiful and classic! Perfect for the holiday cookie platter!

Caroline

Tuesday 12th of December 2017

Thank you for this recipe. I tried to make spritz cookies last night using the pampered chef spritz cookie press but that recipe didn't work with the press. After some research I realized that it is recommended to use the recipe that is associated with the brand name of the press you are using. I hope this recipe works. Thank you again!

Emily Grace

Saturday 16th of December 2017

Hope it works for you!

Pauline Molinari

Friday 18th of December 2015

These look great! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy recipe on the Monday Funday Party!

Kim~madeinaday

Tuesday 15th of December 2015

Love the Pampered Chef Cookie Press! I may have to break mine out this year! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on Twitte! Have a great week! Kim

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