Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies

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Soft, buttery, and beautifully shaped, Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies are the ultimate holiday treat. These little bites of joy melt in your mouth and come adorned with festive colors, making them a perfect addition to cookie exchanges, dessert tables, or a cozy evening with hot cocoa. Whether you’re crafting holiday memories with loved ones or simply want a delicious treat to brighten your day, these cookies deliver timeless flavor with minimal fuss.

The dough is rich with butter, lightly sweet, and perfect for pressing into ornate shapes using a cookie press. And if you love to decorate, the blank canvas of each cookie invites colorful sprinkles or icing patterns for that extra holiday cheer. Their nostalgic texture and delicate sweetness make them irresistible to both kids and adults alike.

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Why You’ll Love This Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies

• Festive and Beautiful: Their pressed shapes and colorful decorations make them showstoppers on any dessert tray.
• Simple Ingredients: You likely already have everything in your kitchen.
• Perfect for Gifting: These cookies travel well and stay fresh, making them ideal for gifting.
• Versatile Decoration: Add food coloring to the dough or top with icing, colored sugar, or festive sprinkles.
• Bakes Quickly: These cookies only take minutes in the oven, so you can churn out a batch fast.

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Preparation Phase & Tools to Use

Before you begin baking, it’s essential to gather the right tools. Each one plays a key role in ensuring your Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies come out with perfect shape and texture:

• Cookie Press: This is the star tool for spritz cookies. It shapes the dough into intricate festive forms. A manual press works best for precise control.
• Mixing Bowls: Needed for creaming the butter and sugar, then blending in dry ingredients.
• Electric Mixer: A stand or hand mixer ensures your butter and sugar are thoroughly creamed to a fluffy consistency.
• Baking Sheets (Ungreased): Nonstick or ungreased sheets help the cookies grip and release from the press cleanly.
• Cooling Rack: For allowing cookies to cool evenly and maintain crispness on the bottom.
• Piping Bag with Small Tip (Optional): Perfect if you want to pipe decorative icing over the cookies once baked.
• Sprinkles & Colored Sugar: For decoration before baking — they stick to the dough and bake beautifully.

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Ingredients for the Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies

• Unsalted Butter: The heart of these cookies. It gives that rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: For a sweet balance without overwhelming the buttery flavor.
• Egg: Binds the dough and adds structure.
• Vanilla Extract: For classic flavor depth. Use pure extract for best results.
• Almond Extract (optional): A subtle nutty note that elevates the flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure of the dough.
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
• Food Coloring (optional): To tint the dough with festive colors.
• Decorative Sprinkles: Add color, crunch, and holiday charm to each cookie.

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How To Make the Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This process incorporates air and ensures soft cookies.

Step 2: Add Egg and Flavoring

Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract. Continue beating until everything is well combined.

Step 3: Blend in Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the flour and salt to the wet mixture, mixing on low until a soft dough forms. If desired, divide the dough and add food coloring.

Step 4: Load the Cookie Press

Scoop the dough into your cookie press fitted with your favorite holiday disk. Press the cookies directly onto ungreased, cool baking sheets.

Step 5: Decorate

Immediately add sprinkles or colored sugar to the unbaked cookies so they stick.

Step 6: Bake

Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 6-8 minutes, just until edges are set and bottoms are lightly golden. Do not overbake.

Step 7: Cool

Let cookies rest on the sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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How to Serve and Store Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies

These cookies shine on any dessert table, especially during the holidays. Serve them:

• On a festive cookie platter for holiday parties
• With a mug of hot cocoa, cider, or coffee
• Packaged in clear bags or cookie tins for gifts

Storage Tips:

• Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• For longer storage, freeze undecorated cookies for up to 2 months. Let them thaw and decorate before serving.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep my spritz cookies from spreading?

Use ungreased baking sheets and ensure your dough is the right consistency (not too soft). Avoid placing dough on warm baking sheets.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 3 days. Let it soften slightly before using it in the cookie press.

What if I don’t have a cookie press?

While the signature shape comes from a cookie press, you could pipe the dough using a sturdy piping bag and large tip.

Why won’t the dough stick to the baking sheet?

Ensure your baking sheets are cool and ungreased. A slick surface won’t allow the dough to adhere properly during pressing.

Can I flavor the cookies differently?

Absolutely! Try citrus zest, maple extract, or even a hint of peppermint for festive twists.

Do these cookies stay soft?

They are meant to be crisp-tender—firm enough to hold shape, yet buttery and light when bitten into.

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Want More Cookie Ideas with a Twist?

If you love these Classic Buttery Spritz Cookies, you’ll probably enjoy these other festive favorites from the blog:

• Simple Apricot Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies
• Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
• Honey Butter Sweet Alabama Pecan Bread
• Winter Brittle
• Quick and Easy Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Cookies

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Save This Pin For Later

📌 Save this recipe to your Pinterest dessert board so you can come back to it any time.

You can follow along for daily sweet inspiration at Pinterest – Kitchen By Kate.

And let me know in the comments how yours turned out. Did you try them plain, or go wild with sprinkles and icing? Did you flavor them differently?

I love hearing your creative twists and tips. Ask anything in the comments below—let’s keep holiday baking fun and flavorful!

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